Fort Garland

[FarawayFriend]

Today while traveling from Durango, CO to Colorado Springs, we passed Fort Garland, named after Brig. General John Garland (btw father in law of Confederate General James Longstreet).

In 1852 the U.S. government saw the need for a military presence in the San Luis Valley and built Fort Massachusetts, the area's first stronghold. It soon became clear that the location of Fort Massachusetts was not strategically practical. It was vulnerable to attack from higher ground and it was too far from the settlers it was intended to protect. Brig. Gen. John Garland, then commander of the Ninth Military Dept., issued orders for a new post to be built 6 miles south between the Ute and Sangre de Cristo creeks.

The buildings of the new fort were built of adobe mud bricks and the layout of the fort echoed that of other contemporary military posts in the West. It consisted of a rectangle of single-story buildings featuring a sally port (main entrance) on the south side. The rectangle encompassed a grassy parade ground lined with cottonwoods and a flagpole in the center. As originally constructed, the fort could accommodate seven officers and two companies of one hundred men each.

In 1861 the American Civil War was moving west, two companies of Colorado Volunteers were mustered into federal service at Fort Garland and marched to bolster forces against the Texan Confederates, who were attempting to capture the West. With the defeat of the Texans near Santa Fe at Glorieta Pass in 1862, the West was saved for the Union.

https://www.museumtrail.org/the-story-of-fort-garland.html

I thought you might like to see these photos.

 

[LostGettysburgAddress]

Hope you and Derk are enjoying the West! Looking forward to possibly seeing you on my trip to Germany in September.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Hope you and Derk are enjoying the West! Looking forward to possibly seeing you on my trip to Germany in September.

That really would be awesome (although I think it would be more like October?). And yes, we are enjoying the West a great deal!!

 

[Coonewah Creek]

With the defeat of the Texans near Santa Fe at Glorieta Pass in 1862, the West was saved for the Union.

The Texas Confederates tactically won the battle at Glorieta Pass. However, Major (later promosted Colonel) John Chivington, Colorado Volunteers (infamous for leading the Sand Creek massacre in late 1864), led a cavalry raid on the Confederate wagon train, destroying it. The Confederates were forced to withdraw back into Texas.

 

[FarawayFriend]

The Texas Confederates tactically won the battle at Glorieta Pass. However, Major (later promosted Colonel) John Chivington, Colorado Volunteers (infamous for leading the Sand Creek massacre in late 1864), led a cavalry raid on the Confederate wagon train, destroying it. The Confederates were forced to withdraw back into Texas.

I must admit that I copied the wording from the source given above. It does not necessarily reflect my own thoughts about the outcome of that battle. Here is what could be read about that battle in the Ft. Garland Museum:

 

[Coonewah Creek]

must admit that I copied the wording from the source given above. It does not necessarily reflect my own thoughts about the outcome of that battle. Here is what could be read about that battle in the Ft. Garland Museum:

Oh, the Colorado Volunteers certainly turned the tide of the battle by destroying the Confederate wagon train parked at Johnson's Ranch. I lived in New Mexico for over 30 years. I well know that is not an area you'd want to try and survive in very long without supplies! The retreat back into Texas was not much fun for the Confederates.

 

[War Horse]

View attachment 196638
Today while traveling from Durango, CO to Colorado Springs, we passed Fort Garland, named after Brig. General John Garland (btw father in law of Confederate General James Longstreet).

View attachment 196639
In 1852 the U.S. government saw the need for a military presence in the San Luis Valley and built Fort Massachusetts, the area's first stronghold. It soon became clear that the location of Fort Massachusetts was not strategically practical. It was vulnerable to attack from higher ground and it was too far from the settlers it was intended to protect. Brig. Gen. John Garland, then commander of the Ninth Military Dept., issued orders for a new post to be built 6 miles south between the Ute and Sangre de Cristo creeks.

The buildings of the new fort were built of adobe mud bricks and the layout of the fort echoed that of other contemporary military posts in the West. It consisted of a rectangle of single-story buildings featuring a sally port (main entrance) on the south side. The rectangle encompassed a grassy parade ground lined with cottonwoods and a flagpole in the center. As originally constructed, the fort could accommodate seven officers and two companies of one hundred men each.
View attachment 196640

View attachment 196641

In 1861 the American Civil War was moving west, two companies of Colorado Volunteers were mustered into federal service at Fort Garland and marched to bolster forces against the Texan Confederates, who were attempting to capture the West. With the defeat of the Texans near Santa Fe at Glorieta Pass in 1862, the West was saved for the Union.

https://www.museumtrail.org/the-story-of-fort-garland.html

I thought you might like to see these photos.

Excellent photos FF. I didn't realize Kit Carson commanded the fort. Fascinating.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Excellent photos FF. I didn't realize Kit Carson commanded the fort. Fascinating.

That was also completely new to me!

 

[FarawayFriend]

As originally constructed, the fort could accommodate seven officers and two companies of one hundred men each.

Allow me to post one more photo of the enlisted men's quarters:

Remarkably these bunks were shared by two men (!), each pair sleeping head to toe! And each man had to take a bath once a month (!!), "whether he needs it or not" (!!!)

 

[infomanpa]

Hope you enjoyed the Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Hope you enjoyed the Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak.

That is on our schedule for tomorrow!

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for posting, Enjoy!

 

[donna]

Wonderful photos. Glad you are having a great time.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Awesome!!!

Bill

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Just saw these terrific pics @FarawayFriend! Thanks so much for sharing. I learned a lot!

 

[BlueandGrayl]

Imagine if the Confederates had actually won at Glorieta Pass if John Chivington did not find out about the wagon train headed to the Confederates. If this had happened a presence in southern Arizona and New Mexico (no pun intended) would have been established by the Confederates and the war would expand Southwest possibly to nearby California for example.

 

[8thFlorida]

Allow me to post one more photo of the enlisted men's quarters:
View attachment 196650

Remarkably these bunks were shared by two men (!), each pair sleeping head to toe! And each man had to take a bath once a month (!!), "whether he needs it or not" (!!!)

Photos like these really tell the story of life in the past. How can we even begin to relate to how they lived?

 

[mofederal]

Thanks for the great photos @FarawayFriend. It looks like you are having a great trip. I have never been out to Colorado.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Thanks for all the kind words! Colorado is absolutely well worth a visit!

 

[byron ed]

It would be remiss here not to recommend this book, a good read and particularly relevant: