Near Watrous in Mora County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Home for the Commandants
Fort Union National Monument
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015
1. Home for the Commandants Marker
For 24 years the officer in command of the cavalry and infantry troops at Fort Union lived here. The post commandant issued the orders that determined the daily duties and routines for hundreds of enlisted men, non-commissioned officers, officers, and civilian employees. He made the decisions about who would patrol the Santa Fe Trail and for how long.
From 1867-1891 over 100 Regular Army officers held this command. Some served as little as one week in this position. Some stayed in charge as long as 36 months. Some captains, majors, and colonels only held command once. Other commandants returned to duty at Fort Union as many as 14 times.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list.
Location. 35° 54.387′ N, 105° 0.854′ W. Marker is near Watrous, New Mexico, in Mora County. It can be reached from New Mexico Route 161 7½ miles north of CanAm Highway (Interstate 25). Marker is located along
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Dust Bowl, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rank Has its Privileges (within shouting distance of this marker); The Third Fort Union (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Union: 1866 (about 300 feet away); Officers' Row (about 400 feet away); Distant For Good Reasons (about 400 feet away); Crime and Punishment on an Army Post (about 500 feet away); Hard Work, Strict Discipline, and $13 a Month (about 500 feet away); Life Along Suds Row (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in
2. Marker detail: Three Fort Union Commandants
Oct 1867-July 1868
Nathan Dudley Lieutenant Colonel 9th Calvary
Nov 1876-Aug 1877
Jan 1880-June 1880
Henry Black Lieutenant Colonel 23rd Infantry
Oct 1882-June 1884
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Fort Union National Monument
3. Marker detail: Officers' Quarters
The Officers Quarters were the largest and most comfortable places to live here at Fort Union.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015
4. Home for the Commandants Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015
5. Fort Union Officers' Quarters Ruins
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 29, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
