View source for Battle of Fort Tularosa

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Fort Tularosa
|partof=the [[Apache Wars]], [[Victorio's War]]
|image=Bfu-soldr-front.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=''Buffalo Soldiers monument at [[Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]].'' 
|date=May 14, 1880
|place=[[Fort Tularosa]], [[New Mexico]]
|coordinates={{coord|33.88292|N|108.52351|W|scale:100000|display=inline,title}}
|result=United States victory
|combatant1={{flag|United States|1877}}
|combatant2=[[Apache]]
|commander1=[[George Jordan (Medal of Honor)|George Jordan]]
|commander2=[[Victorio]]
|strength1=26 [[cavalry]]
|strength2=~100 [[warrior]]s
|casualties1=None
|casualties2=Unknown
}}
{{Campaignbox Apache Wars}}

The '''Battle of Fort Tularosa''' occurred in May 1880 near the present-day town of [[Aragon, New Mexico|Aragon]] in [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]], [[New Mexico]]. In an ongoing [[Victorio's War|campaign]] to keep from being forced to live on reservations, [[Chiricahua]] [[Apache]] warriors led by [[Victorio]] attacked [[Fort Tularosa]] north of [[San Francisco Plaza, New Mexico|San Francisco Plaza]]. [[Buffalo Soldiers]] from the [[United States Army]]'s [[9th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|9th Cavalry]], led by [[Sergeant]] [[George Jordan (Medal of Honor)|George Jordan]], repulsed the attack.

==Background==
On May 13, 1880, Sergeant George Jordan marched a detachment of twenty-five soldiers from K Troop of the 9th Cavalry towards [[New Mexico]] with orders to protect Fort Tularosa from potential attack, escort provisions, establish a supply depot and protect local settlers. Halfway through the march to the Fort, the detachment received word that Apaches under Victorio were probably striking the townspeople immediately. With this, Jordan asked each of the troops whether they were willing to march hard and fast to get to the action; with no question, every one of the men replied yes. On the morning of May 14, 1880, Sergeant Jordan arrived at Fort Tularosa. After the forced march the soldiers found the town intact without strike from the Apache forces. Jordan immediately had the troops sleep in shifts, in turn building a new fort to protect the townspeople and a new stockade for their animals.<ref>Field, R. (2004) ''Buffalo Soldiers: 1866-1891.'' Osprey Publishing. p. 44.</ref>
[[file:George Jordan (MOH).jpg|150px|right|thumb|''George Jordan, commander during the Battle of Fort Tularosa.'']]
After [[Alma Massacre|successfully killing]] several settlers south of Fort Tularosa, Victorio's forces, reportedly 100 strong, went north to continue their ongoing campaign against white settlements.

==Battle==
Jordan recorded that "''on the evening of the 14th, while I was standing outside the fort conversing with one of the citizens, the Indians came upon us unexpectedly and attacked.''"  As soon as the attack commenced, the town's occupants dashed to the fort and stockade. Victorio's forces attacked the fort on the evening of May 14, immediately firing volleys of arrows towards the embattled townspeople's hiding areas.<ref>Beyer, W.F. and Keydel, O.F. (1906) ''Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government.'' Perrien-Keydel Co. p. 272.</ref> The Apaches then attacked the fort in rounds, continuously pressuring Jordan's men. However, the soldiers repelled the attacks, and at one point, made a daring rescue and saved all of the town's cattle.<ref>(nd) [http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aaw/battle-tularosa-14-may-1880 Battle of Tularosa]. BlackPast.org. Retrieved 6/16/07.</ref> The Buffalo Soldiers suffered no casualties, while Victorio's forces suffered several dead and wounded.<ref>Gott, K. (nd)''In Search of an Elusive Enemy: The Victorio campaign, 1879-1880.'' Leavenworth, KS: DIANE Publishing. p. 32.</ref>

Immediately after the battle the remainder of [[Colonel]] [[Edward Hatch]]'s 9th Cavalry arrived at the Fort, with a large contingent giving chase to Victorio's warriors. The American troops were unable to follow the Chiricahua forces after they escaped into [[Mexico]].<ref>Beyer, W.F. and Keydel, O.F. (1906) ''Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government.'' Perrien-Keydel Co. p. 273.</ref> Ten years after the engagement, Jordan was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his leadership.<ref>Amos, P. (1974) ''Above and Beyond in the West: Black Medal of Honor Winners, 1870-1890.'' Washington, DC: Potomac Corral.</ref>

The battle was one of the few where Chief Victorio was caught by surprise and attacked a guarded encampment instead of waiting in ambush.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schubert|first=Frank N.|title=Black Valor: Buffalo Soldiers and the Medal of Honor, 1870-1898|publisher=Scholarly Resources Inc.|authorlink=Frank N. Schubert|page=[https://archive.org/details/blackvalorbuffal00schu/page/75 75]|date=1997|isbn=9780842025867|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/blackvalorbuffal00schu/page/75}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Aragon, New Mexico]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Sonnichsen, C.L. (1960) ''Tularosa: Last of the Frontier West.'' New York: Devin-Adair Co.

{{Buffalo Soldiers}}

{{Catron County}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fort Tularosa, Battle of}}
[[Category:1880 in the United States]]
[[Category:1880 in New Mexico Territory]]
[[Category:19th-century military history of the United States]]
[[Category:African-American history of New Mexico]]
[[Category:African-American history of the United States military]]
[[Category:Apache Wars]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Apache|Fort Tularosa]]
[[Category:Buffalo Soldiers]]
[[Category:Chiricahua]]
[[Category:Forts in New Mexico|Tularosa]]
[[Category:History of Catron County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:History of United States expansionism]]
[[Category:New Mexico Territory|Battle of Fort Tularpsa]]
[[Category:Native American history of New Mexico]]
[[Category:May 1880]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in the United States]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Battles in New Mexico]]