**Dragoon, Arizona** a small community located in the southeastern part of the state. Its history from **1855 to 1900** reflects the broader themes of military activity, Apache conflict, settlement, and the development of the region in the late 19th century.

**Early Years and Military Presence (1855-1860s):**

The area that became known as Dragoon is located near the **Dragoon Mountains**, which were named after a group of French cavalry soldiers, the **Dragoons**, who were stationed in the area during the early military campaigns in the Southwest. The history of Dragoon begins in the mid-19th century as part of the U.S. military efforts to control the Apache population and maintain law and order in the region.

 **Fort Buchanan**: Established in 1856, **Fort Buchanan** (just west of present day Sonoita) was a key military installation near Dragoon, located to the southeast of the Dragoon Mountains. The fort was designed to protect settlers, support military operations, and engage with the Apache tribes in the region. It played a significant role in the early years of settlement and military presence in southeastern Arizona, as well as in the efforts to control Apache raids in the area. It was also involved in the **Gadsden Purchase** (1853), which gave the United States control of additional territory from Mexico, including parts of what is now southeastern Arizona.

 **Apache Raids**: The period from the mid-1850s to the 1860s was marked by ongoing conflict with the Apache tribes, particularly the **Chiricahua** and **Mimbreno Apaches**, who had been resisting both Mexican and American control of the region for decades. Apache groups raided settlers and military posts, and U.S. forces responded with punitive expeditions, contributing to the broader context of the **Apache Wars** in the area. Dragoon, being close to both Fort Buchanan and the Dragoon Mountains, was caught in the crossfire of these tensions.

**Post-Civil War Period and Apache Wars (1870s-1880s):**

- **Post-Civil War Military Activity**: After the Civil War, the military presence in southeastern Arizona remained strong. As the U.S. sought to secure its new territories and deal with continuing resistance from various Apache groups, **Fort Bowie** was established in 1862, just to the west of Dragoon. Fort Bowie became one of the key military outposts in the region during the Apache Wars, and it played a direct role in the military campaigns against Apache leaders like **Cochise** and **Geronimo**.

**Dragoon Springs**: Dragoon Springs, located near modern Dragoon, was a key water stop along the **California Trail** during the 19th century. This was important for both military and civilian travelers, especially as migration to the western territories increased. As a spring and strategic location, it was a hub for those moving through the area, and its proximity to Fort Bowie and Fort Buchanan made it a critical part of the military's logistical network.

**Apache Resistance**: By the 1870s, the military presence in the region had become even more concentrated as the U.S. sought to quell Apache resistance. The **Chiricahua Apache** led by **Cochise** negotiated peace treaties with the U.S. in the early 1870s, but after Cochise’s death in 1874, hostilities resumed. Apache leaders like **Geronimo** led a series of raids in the 1880s, and the Dragoon area was not immune to these attacks.

**The Battle of Dragoon Springs (1871)**: One notable event in the history of Dragoon during this time was the **Battle of Dragoon Springs**, which occurred in 1871 between the **Apache** and the U.S. military. The conflict arose over the military’s efforts to move Apache people to reservations and quell their resistance. It was part of the larger struggle between Apache warriors and U.S. forces in the region.

**Late 19th Century and Economic Development (1890s-1900):**

By the 1890s, southeastern Arizona, including the Dragoon area, was undergoing a period of transition. While Apache resistance had largely been quelled with the surrender of Geronimo in 1886, the region was still relatively remote and rural. However, several significant developments took place that helped shape the future of the area.

 **Tombstone and Mining**: The nearby town of **Tombstone** became a prominent mining center after the discovery of silver in the late 1870s. As mining booms in places like Tombstone attracted settlers, the surrounding region, including Dragoon, began to see more settlement and economic activity. The **Southern Pacific Railroad** completed its route through southern Arizona in the 1880s, bringing both goods and people to the region and facilitating trade and commerce. It made a stop in Dragoon, adding to Dragoon's growth. 

**Agriculture and Ranching**: In addition to mining, agriculture and ranching began to take hold in the Dragoon area during the late 19th century. The region's natural resources, including water from Dragoon Springs, made it a suitable location for ranching. As the military presence in the region lessened, settlers began to move into the area, and the establishment of small farms and ranches became more common.

**Decline of Military Posts**: The U.S. military presence in the Dragoon area began to wind down by the late 1880s and early 1890s. Fort Buchanan was abandoned in the late 1860s, and Fort Bowie was eventually closed in 1894. The decline of military influence allowed civilian settlements to grow, and Dragoon transitioned from being a military outpost to a small agricultural and ranching community.

**Summary of Dragoon's History (1855-1900)**:
From 1855 to 1900, **Dragoon, Arizona**, was primarily shaped by its military significance during the Apache Wars and its role as a water stop along the California Trail. The establishment of military posts like Fort Buchanan and Fort Bowie contributed to the region's early development, while the conflicts with Apache tribes, particularly under Cochise and Geronimo, marked the middle of the century. By the late 1800s, the region began to experience economic growth, driven by the nearby mining industry in Tombstone and the expansion of the railroad and agriculture and ranching.