These three brass bits were probably attached to saddles or some other military leather gear. They were dug at Valverde, New Mexico at the site of Fort Craig. Federal troops were quartered there from the 1840's on up through the 1880's. But the site is best known as the home to the First New Mexico Cavalry under the command of Kit Carson in the Civil War. Carson's troops clashed with Confederates under the command of Henry H. Sibley and were defeated, despite inflicting heavy casualties on Southern forces.
These relics are from a grouping of items dug at Fort Craig some years ago, with permission from the landowner. Please take a look at the other items we have for sale from this historic site.