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 Rack – Rynerson
Rack Albert Pvt. D 10th INF Rackenspergen Peter Cpl B 13th INF Randlett J. F. Cpt C 8th CAV Ray Isaac Pvt. K 38th INF Ray Jacob Pvt. K 38th INF Reade Philip V. 2Lt Reardon Dennis Pvt. 15th INF Redmond Sandy K 38th INF Reed ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Reed Charles Pvt. K 13th INF Reed Job Pvt. A 24th INF Reed John Pvt. K 3rd CAV Reese Jacob Pvt. F 15th INF Reeson ns Pvt. I 8th CAV Reid William Pvt. G 8th CAV Reide Adam Pvt. G 8th CAV Reilly ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Reis Thomas Pvt. 15th INF Relay ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Renault Nicholas Pvt. 15th INF Rennars George W. Sgt 15th INF Renner John Pvt. B 13th INF Reynolds Michael Pvt. B 13th INF Rhett James Pvt. D 24th INF Rice Horace B. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Richards ns Pvt. K 8th CAV Richards James A. Pvt. F 24th INF Richardson ns Pvt. 38th INF Rigg Edwin A. 1Lt K 38th INF Riley Francis C 8th CAV Riley John Pvt. G 8th CAV Riley John Pvt. K 13th INF Ripley Peter Sgt K 13th INF Roach ns Pvt. K 8th CAV Roberts ns Pvt. I 8th CAV Roberts Charles E. Pvt. C 8th CAV Roberts George Pvt. K 13th INF Robertson Charles Pvt. D 10th INF Robey ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Robinson C. Pvt. F 9th CAV Robinson Carter Pvt. K 38th INF Robinson Davie Pvt. K 13th INF Robinson Frank U. 1Lt A 125 INF Robinson John Sgt K 38th INF Robinson Morgan Sgt D 10th INF Robinson Samuel Pvt. K 38th INF Robinson Scott 1Lt H 3rd CAV Robinson W. W. 2Lt H 3rd CAV Rodenstein Charles F. Pvt. D 10th INF Rodenstein Karl G. Pvt. D 10th INF Rodgers Francis Pvt. G 8th CAV Rodrigus Jose R. Pvt. I 1 NM INF Rogers ns Pvt. G 8th CAV Rogers ns Pvt. I 8th CAV Rolls Arnold Pvt. G 15th INF Roman William W. Pvt. I 8th CAV Rooney George D. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Rose Frank B. Pvt. B 13th INF Rosenthal John Sgt Rost Theodore G. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Rotterock Samuel Pvt. D 10th INF Rowan Marlin Pvt. K 3rd CAV Ruchert Louis Pvt. 15th INF Rucker L. H. Cpt M 9th CAV Rudolphi Henry Pvt. 15th INF Runian Ferdinand Pvt. G 8th CAV Runnels D. G. Pvt. K 15th INF Runyon David E. Pvt. Russell Alex Pvt. A 15th INF Russell Gerald Cpt K 3rd CAV Rutherford James C. Sgt K 38th INF Ryan ns Sgt C 8th CAV Ryan George Pvt. D 10th INF Ryan Thomas Pvt. C 15th INF Ryan William Pvt. C 8th CAV Rynerson William L. Cpt 1 CA INF
Source: Southern New Mexico Genealogical Society, Marcena Thompson, and Charles Barnum.
Fort Selden, New Mexico Troops, 1865-1891.