Near San Antonio in Socorro County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Guard House and Sally Port

Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

1. Guard House and Sally Port Marker

Inscription. The Sally Port was the main entrance of the Fort and was a gate wide enough for wagons and mounted troops to pass through in column formation. For a time, this guard house served as the Territorial Prison. No photographs or drawings of this structure are known, but the 1874 Surgeon General's report on military posts describes these buildings as one guard house, with the sally port passing through it. The rooms of the guard house are described in some detail in the same report: "On one side of the sally-port is the guard-room...and in the rear of this a room...used for colored prisoners. On the opposite side of the sally-port is a room...used for the confinement of white prisoners.... The guard-room and the room occupied by white prisoners are warmed by open fireplaces; but there is neither fireplace nor stove [for the] colored prisoners. The prison-rooms had, during a period of three years, an average sixteen men confined in them - the greatest number reached was thirty-two.... In one corner of the guard room is a trap door opening upon a stairway which leads down to the cells where prisoners are kept in solitary confinement....

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Each cell is 5 feet 7 inches long, 2 feet 10 inches wide, and 4 feet 10 inches high.... Eight augur holes and the chinks around the doors are the only means of admitting air and light from the passage-way into the cells.... The men, with seldom more than a single blanket, sleep upon the earthen floor, which, from being frequently sprinkled to lay the dust, contains much moisture. Colds and rheumatism are frequent among the inmates...."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 33° 38.136′ N, 107° 0.822′ W. Marker is near San Antonio, New Mexico, in Socorro County. It is on Fort Craig Road 4½ miles south of Old US Hwy 85 (New Mexico Highway 1). The marker is located at the Fort Craig Historic Site along the visitor trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 457 Ft Craig Rd, Socorro NM 87801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico and in the Rio Grande Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

2. Guard House and Sally Port Marker

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Parade Grounds and Enlisted Quarters About 1867 (a few steps from this marker); Commanding Officer's Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Canby and Sibley at Fort Craig (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Battle of Valverde (about 300 feet away); Officers' Quarters (about 300 feet away); Company Quarters (about 300 feet away); The Establishment of Fort Craig (about 400 feet away); Early Spanish Exploration (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

More about this marker. At Fort Craig Historic Site, an ADA accessible, self-guided interpretive trail is open seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to one-hour before sunset. The visitor’s center is open Thursday through Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Also see . . . Fort Craig Historic Site. blm.gov

Fort Craig, established in 1854, was one of the largest and most important frontier
Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

3. The view of the Guard House and Sally Port Marker from the trail
forts in the West. Set in the rugged beauty of Socorro County, N.M., it was one of the eight forts situated along the primary north-south road in the Rio Grande Valley. Fort Craig played a crucial role in Indian campaigns and the Civil War.

(Submitted on August 5, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.