Fort Buchanan, Military fort near Sonoita, Arizona, US
Fort Buchanan was a military outpost on the east slope of Hog Canyon, about 3 miles southwest of present-day Sonoita in Santa Cruz County. The installation included standard military structures and support buildings arranged to defend the surrounding territory.
Founded in 1856 as Camp Moore and later renamed Fort Buchanan, it became the first military post within the boundaries of the 1853 Gadsden Purchase. The outpost served as a critical base during the conflicts between American settlers and Apache tribes in the Arizona Territory.
The fort played a central role in the relations between American settlers and Chiricahua Apache tribes, leading to significant territorial conflicts in the region.
The remains consist of scattered rocks and adobe ruins that stand on private grazing land today. Access to the site requires local inquiry and respect for current land rights before attempting a visit.
In 1865, just nine cavalrymen mounted a defense against roughly 75 Apache warriors before retreating into the nearby hills. This confrontation illustrates the harsh conditions soldiers faced at this isolated frontier position.
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