Mike Kaspar web site Fort Craig was one of the largest forts
constructed in the west, and was critical to both the Indian
Campains and the Civil War.Established in 1854, the primary
function of the fort was to control Apache and Navajo raiding,
and to protect the central portion of the Camino Real, a trail
which stretched from northern Mexico to San Juan Pueblo, 30
miles north of Santa At the outbreak of the Civil War, Fort
Craig remained a Union Army Post, manned by regular army
troops.In 1862, after capuring several military installations in
southern New Mexico, Confederate troops under the command of
General Henery Hopkins Sibley marched up the Rio Grande to Fort
Craig.The battle for Fort Craig happend on Febuary 21,1862,
Sibley's troops fought Union Troops led by Colonel R.S.
Canby.The battle of Valverde took place upstream from Fort Craig
at Valverde Crossing.General Sibley had won a Confederate
victory, although Union troops succeeded in holding the Fort and
detroying half of the confederate supply wago