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Home New Mexico Grant County Santa Clara Historical Markers Fort Bayard National Cemetery
     

Fort Bayard National Cemetery

Cam De Paz, Santa Clara, NM, USA
Telephone: (915) 564-0201

Latitude & Longitude: 32° 47' 55.8744", -108° 9' 16.6248"
  New Mexico NM State Historical Marker
New Mexico State
Historical Marker


 
   
Fort Bayard National Cemetery originally established in 1866 as the military cemetery for Fort Bayard, many troopers, veterans and civilians are buried here. It became a national cemetery, one of two in New Mexico, in 1973. It has been incorporated into Fort Bayard marker.


 
StoppingPoints.com Editorial on Fort Bayard National Cemetery:
Fort Bayard is located in southwestern New Mexico adjacent to the Gila National Forest. The site was chosen in 1863 for its springs and commanding view of the Apache war trails surrounding the nearby mining camps. In 1866, a permanent post was established here with the primary responsibility for protecting the Pinos Altos gold camp. The post was named Fort Bayard in honor of General G.D. Bayard, who died from wounds received during the Battle of Fredericksburg, and who had served in New Mexico and Arizona prior to the Civil War. The U.S. Army launched numerous attacks against the Apache from Fort Bayard during the 1870-80s, which ended only with the surrender of the Apache Chief Geronimo.

The first known interment at Fort Bayard was Sergeant David H. Boyd of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry, buried Oct. 10, 1866. In 1899, the Army deactivated Fort Bayard and established it as a tuberculosis hospital and research center. In 1922, the hospital was transferred to the Veterans Bureau, which became part of the new Veterans Administration in 1930. Fort Bayard Cemetery was established the same year, and became part of the National Cemetery System in 1973 when its administration was transferred from the Department of the Army to the Veterans Administration. In the 1990s, the state of New Mexico donated 3.95 acres to the cemetery.

Fort Bayard National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 2002.

Medal of Honor Recipients

Sergeant Alonzo Bowman (Indian Campaigns), Company D, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Wichita River, Texas, Oct. 5, 1870 (Section, A. Grave I-31).

Wagoner John Schnitzer (Indian Campaigns), Troop G, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Horseshoe Canyon, N.M., April 23, 1882 (Section AO, Grave 43).

Other Notable People in the Cemetery:

One of the most important civilians buried at Fort Bayard is Walter Foote Sellers, author of the poem, The Kneeling Nun. He was the stepson of retired Brigadier General Walter I. Duggan. On his headstone is engraved Ah, Me, the World Seems Lonelier Today.

In the civilian section of the cemetery near the fence on the east side is also buried John William Richmond Kennedy, who died at St. Joseph's sanitarium, Silver City, New Mexico on March 14, 1914. He was the eldest son of the Honorable William Rann Kennedy, Knt. P.C. of England.

The first burial at the Post cemetery with positive identification was Sergeant David H. Boyd, Company M, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, Oct. 10, 1866. One other, who is recorded as an Unknown, preceded it.


Last updated: 10/16/2009 14:55:43
   
Related Themes: C.S.A., Confederate States of America, Confederacy, New Mexico Cemetery Markers, Cemeteries, NM Graveyards,
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Fort Bayard National Cemetery Historical Marker Location Map, Santa Clara, New Mexico