Great Generations Traditional Cache
BLMBilbo: Will redo elsewhere later.
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
You may have noticed the 90-mm anti-aircraft gun next to the rock stables as you arrived - they are seen in towns around New Mexico, originally given up when they went to guided missile air defense artillery - you know - the New Mexico National Guard - the 200th Coastal Artillery - the Bataan Men - as in Death March. So that gun is in the right place here – a place of generations of soldiers & sailors - Great Generations!
Welcome to Fort Stanton State Historic Monument! (visit link)
This is one of the most intact forts in the west, because since 1855, various federal and state agencies have kept it in pretty good shape.
The cache container lid - make sure all the nails are back in the holes. This keeps out rain.
This little building used to be the museum but it has moved into the original enlisted barracks further west down the street where there is plenty of parking. The Museum is open Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM & Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday, 12:00 - 4:30 PM.
In 2007 Fort Stanton was designated the state’s newest state monument, and just recently, the U.S. Congress designated the 25,000 acres of public land surrounding the fort, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, as a national conservation area – basically a national monument. Thus, pretty much a monument surrounding a monument.
Fort Stanton - U.S Army Post for 41 years; U.S. Marine Health Service for 54 years (tubercular hospital):
Fort Stanton was established on the Bonito River in 1855 to protect area settlers and settlements including the village of Las Placitas near contemporary Lincoln. The Fort was named for Captain Henry Stanton who was killed near the site of the future garrison on January 19, 1855 during a pursuit of Mescalero Apaches suspected of stealing sheep from a nearby rancher. The construction of the garrison took several years to complete as infantry, dragoons, and volunteers were often called away to action while structural work took place. The isolation of southern New Mexico combined with a lack of roads connecting supply lines further hampered construction, and therein created a need to work closely with the local population to supply food, labor and materials to soldiers. The relationship between Fort Stanton and nearby settlers was set in motion early on, and increased in scope and importance over the next 41 years.
The mission of the Fort changed substantially from its opening in 1855 to its closure in 1896. Initially tasked to protect settlers and property, and to enforce treaties with nearby native tribes that were intended to establish peace and ownership of land. The military mission of Fort Stanton evolved with both local need, national policy, and growing settlement within the region. Following the creation of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in 1873, responsibilities at Fort Stanton included the distribution of food and supplies to the Mescalero people, while protecting both settlers and Indians from raiding parties on both sides as well outside bandits and rustlers. Continued punitive actions against the Apache tribes led to the eventual removal of all native tribes to reservations across the West.
Outbreaks of violence between settlers over political and business issues brought military intervention as well, especially during the Lincoln County War where Colonel Nathan Dudley ordered the occupation of Lincoln for a brief period of time. Following the surrenders of Apache Chiefs Geronimo and Victorio, which had stirred some members of the Mescalero Apaches to leave the reservation and join the resistance to reservation life in the 1880s, the military mission and need for Fort Stanton waned.
Growing up around Fort Stanton, however, towns such as Lincoln, Capitan and Ruidoso had grown in population as a result of protection from the Fort and the increasing economic relationship between local business and the military presence. It was not uncommon for soldiers to settle in Lincoln County following their service. Roads around Fort Stanton were improved as a result of military occupation. The railroad brought more physical connection to the East, and the discovery of gold in nearby White Oaks was a precursor to more settlement.
By the mid-1890s, the military no longer saw a need to maintain the Fort, and it closed on August 17, 1896. Undoubtedly, however, the existence of Fort Stanton was one of the most important factors in the development of Lincoln County, and New Mexico during the territorial period.
The garrison at Fort Stanton was initially occupied by 412 men consisting of two companies of dragoons (reorganized as cavalry units after 1861 ); three companies of infantry; one company of volunteers; five detachments from three other regular infantry units; and one assistant surgeon. The first garrison commander was Lt. Dixon S. Miles, and his was the first of 63 commands during the Fort’s military years. In all, three companies of dragoons, 20 troops of cavalry, five companies of Mounted Rifles, 28 companies of infantry, and one company of artillery served at some point in the 41-year occupation of Fort Stanton. Along with detachments from other Forts, and units that passed through or stayed at Fort Stanton for brief periods, literally thousands of men served at Fort Stanton.
In 1896 the post was transferred to the U.S. Navy - U.S. Marine Health Service (later the U.S. Public Health Service). It was the first tubercular hospital and patients were from the U.S. Merchant Marine, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. It was a full-blown Navy post, but an inland facility as a medical center. Cache owner has the privledge of living in one of the 1930s Navy doctor's quarters.
Some Illustrious Occupants and Visitors
Among those who spent time at Fort Stanton, or were in some way connected with the Fort, were many famous and infamous characters in military and western history:
Richard S. Ewell - Fought with Henry Stanton in the skirmish where Stanton was killed. Later became a General in the Confederate Army where his controversial actions at Gettysburg are still debated.
George B. Crittenden - Commander at Fort Stanton in 1861. Fought with distinction during the Mexican-American War and later served as a Confederate General in charge of the Army of the Potomac for a brief period in 1861.
Christopher “Kit” Carson - Famous hunter, trapper and scout prior to his military service, Carson was commander of Fort Stanton from October 12, 1862 to March 5, 1863. He was charged with reoccupying Fort Stanton after Confederate forces abandoned the site, and with reconstructing the garrison. Carson served as commander of the Fort during a turbulent and violent period of conflict with Indians. Under orders to “kill’ all male Indian combatants who did not go to Santa Fe to ask for peace, Carson is credited with helping the Mescalero Apache attached to Chief Cadete seek peace. Later a dime novel hero, Carson is one of the most well known historical figures in the legend – and reality – of the American West.
Lew Wallace - Served with Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War and as a Brigadier Union General during the Civil War, serving with distinction at Forts Henry and Donelson, and with some controversy at Shiloh. In 1878 he became Territorial Governor of New Mexico and traveled to Lincoln in 1879 where he met with Billy the Kid to determine facts as well as “The Kid’s” fate following the Lincoln County War. While in Lincoln County, Wallace stayed in Officer’s Quarters at Fort Stanton where he wrote portions of his famous novel, Ben Hur.
Buffalo Soldiers - While the origins of their nickname remains speculation, the “Buffalo Soldiers” find their origins in the creation of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. Following reorganization in 1866, the “colored” forces became the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry and four regiments of infantry. These units served primarily in the West from 1866-1890, and the 9th Cavalry was stationed at Fort Stanton from 1875-1881 under the command of white officers including George A. Purrington who served for a period as garrison commander. The 9th Cavalry fought with honor during several skirmishes with Mescalero that left the reservation from 1879-1881, and as an occupying force in Lincoln during the Lincoln County War.
John J. “Blackjack” Pershing - After graduating from West Point in 1886, Pershing served at Fort Bayard as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Cavalry, later seeing action at Wounded Knee, South Dakota in 1890. In October 1895, he was given command of the 10th US Cavalry then known as the “Buffalo Soldiers” where he journeyed to Fort Stanton with a detachment of his unit in 1896. His nickname is controversial, but appears to have been derived from his connection to the Buffalo Soldier units that he commanded. While at Stanton, the Army's military planners saw the handwriting on the wall - the Franco-Prussian War and began planning for global conflict. Pershing was thus involved in the Army's first large-scale war games - "The Raiders and Pursuers."
Pershing later went on to serve as a trainer at West Point, and with distinction as a major of a Volunteer company during the Spanish-American War. He rose to the command of Major General of the American Army by 1917 and commanded the Unites States forces during World War I.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures