Civil War Today
A West Coast Yankee's Guide to the War between the States
Civil War Today
Site Map
CW Letter Collections
Contact Me
Origins of the Civil War
Long Term Effects
The Ten Most Significant
Fort Sumter
Fort Monroe
Big Bethel
War in the East
Bull Run
Peninsula Campaign
The Seven Days
Cedar Mountain, VA
Battle of Suffolk
Stonewall's Death
Hold at Mountain Run
Gettysburg
New Market, VA
Grant's Overland Campaign
Petersburg Siege
Wilson Kautz Raid
Andersonville
Lee's Retreat
War in the West
Shiloh, TN
Corinth, MS
Jones County
Parker's Crossroads
Tullahoma
Battle for Chattanooga
Fort Pillow, TN
Franklin, TN
Trans-Mississippi
Butterfield Overland Stag
C.S. Arizona
Fort Defiance, AZ
Old Fort Mohave
Fort Mohave Territory
Fort Craig/Valverde
Picacho Peak, AZ
Las Vegas, NM
Glorieta Pass, NM
Fort Union
Albuquerque, NM
Peralta and the Retreat
Navajo Springs, AZ
Kit Carson's Cave
Bosque Redondo
Battle of Carthage
Wilson's Creek, MO
Pea Ridge, AR
Unionville, NV
Newtonia, MO
Prairie Grove, AR
Sabine Pass
The Rio Grande Campaign
Austin, NV
Cabin Creek, OK
Honey Springs, OK
Anaconda: The Blockade
Port Royal, SC
N.C. and the Southside
Monitor vs. the Merrimac
Vicksburg Campaign
Mobile: The Battle
Aleutia Islands
Civil War Quiz
Revolutionary War
Links
Site Bibliography

C.S. Arizona: Kit Carson’s Cave 

1864

 

Naturally occurring cave where Col. Kit Carson of the New Mexico Militia took refuge during his campaign against the Navajo 1863-1864. Carson called the cave a lifesaver because of its command of the only approach.

Here his men could rest up in safety before continuing their slaughter. Carson began his war in July of 1863. In January of 1864 Carson attacked Canyon de Chelly destroying Navajo lives and property under orders from the Governor of New Mexico, but at this point the Navajo lands are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Arizona who was sworn in December 28, 1863.

I know that there were many state militias operating in other states and territories at this point but both New Mexico and Arizona were Union so it is unclear to me what legal justification Carson had for his actions. It may be that the Arizona Governor gave his permission while traveling through Santa Fe on is way to his new post, but he would not have been sworn in yet and therefore not legally in charge. See Bosque Redondo page for more discussion on this subject.

The cave is on private land and public access is no longer allowed.

 

Next: Bosque Redondo

Kit Carson's Cave
NM-566
Galup, NM 87301
Driving Directions
Click the map to open an interactive map in a new window. 

Gallup, NM
Updated Wednesday, February 08, 2012 11:53 PM
Mostly Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy		36°FHigh: 47°F
Low: 16°F
Wind: 5 mph
Humidity: 55%
Partly Cloudy
Friday
51° / 21°		Snow Showers
Saturday
54° / 24°		Partly Cloudy
Sunday
46° / 21°		Snow Showers
Monday
46° / 20°
MSN WeatherData provided by iMap

Click on the map for Interactive, Aerial and Birds Eye Views. 

8 miles east of Gallup New Mexico

3.5 miles north on 566

Pages related to this one:

 

C.S. Arizona 

Fort Defiance

Old Fort Mohave

Fort Mohave Territory

Fort Craig/Valverde

Pichacho Peak

Las Vegas

Glorieta Pass

Fort Union

Albuquerque

Peralta and the Retreat

Navajo Springs

Kit Carson’s Cave

Bosque Redondo