•  Forts in the Cimarron Region, northeast NM--CLICK map for NEXT...

The Post at Albuquerque, west of Old Town Plaza, was a garrison and supply depot from 1846 to 1867. Fort Marcy northeast of the Plaza protected Santa Fe from 1846 to 1867 and the Post of Santa Fe adjacent to the Palace of the Governors housed troops and was a hospital from 1846 to 1894.

Troops from Fort Union 7 miles northwest of Watrous on NM 477 guarded the Santa Fe Trail from 1851 to 1891. In 1861 a fort shaped like an 8-pointed star was added, partially underground, to withstand artillery fire--it was abandoned in 1862.

Fort Bascom 9 miles north of Tucumcari from 1863 to 1874 was used to fight "comancheros"--Mexican and American traders swapping guns and whiskey with Plains Indians for rustled cattle. Kit Carson led forays.