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Defensive Bastions: These defensive earth bastions were constructed early in the Civil War (probably in the winter of 1861-62) while Confederate troops massed in El Paso and Mesilla near Las Cruces for the campaign to the north.  By the time Sibley's march began, the Confederates had already taken, either by force or abandonment, the Union posts at El Paso, Fort Stanton, and Fort Fillmore.  Some reports say that the bastions were constructed within two weeks while Sibley marched north, but additional building continued through 1864.  Enough had been completed by Sibley's arrival, however, to deter any plans of a direct assault upon the Fort.  "Quaker Guns," made of wood to appear as real canon from a distance, were placed in several of the bastion corners to reinforce the formidable appearance.  The bastions were arranged in a classical geometric shape so that a frontal attack on virtually any point would open the attackers to a crossfire from other bastions.  The bastions represent an enormous volume of gravel, moved by man- and mule-power.  The ditch outside was formed as a by-product of construction, but acts as a dry moat, increasing the difficulty of a direct attack.  During its 31 year history in the early and late Indian Wars and the Civil War, no foe ever attempted to test these fortifications.

April 2000

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