Massacre Peak Explained

Massacre Peak
Elevation Ft:5,667
Elevation Ref:[1]
Range:Cookes Range
Location:Luna County, New Mexico, U.S.
Map:New Mexico
Map Size:200
Coordinates:32.4448°N -107.675°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
Topo:USGS Massacre Peak

Massacre Peak, a summit at an elevation of 5667feet in the Cookes Range in Luna County, New Mexico.

History

The route of the Southern Emigrant Trail passed just north of this peak as did the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, Butterfield Overland Mail, and other stagecoach lines.

The peaks name refers to the time of the Apache Wars following the Bascom Affair when the Apache destroyed most of the stations and many coaches and killed many of the station staff, drivers and passengers. Many violent incidents followed such as the Battle of Cookes Canyon.

Near the end of the American Civil War, Fort Cummings was established two miles (3.2 km) northeast of the peak, near Cooke's Spring and stage station.[3]

Notes and References

  1. 15589 . Massacre Peak . 2014-02-13.
  2. 891673 . Massacre Peak . 2014-02-13.
  3. Web site: Annals of old Fort Cummings, New Mexico, 1867-8 . William Thornton . Parker . Fort Davis, Tex. . Frontier Book . 1916 . 1968 . 2201299.