The Butterfield Overland Mail was a transport and mail delivery system that employed stagecoaches that travelled on a specific route between St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California and which passed through the New Mexico Territory. It was created by the United States Congress on March 3, 1857, and operated until March 30, 1861. The route that was operated extended from where the ferry across the Colorado River to Fort Yuma Station, California was located, through New Mexico Territory via, Tucson to the Rio Grande and Mesilla, New Mexico then south to Franklin, Texas, midpoint on the route. The New Mexico Territory mail route was divided into two divisions each under a superintendent. Tucson was the headquarters of the 3rd Division of the Butterfield Overland Mail Company. Franklin Station in the town of Franklin, (now El Paso, Texas), was the headquarters of the 4th Division.
Stations
List of stations within two divisions:
3rd Division
Swiveler's Station – Located 20 miles east of Fort Yuma. Subsequently, the post office for nearby Gila City 1.5 miles west of the station. Mission Camp – a later station located 11.49 miles east of Gila City. Filibusters Camp – Located 18 miles from Swiveler's Station. Antelope Peak Station, a later station located 15.14 miles east of Mission Camp, at the foot of Antelope Peak. It replaced Filibusters Camp Station, 6 miles to the west. Peterman's Station – Located 19 miles from Filibuster Camp, 12.8 miles from Antelope Hill. Later called Mohawk Station. Texas Hill Station, a later station located 10.98 miles east of Mohawk Station, replaced Grizwell's Station. Griswell's Station – Located 12 miles from Peterman's Station, later abandoned. Flap-Jack Ranch – Located 15 miles from Griswell's Station, later called Grinnel's Ranch or Station, located 27.11 miles from Mohawk Station, 16.13 miles from Texas Hill Station, sometimes called Stanwix Ranch and Stanwix Station by Union Army reports. Burke's Station, a later station 9.43 miles from Grinnel's Ranch midway to Oatman Flat Station. Oatman Flat Station – Located 20 miles from Flap-Jack Ranch. Murderer's Grave Station – Located 20 miles from Oatmans Flat Station, later Kinyon's Station. Gila Ranch – Located 17 miles from Murderer's Grave Station. South Tank or Pima Pass Tank – Later water tank, located 10 miles from Gila Ranch. Desert Station – Later station located 21.82 miles from Gila Ranch, 11.82 miles from Pima Pass Tank. North Tank or Montezuma Head Tank – Later water tank, located 8.57 miles from Desert Station. Maricopa Wells Station – Located 40 miles from Gila Ranch, and 18.57 miles from Desert Station, 10 miles from Montezuma Head Tank. Casa Blanca Station – Station established in the latter part of 1858, located 11.35 miles from Maricopa Wells. Socatoon Station – Located 22 miles from Maricopa Wells and 11 miles from Casa Blanca Station. Oneida Station – Later station, located 13 miles from Socatoon Station. Blue Water Station – Later station located 11 miles from Oneida Station. Pechacho or Picacho Station – Located 37 miles from Socatoon Station, 14 miles from Blue Water. Pointer Mountain Station – Located 22 miles from Picacho Station. Tucson Station – Located 18 miles from Pointer Mountain. Headquarters of the 3rd Division.