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 Untin – Zufrison
Ulrich John Pvt. G 8th CAV Unerochs William Pvt. K 15th INF Untin ns Pvt. I 8th CAV Urvine Samuel Pvt. K 38th INF Vail James P. Pvt. I 8th CAV Valois Gustavus 1Lt M 9th CAV Van Wart Edgar M. Pvt. I 8th CAV Vandergriff William Pvt. G 8th CAV Verry Joseph Pvt. K 13th INF Viehlet W. Pvt. 15th INF Vine ns Pvt. 38th INF Vivan John 1Lt H 1 NM CAV Vlain A. S. Pvt. K 38th INF Vlain Robert Pvt. K 38th INF Vollmer Frederick Pvt. K 13th INF Von Bicker Leonard Pvt. K 13th INF Vonstone William Pvt. 15th INF Vose Rufus C. Cpt H 1 CA CAV Wachter William S. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Waddam Amos Pvt. G 8th CAV Wadsworth John Pvt. G 8th CAV Wagner George Pvt. K 13th INF Walasky William Pvt. A 15th INF Walbie James Pvt. C 8th CAV Walker Andrew Pvt. K 3rd CAV Walker Andrew M 9th CAV Walker E. 1Lt 15th INF Walker J. E. Pvt. M 9th CAV Wall William L. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Wallace ns Pvt. C 8th CAV Wallace James W. Pvt. K 38th INF Wallace Maxilary Pvt. D 24th INF Wallington Alfred E. Pvt. K 13th INF Walsh Eugene Pvt. F 15th INF Walter John Pvt. I 8th CAV Walton George A. Pvt. G 8th CAV Ward W. Pvt. M 9th CAV Warner J. Pvt. M 9th CAV Warner John F. 1Lt 125 INF Warren John M 9th CAV Washington F. Pvt. M 9th CAV Washington G. M 9th CAV Washington G. Pvt. M 9th CAV Washington G. Jr. Pvt. M 9th CAV Washington George Pvt. K 38th INF Washigton Jefferson Pvt. M 9th CAV Washington W. T. Pvt. M 9th CAV Wassenbach Charles L. Pvt. B 13th INF Waterhouse Walter B. Pvt. D 10th INF Waters H or N F 9th CAV Waters George Pvt. K 38th INF Waters Joseph Pvt. K 13th INF Waters William E. Pvt. K 15th INF Watkins James Pvt. K 38th INF Watkins James Sgt F 24th INF Watkins William Pvt. K 38th INF Watson David R. Pvt. G 8th CAV Wattendorf Julius Sgt C 8th CAV Watts ns Pvt. K 38th INF Watts A. K. Pvt. M 1 CA CAV Wausickse Charles Sgt 15th INF Weatherbe William C. Pvt. G 8th CAV Weatherford F. Pvt. M 9th CAV Webb Frederick Pvt. I 8th CAV Weeks John J. Pvt. I 8th CAV Weenhart Charles A. Pvt. I 8th CAV Weller ns Pvt. K 38th INF Wells Frederick Pvt. I 8th CAV Wells Henry Pvt. C 8th CAV Welsh Patrick Pvt. D 13th INF Werner F. Pvt. 15th INF Wessel ns Pvt. I 8th CAV West ns Pvt. G 8th CAV West Charles Sgt F 9th CAV West Edgarq Sgt 15th INF West James Pvt. K 3rd CAV West John Pvt. K 38th INF West Washington Westman Ernest Pvt. G 15th INF Westner Emil Pvt. G 15th INF Wheeler Natt S. 1Lt 125th INF Wheeler William Pvt. K 38th INF White James H. Pvt. M 9th CAV White Louis Pvt. M 9th CAV White Merritt Pvt. K 38th INF White Solomon Pvt. K 38th INF White Thomas Pvt. M 9th CAV White Thomas Pvt. K 3rd CAV White W. S. Pvt. C 1 CA INF Whiting ns Pvt. K 8th CAV Whitlock James H. Cpt C 1 CA INF Whitney David Pvt. 15th INF Whitney George B. Pvt. K 3rd CAV Whittemore E. W. Cpt 15th INF Wightman Robert Sgt F 9th CAV Wilbur F. Pvt. 15th INF Wilhelm Henry Pvt. K 3rd CAV Wilkes William Sgt F 24th INF Wilkins Joseph B. Cpl F 24th INF Wilkren George Pvt. 15th INF Wilks ns Pvt. K 38th INF Wilks James Pvt. F 9th CAV Willacy James Pvt. K 3rd CAV Williams D. Pvt. M 9th CAV Williams Doc Pvt. A 24th INF Williams Edwin Pvt. G 15th INF Williams George Sgt F 9th CAV Williams Henry Pvt. F 24th INF Williams Isaac Pvt. C 15th INF Williams James M. Cpt I 8th CAV Williams John Pvt. C 8th CAV Williams John Pvt. F 15th INF Williams John W. Pvt. K 38th INF Williams L. O. Pvt. M 9th CAV Williams M. Pvt. 38th INF Williams Moses Pvt. F 9th CAV Williams Prince Pvt. K 38th INF Williams William Pvt. 38th INF Williamson ns Pvt. G 1 CA INF Willings R. Pvt. K 38th INF Willis Edward B. Ltc 1 NM INF Willis George Pvt. K 3rd CAV Willis John T. Pvt. K 38th INF Willis Henry Pvt. C 8th CAV Wilson ns Maj K 38th INF Wilson ns Pvt. A 24th INF Wilson Charles Pvt. I 8th CAV Wilson Charles Pvt. G 15th INF Wilson H. Pvt. M 9th CAV Wilson James Pvt. H 3rd CAV Wilson John Pvt. K 3rd CAV Wilson John Pvt. K 38th INF Wilson Moses Pvt. K 38th INF Wilson Philip M 9th CAV Wilson Samuel Pvt. 15th INF Wilson Thomas Pvt. B 13th INF Wilson Virgil N. Pvt. 38th INF Wilson William B. Pvt. H 3rd CAV Wilson William J. B 13th INF Wilson William W. Pvt. K 13th INF Windisch Otto Pvt. K 3rd CAV Wing Alfred Pvt. M 9th CAV Winningham Jesse W. Pvt. G 8th CAV Winter ns Pvt. C 8th CAV Wise William Pvt. I 8th CAV Wistner V. Pvt. G 15th INF Witherow ns Cpl K 3rd CAV Wocentlef Charles F 15th INF Wolf W. Pvt. M 9th CAV Wolff Henry F. Pvt. H 3rd CAV Wood E. W. 1 CA INF Woods E. Pvt. M 9th CAV Wrhen ns Sgt K 8th CAV Wleft A. Pvt. M 9th CAV Wleft George L. Pvt. 15th INF Wleft James Pvt. K 38th INF Wleft Lessious Pvt. F 24th INF Wleft Noah Pvt. M 9th CAV Wleft Thomas Pvt. G 8th CAV Wunder Joseph Pvt. K 3rd CAV Wykoff George H. Sgt G 8th CAV Yager ns Cpl I 8th CAV Young Charles cpl K 3rd CAV Young George Pvt. F 9th CAV Young Joannes Pvt. K 3rd CAV Zapp August Pvt. K 13th INF Zemoroth ns Sgt G 8th CAV Zoster ns Pvt. I 8th CAV Zufrison Thomas Pvt. G 8th CAV
Source: Southern New Mexico Genealogical Society, Marcena Thompson, and Charles Barnum.
Fort Selden, New Mexico Troops, 1865-1891.