Camp Crittenden was established on August 10, 1867, and was named by General Orders No. 57 of the Department of California on September 30, 1867, in honor of Thomas S. Crittenden, Col. 32nd U.S. Infantry, Major General U.S. Volunteers. It was established to protect settlements in the Babocomari, Sonoita, and Santa Cruz Valleys against Indians, and was abandoned on June 1, 1873. While leading a detachment of troops from Camp Crittenden, Lieut. H. B. Cushing was killed in a skirmish on May 5, 1871 by an Apache war leader from Cochise's band.