Fort Garland
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Fort Garland (1858 - 1883), Colorado. Designed to house 2 companies of soldiers to protect settlers in the San Luis Valley, which was the Territory of New Mexico. It was named for General John Garland, commander of the Military District of New Mexico.
Colonel Kit Carson and New Mexico Volunteers were stationed here in 1886 and he successfully negotiated a treaty with the Utes in 1867.
The Ninth Cavalry, (Buffalo Soldiers) was stationed here between 1876 and 1879. In 1876, these troops were called to the La Plata region to prevent conflict between the Utes and white prospectors. The following year, they helped remove white settlers from Ute reservation lands.
In 1879, United States military units from Fort Garland were called upon by the Nathan Meeker, Indian Agent at the White River Agency. Meeker and others were killed, and family members taken captive by unhappy Utes. The captives were released and the Utes were moved once again, which reduced the need for a Fort.
