Fort Marcy (New Mexico)
Encyclopedia
Fort Marcy was a military reservation
in New Mexico
.
At the height of the Mexican War
, an undersized military and trading expedition left Austin, Texas
, to seize the Santa Fe Trail
in 1841. The troops assembled were inadequately equipped, disorganized, and warded off by the Mexican army. As a result, the United States declared war
on Mexico in 1846. Led by General Stephen W. Kearney
, his Army of the West, with approximately 1,700 troops, marched into the city of Santa Fe
to claim the city and the entire New Mexico Territory
on August 18, 1846. On the next day, Kearney ordered two of his chief engineers, William Emory and Jeremy Gilmer, to stake out a good site for a defensive fort. This was crucial in order to prevent an upheaval by the already conquered population. Gilmer served as a major general and chief engineer of the Confederate States
Army during the American Civil War
. Lt. Emory exposed the perfect spot in what he called “the only point which commands the entire town.” At the location was a summit positioned on a flat-topped hill, a mere 650 yards Northeast of Santa Fe’s plaza.
Hired workmen and troops assembled the fort, using 9 foot high and 5 foot thick adobe
walls to construct the irregular hexagonal structure. Inside of the fort, an adobe blockhouse
and powder magazine
were established to store artillery
and weapons. Fort Marcy was initially intended to barrack 280 soldiers. No garrisons were inside of the actual fort. Limited quarters were located and constructed on the outside mesa. The fort was never required to defend Santa Fe, resulting in the men being headquartered and horses stabled near the old Spanish military establishment, 600 yards from the governor’s palace. Kearney named the newly established fort after William L. Marcy
, the secretary of war and his boss at the time.
Fort Marcy engaged in little action during the American Civil War
and became abandoned upon an executive order from President Andrew Johnson
on August 28, 1868.
In 1887, A local citizen, Mrs. Tassie Wilson, went to the territorial capital for a visit. During her stay, she and her friends discovered a plethora of Spanish coins hidden beneath the walls of old Fort Marcy. This incident, first reported by the Silver City Enterprise on September 30, claimed her find to be more than 2,300 coins, dated back to 1740 and 1726, which were donated to the Historical Society of New Mexico. The paper went on to state: “After the discovery was made, large numbers of Santa Fe citizens turned out and dug the whole country up in the vicinity of the fort, but without finding anything new.” The chaotic hunt was ultimately the destructive force that ended the remaining standing walls. The government sold the Fort Marcy location at auction in 1891. The city of Santa Fe acquired the site on the hill in 1961, while landscaping it and establishing a scenic overlook of the city.
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
At the height of the Mexican War
Mexican War
Mexican War may refer to:*Mexican War of Independence *Mexican–American War *French intervention in Mexico *Mexican Revolution *Mexican Civil War *Cristero War *Mexican Drug War...
, an undersized military and trading expedition left Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, to seize the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
in 1841. The troops assembled were inadequately equipped, disorganized, and warded off by the Mexican army. As a result, the United States declared war
Declaration of war
A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. The declaration is a performative speech act by an authorized party of a national government in order to create a state of war between two or more states.The legality of who is competent to declare war varies...
on Mexico in 1846. Led by General Stephen W. Kearney
Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen Watts Kearny surname also appears as Kearney in some historic sources; August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848), was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers of the United States Army. He is remembered for his significant contributions in the Mexican-American War, especially the conquest...
, his Army of the West, with approximately 1,700 troops, marched into the city of Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
to claim the city and the entire New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
on August 18, 1846. On the next day, Kearney ordered two of his chief engineers, William Emory and Jeremy Gilmer, to stake out a good site for a defensive fort. This was crucial in order to prevent an upheaval by the already conquered population. Gilmer served as a major general and chief engineer of the Confederate States
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Army during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Lt. Emory exposed the perfect spot in what he called “the only point which commands the entire town.” At the location was a summit positioned on a flat-topped hill, a mere 650 yards Northeast of Santa Fe’s plaza.
Hired workmen and troops assembled the fort, using 9 foot high and 5 foot thick adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
walls to construct the irregular hexagonal structure. Inside of the fort, an adobe blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
and powder magazine
Powder Magazine
Powder Magazine, Powder House, or Powderworks may refer to:* Gunpowder magazine*Magazine , the general term-in the United States:* Powder Magazine , listed on the NRHP in Alabama...
were established to store artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
and weapons. Fort Marcy was initially intended to barrack 280 soldiers. No garrisons were inside of the actual fort. Limited quarters were located and constructed on the outside mesa. The fort was never required to defend Santa Fe, resulting in the men being headquartered and horses stabled near the old Spanish military establishment, 600 yards from the governor’s palace. Kearney named the newly established fort after William L. Marcy
William L. Marcy
William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:...
, the secretary of war and his boss at the time.
Fort Marcy engaged in little action during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and became abandoned upon an executive order from President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
on August 28, 1868.
In 1887, A local citizen, Mrs. Tassie Wilson, went to the territorial capital for a visit. During her stay, she and her friends discovered a plethora of Spanish coins hidden beneath the walls of old Fort Marcy. This incident, first reported by the Silver City Enterprise on September 30, claimed her find to be more than 2,300 coins, dated back to 1740 and 1726, which were donated to the Historical Society of New Mexico. The paper went on to state: “After the discovery was made, large numbers of Santa Fe citizens turned out and dug the whole country up in the vicinity of the fort, but without finding anything new.” The chaotic hunt was ultimately the destructive force that ended the remaining standing walls. The government sold the Fort Marcy location at auction in 1891. The city of Santa Fe acquired the site on the hill in 1961, while landscaping it and establishing a scenic overlook of the city.
See also
- Jeremy Francis GilmerJeremy Francis GilmerJeremy Francis Gilmer was an American soldier, mapmaker, and civil engineer most noted for his service as the Chief Engineer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
- Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...