521. Santa Fe National Cemetery
Near the end of the Civil War, the United States government established a cemetery for the burial or reburial of Union soldiers who died during military action in the Santa Fe area.
The land selected was west of Santa Fe and owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Fe. They donated the property to the U.S. government in 1870. By 1876, the War Department changed the designation from national cemetery to a post cemetery, saving the U.S. government some money. By 1885, however, the national cemetery status was re-issued.
There are many notable burials in the Santa Fe National Cemetery. There are numerous Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients. Governor Charles Bent, who was killed in the Taos Indian uprising, is buried here (Section I).
Also found here are the Union soldiers who died at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, Kozlowski’s ranch, and Fort Marcy—all 265 of them. The remains of 31 Confederate soldiers who were killed or died as a result of wounds during the Battle of Glorieta Pass were discovered near the battleground in 1987. All but three of these soldiers were reburied in the Santa Fe National Cemetery (Section K). The remaining three soldiers were identified and reburied elsewhere.
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