Cooke's Wells Station

Overland Mail stagecoach stop in Baja California, Mexico

Cooke's Wells Station a stage station of the Butterfeild Overland Mail, located south of the Mexican border, in the old Alamos River bed, about 1 km west northwest of Mérida, Baja California. Its site was at Cooke's Wells, named for Philip St. George Cooke whose expedition found them in 1847. It was at first the only water source 22 miles (35 km) east of Alamo Mucho Station and 18 miles (29 km) west of the Pilot Knob Station on the Southern Emigrant Trail.[1]

Cooke's Wells were fed by spring flooding from the Colorado River along the course of the Alamo River that sank into the ground or formed small pools or lakes along its course that could provide water in the otherwise dry region.[2] Later the stage company established two other stations in similar locations on the river west of Cooke's Wells, at Gardner's Wells Station 9 miles (14 km) east of Alamo Mucho and at Salt or Seven Wells 9 miles (14 km) east of Gardner's Wells and 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Cooke's Wells.[3]

References

  1. ^ "California - Interesting from Washington Territory – Progress of the Indian War – Arrival of the Overland Mail – Itinerary of the Route" (PDF). The New York Times. October 14, 1858. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  2. ^ Tom Jonas (Autumn 2009). "Wells in the Desert, Retracing the Mexican War Trails of Kearny and Cooke through Baja California" (PDF). The Journal of Arizona History. 50 (3): 279–282. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. ^ "THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. CHAPTER LXII. OPERATIONS ON THE PACIFIC COAST. JANUARY 1, 1861–JUNE 30, 1865. PART I., CORRESPONDENCE., pp.710-712, Journal of the march of Companies E, G, and H, First Infantry California Volunteers, commanded by Lieut. Col. Joseph R. West, from Camp Latham to Fort Yuma". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
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Butterfield Overland Mail 2nd Division Stations
  • Los Angeles – Located 12 miles southeast of Cahuenga Station in the pueblo of Los Angeles. The 2nd Division headquarters was in a brick building, consisting of an office, blacksmith shop, stables and sheds.
  • Monte – Located 13 miles east of Los Angeles.
  • Rancho San Jose – Located 12 miles east of Monte in present-day Pomona.
  • Rancho Santa Ana del Chino – Located 12 miles southeast of Rancho San Jose.
  • Temescal Station – Located 20 miles southeast of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino.
  • Laguna Grande Station – Located 10 miles southeast of Temescal Station, near present-day Lake Elsinore.
  • Alamos or Willow Springs Station – a later station, 11 miles south of Laguna Grande Station.
  • Temecula Station – Located 21 miles southeast of Laguna Grande Station.
  • Tejungo Station – Located 14 miles east of Temecula Station, near Aguanga
  • Oak Grove Stage Station – Located 12 miles southeast of Tejungo Station.
  • Warner's Ranch – Located 10 miles southeast of Oak Grove Station.
  • San Felipe Station – Located 10 miles southeast of Warner's Ranch, northwest of nearby Scissors Crossing.
  • Vallecito Station – Located 18 miles southeast of San Felipe Station.
  • Palm Spring Station – Located 9 miles southeast of Vallecito Station at Palm Spring.
  • Carrizo Creek Station – Located 9 miles east southeast of Palm Spring Station.
  • Sackett's Wells – a later station, located 171⁄2 miles east southeast of Carrizo Creek Station, 15 miles west northwest of Indian Wells.
  • Indian Wells Station – Located 32 miles southeast of Carisso Creek, near present day Heber, no water except at station.
  • New River Station – a later station, located 15 miles southeast of Indian Wells Station, in Baja California, 14 miles west of Alamo Mocho Station, in present day Mexicali.
  • Alamo Mocho Station – Located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 38 miles east of Indian Wells Station, no water except at station.
  • Gardner's Wells Station – a later station, located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 9 miles east of Alamo Mocho and 9 miles west of Seven Wells.
  • Salt or Seven Wells – a later well, located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 18 miles east of Alamo Mucho.
  • Cooke's Wells Station – Located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 22 miles east of Alamo Mocho Station, no water except at station.
  • Pilot Knob Station – Located 18 miles east of Cooke's Wells.
  • Fort Yuma Station – Located 10 miles east of Pilot Knob Station.

Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route"" (PDF). New York Times. October 14, 1858.

32°40′10″N 114°55′35″W / 32.66944°N 114.92639°W / 32.66944; -114.92639