Fort Marcy was established in 1846 at Santa Fe and was named for the
then Secretary of War, W. L. Marcy. The fort was located on a hill
overlooking the city some 1000 yards northeast of the plaza. A deep
ditch or moat surrounded the massive adobe walls of the fort and a
blockhouse, within musket range, protected the only entrance. At the
time of Colonel Manfield’s inspection trip in August 1853, the troops
were quartered in public buildings in Santa Fe, there being no quarters
provided at the fort; however, it could be occupied on a moment’s
notice. The original Fort Marcy was abandoned in 1867 and a new one was
constructed a short distance to the west. This new site is now occupied
by business and residential properties. The War Department abandoned
Fort Marcy in October 1894, the troops and equipment being moved to Fort
Sill, Oklahoma. The site was turned over to the city of Santa Fe in
1897.
Fort Marcy played an important role during the military occupation of
New Mexico. It served as a base of operations against marauding Indians,
was captured and occupied for a short time by Confederate forces in
1862, served as headquarters for the Ninth Military Department (changed
to Department of New Mexico in 1853) throughout most of this period, and
was a center for the social life of Santa Fe. Only low mounds of earth
now mark the site of Fort Marcy.