Fort Selden (Radium Springs, New Mexico, New Mexico)

Radium Springs, New Mexico · New Mexico · Indian Wars

History & Significance

Established in 1865 at the Paraje de Robledo to bring peace among the varied inhabitants in the south central region of present-day New Mexico, Fort Selden served as a critical defensive post along the Rio Grande. It was named in honor of Col. Henry Raymond Selden who had served many years in New Mexico Territory before and during the American Civil War and had died of illness in Doña Ana County.

The adobe fort housed units of the California Volunteer Cavalry, U.S. Army Infantry and Cavalry, with the first troops being Company M 1st Regiment of Cavalry, California Volunteers from 31 July 1865 to 31 August 1866. Several units later assigned included the 38th Infantry Regiment, 9th US Cavalry and 10th US Cavalry, all composed of black troopers known as Buffalo Soldiers, with nine receiving the Medal of Honor while serving in New Mexico Territory.

In 1884, Captain Arthur MacArthur Jr. was assigned as post commander with his two young sons, Arthur MacArthur III and Douglas MacArthur, who later wrote that it was at Fort Selden that they "learned to ride and shoot, even before we learned to read and write." In 1963, the land was donated to the state by Harry N. Bailey, and in 1970 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a New Mexico State Monument in 1974.

Map

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Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Selden
• https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/El_Camino_Real_de_Tierra_Adentro/Fort_Selden.html
• https://nmhistoricsites.org/fort-selden
• https://www.newmexicoculture.org/historic-sites/fort-selden
• https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-selden-historic-site.htm
• https://www.museumfoundation.org/historic-sites/fort-selden-historic-site/
• https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/new-mexico-fort-selden-historic-site.htm

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