Fort Union National Monument, Continental Divide

The red adobe walls of the Fort Union National Monument reflect the burnt sunset hues of the New Mexico desert, created, as it was, from the local rocks and mud.  Back in the 19^th Century, this was the largest fort in the American Southwest and served as a headquarters for the region’s U.S. Army regiments.  Situated in the pleasant Moro Valley, it was described by contemporary visitors as a good spot to be posted, more like a village than a military installation.

In the American Civil War (1861 – 1865), the fort was occupied by Spanish-speaking Union soldiers drawn from the local populations.  These men saw action in the New Mexico Campaign when Confederate for4ces attempted to occupy the Southwest.  The boys in blue who lived here were defeated by the invading Southe4rners at Glorietta Pass, one of the Confederacy’s only victories on Union territory.  Along with other Union forces in the area, they were eventually able to push the rebels back, ending the ambitious and little-known New Mexico Campaign.

Soldiers from the fort took part in campaigns against Native American communities during the 1860s and 1970s.  These conflicts, involving nearly every tribe in the area, led to their suppression and the establishment of U.S. control over this section of New Mexico.  Today, thanks to the resilience of the adobe, much of the fort remains intact.  The walls, some of the barracks, and a state-of-the-art visitor centre can be visited, allowing a glimpse of the life of a soldier on the frontier.