These wells allowed travel along the level ground along the 19th century course of the Alamo River, avoiding the more difficult route up on Andrade Mesa.
However the locality remained in use as a watering place for travelers on the Southern Emigrant Trail and was a post for Union Army units moving back and forth between California and Arizona Territory.
[1]The Gardner's Well Station was in use again by stagecoach lines from 1867 until 1877 when the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Fort Yuma.
Today Gardner's Well is located about three miles north of Querétaro, Baja California in the bed of the old Alamo River.
[2] Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route"" (PDF).