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Columbus in Luna County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

Camp at Columbus

 
 
Camp at Columbus Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 14, 2024
1. Camp at Columbus Marker
Inscription. Headquarters building on the right. The camp was established in 1912 at this location. It housed the 13th Cavalry of 500 plus troops. The headquarters building is one of only a few permanent buildings in the original camp.

This photo shows the wooden stables. These stables and barracks were completed in January of 1916. The 13th Cavalry troops had lived in tents for about 4 years. They were able to enjoy these wood structures for about two months. After the raid on Columbus, the 13th Cavalry was ordered in to Mexico with Pershing.

This is life at the army camp in Columbus. You will notice the cots are head to foot with no space between. Every so often they were required to lift their tent canvas to the center pole for inspection and to give it a good airing out. The cots are on wooden pedestals.

This is what "The Camp at Columbus" looked like for the first four years of its life. It stayed a tent camp because it was temporary. After the Villa raid, the camp became permanent and expanded to the west side of the highway. The third week of March, 1916, it officially became "Camp Furlong".
 
Topics. This historical
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marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1916.
 
Location. 31° 49.675′ N, 107° 38.401′ W. Marker is in Columbus, New Mexico, in Luna County. It is at the intersection of State Road 9 and State Road 11 on State Road 9. The marker is located at the backyard area of the Columbus Historical Society building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 NM-9, Columbus NM 88029, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Gadsden Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Memory of Citizens Killed / In Memory of Thirteenth Cavalry (here, next to this marker); Pershing's Review Stand (a few steps from this marker); Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Custom House (within shouting distance of this
Camp at Columbus Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 14, 2024
2. Camp at Columbus Marker
marker); El Paso & Southwestern Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Susan Parks (within shouting distance of this marker); The Commercial Hotel (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pancho Villa State Park (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.
 
Also see . . .  Village of Columbus and Camp Furlong. Wikipedia
The Village of Columbus and Camp Furlong is a National Historic Landmark District commemorating the 1916 raid by Pancho Villa on the town of Columbus, New Mexico, and the American military response to that raid, the "Punitive Expedition" led by General John J. Pershing. The raid and its response, set during World War I, the Mexican Revolution, and an accompanying low-level Border War, played a significant role in diplomacy and military preparedness for eventual American entry in the World War. The district encompasses buildings that survived the raid, and military facilities used in the American response. The landmark designation was made in 1975.
(Submitted on June 23, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.) 
 
The Camp at Columbus Marker is located at the far left of the other markers. image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 14, 2024
3. The Camp at Columbus Marker is located at the far left of the other markers.
Camp Furlong image. Click for full size.
Public Domain - Wikipedia, circa 1916
4. Camp Furlong
Staging area for truck trains that supplied troops of General John J. Pershing during the Pancho Villa Expedition, in Columbus,NM.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 23, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
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Sep. 7, 2026