It was the target of constant attacks by the Apaches and in 1838 it was abandoned by the Centralist Republic of Mexico.
[1] In 1851 the United States Boundary Commission occupied the fort and named it Dawson Cantonment.
In 1852 it is occupied by the United States Army, which will call it Gila Copper Mines Post or Fort Webster.
[1] The original post of Fort Webster at the Santa Rita copper mines was moved in September 1852, 14 miles east to the west bank of the Rio Mimbres, about one mile west of the modern town of San Lorenzo.
[3] The site of the old presidio, Cantonment Dawson and the original site of Fort Webster was obliterated by the great open pit of the Chino Copper Mine in Grant County, New Mexico.