Fort Selden was established in 1865 in an effort to bring peace among the varied inhabitants in the south central region of present day New Mexico. Their primary intent was to protect settlers and travelers in the Mesilla Valley from desperados and Mescalero Apache Indians. Built near the banks of the Rio Grande, the adobe fort housed units of U.S. Army Infantry and Cavalry.
The first troops to occupy the fort were companies of the 125th US Colored Infantry Regiment, a group of African-American enlisted soldiers from Kentucky who had been mustered into the Union Army near the close of the American Civil War. Several of the units assigned later, including the 9th US Cavalry and 10th US Cavalry, and stationed at the fort were also composed of black troopers, sometimes referred to as Buffalo Soldiers. As a testament to their bravery, nine Buffalo Soldiers received the Medal of Honor while serving in New Mexico Territory.
Surnames Illig – Juger
Illig Morris Pvt. C 8th CAV Imas ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Irvin William Pvt. F 15th INF Irvine Henry Pvt. C 8th CAV Irwin John T. Pvt. C 8th CAV Isenhardt Jacob Pvt. F 15th INF Ivans James Pvt. K 38th INF Jackson Alfred Pvt. F 24th INF Jackson Benjamin M 9th CAV Jackson Burrell Pvt. K 38th INF Jackson George Pvt. K 38th INF Jackson Harvey Pvt. C 8th CAV Jackson William Pvt. K 3rd CAV James ns Pvt. K 8th CAV James David S. Pvt. 15th INF James Henry Pvt. D 24th INF James Isaac Cpl F 9th CAV James James Pvt. I 8th CAV Jameson Henry H. Sgt K 13th INF Jarieson Edward Pvt. 15th INF Jath Jacob B 13th INF Jefferson F. Pvt. 38th INF Jenkins Thomas J. Pvt. A 24th INF Jennings William Pvt. K 38th INF Johnson Charles Pvt. K 38th INF Johnson Charles Pvt. G 8th CAV Johnson Francis Pvt. G 8th CAV Johnson Frank Pvt. H 3rd CAV Johnson James Pvt. K 3rd CAV Johnson James H. Pvt. B 15th INF Johnson John Pvt. G 8th CAV Johnson John Pvt. H 8th CAV Johnson John Pvt. F 9th CAV Johnson Joseph F. Pvt. F 9th CAV Johnson S. Pvt. K 38th INF Johnson Savel Pvt. F 24th INF Johnson William L. Pvt. A 24th INF Johnston A. Pvt. 38th INF Johnston Albert E. Pvt. 15th INF Johnston Lewis Cpl K 38th INF Jolly J. N. Pvt. M 9th CAV Jonas ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Jones B. Pvt. M 9th CAV Jones George Pvt. A 24th INF Jones Isaac Pvt. K 38th INF Jones J. K. Pvt. K 38th INF Jones John H. Pvt. K 38th INF Jones John H. Pvt. G 8th CAV Jones Robert Pvt. D 24th INF Jones Robert C. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Jones S. H. Pvt. K 38th INF Jones William Pvt. K 38th INF Jones William Pvt. B 13th INF Jones William C. Pvt. M 9th CAV Josers Nicholas Sgt B 13th INF Joyce Hugh Pvt. C 8th CAV Juger ns Pvt. I 8th CAV Jackson Alfred Pvt. F 24th INF Jackson Benjamin M 9th CAV Jackson Burrell Pvt. K 38th INF Jackson George Pvt. K 38th INF Jackson Harvey Pvt. C 8th CAV Jackson William Pvt. K 3rd CAV James ns Pvt. K 8th CAV James David S. Pvt. 15th INF James Henry Pvt. D 24th INF James Isaac Cpl F 9th CAV James James Pvt. I 8th CAV Jameson Henry H. Sgt K 13th INF Jarieson Edward Pvt. 15th INF Jath Jacob B 13th INF Jefferson F. Pvt. 38th INF Jenkins Thomas J. Pvt. A 24th INF Jennings William Pvt. K 38th INF Johnson Charles Pvt. K 38th INF Johnson Charles Pvt. G 8th CAV Johnson Francis Pvt. G 8th CAV Johnson Frank Pvt. H 3rd CAV Johnson James Pvt. K 3rd CAV Johnson James H. Pvt. B 15th INF Johnson John Pvt. G 8th CAV Johnson John Pvt. H 8th CAV Johnson John Pvt. F 9th CAV Johnson Joseph F. Pvt. F 9th CAV Johnson S. Pvt. K 38th INF Johnson Savel Pvt. F 24th INF Johnson William L. Pvt. A 24th INF Johnston A. Pvt. 38th INF Johnston Albert E. Pvt. 15th INF Johnston Lewis Cpl K 38th INF Jolly J. N. Pvt. M 9th CAV Jonas ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Jones B. Pvt. M 9th CAV Jones George Pvt. A 24th INF Jones Isaac Pvt. K 38th INF Jones J. K. Pvt. K 38th INF Jones John H. Pvt. K 38th INF Jones John H. Pvt. G 8th CAV Jones Robert Pvt. D 24th INF Jones Robert C. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Jones S. H. Pvt. K 38th INF Jones William Pvt. K 38th INF Jones William Pvt. B 13th INF Jones William C. Pvt. M 9th CAV Josers Nicholas Sgt B 13th INF Joyce Hugh Pvt. C 8th CAV Juger ns Pvt. I 8th CAV
Source: Southern New Mexico Genealogical Society, Marcena Thompson, and Charles Barnum.
Fort Selden, New Mexico Troops, 1865-1891.