what side was new mexico on in the civil war

Was New Mexico involved in the Civil War?

New Mexico Territory in the American Civil War. The New Mexico Territory, which included the areas which became the modern U.S. states of New Mexico and Arizona as well as the southern part of present-day Nevada, played a small but significant role in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.

What was a significant Confederate offensive to seize New Mexico?

A significant Confederate offensive to seize the New Mexico Territory in more than just name resulted in the New Mexico Campaign, which was fought from February to April 1862. The Confederate Army of New Mexico, marching west from Texas, briefly occupied the southern New Mexico Territory, arriving in February 1862,...

Was New Mexico a Confederate or union territory?

For the southern portion of New Mexico Territory controlled or claimed by the Confederacy, see Confederate Arizona. For events in the new Union territory formed in 1863 from the western half of New Mexico Territory, see Arizona Territory § American Civil War.

How many troops from New Mexico Territory served in the Union?

Additionally, over 7,000 troops from the New Mexico Territory served the Union. The New Mexico Territory was organized as a U.S. territory in 1850, and for many years its precise boundaries and internal administration remained undefined. In 1853, the territory was expanded south of the Gila River in the Gadsden Purchase.

What was the purpose of the Civil War in New Mexico?

At first, the strong military presence was to secure New Mexico as U.S. territory. Between 1848 and 1853 troops remained to guarantee the promise made in Article XI of the Treaty ...

When did the Confederate advance into New Mexico?

Confederate Invasion of New Mexico, 1862 Map illustrating the Confederate advance into New Mexico in 1861 and 1862, including major battles.

Why did Colonel Canby say that Nuevomexicanos did not join the Union?

Similarly, Colonel Canby declared that nuevomexicanos not join Union ranks because they carried “no affections for institutions of the United States.” 6 Yet, following the shock of Baylor’s victory in Mesilla, pragmatism pushed Canby to encourage nuevomexicanos to join his forces.

Why did Sibley convince Jefferson Davis to join the New Mexico campaign?

The Confederacy desperately hoped for a transcontinental rail connection to the Pacific to counter the rail supremacy of the North.

What were the forts in Mexico?

These included Fort Union on the lands of the Llaneros band of the Jicarilla Apache people, Fort Conrad to the south of Socorro, Fort Fillmore near Mesilla, Fort Stanton among the Mescaleros, and Fort Defiance in ...

Where was Fort Webster?

In January 1852, U.S. forces established Fort Webster near the Santa Rita del Cobre mine (near present-day Silver City). Chiricahua warriors saw the new fort as an unsolicited and unwarranted infiltration of their homelands.

Who was the leader of the Sand Creek Massacre?

Scurry, however, was unaware of the movements of four hundred Union forces under Major John M. Chivington, a Methodist minister from Denver who later enacted the infamous Sand Creek Massacre. With Lieutenant Major Manuel Chávez of the First New Mexico Volunteers as a guide, Chivington’s party marched for five hours in an attempt to flank enemy forces. In the process, the group accidentally happened upon the Confederate supply train. Following a short skirmish, Chivington’s men captured the provisions, which included eighty well-stocked wagons and nearly five-hundred horses. Due to the loss, Scurry retreated to Santa Fe and, having lost one-third of his troops and the bulk of his supplies, Sibley had no choice other than to abandon New Mexico. His men marched southward and returned to Texas.

What battles did Sibley fight in New Mexico?

Sibley’s New Mexico Campaign. Battle of Valverde. Battle of Glorieta Pass. Prior to the Civil War, residents in the southern part of New Mexico Territory had long complained that the territorial government in Santa Fe was too far away to properly address their concerns. Their sense of abandonment was further confirmed at the beginning ...

Who led the New Mexico campaign?

Sibley’s New Mexico Campaign (February-March 1862) Led by Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley, southern troops invaded northern New Mexico Territory beginning in February 1862 in an attempt to gain control of the Southwest, as well as the goldfields of Colorado and the ports of California. One of the most ambitious Confederate ...

What did Lynde order to do when the Confederates refused to surrender?

Lynde then ordered his cavalry and three companies of the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, to charge the Confederate forces.

What was the significance of the Battle of Mesilla?

The Battle of Mesilla led to the official establishment of a Confederate Arizona Territory, which would consist of the southern portion of the New Mexico Territory and Arizona, and paved the way for the Confederate New Mexico Campaign the following year.

Where was Fort Fillmore located?

About six miles southeast of Mesilla sat the tiny post of Fort Fillmore. Originally established to control the local Apache, the post had declined over the years, fallen into serious disrepair and its troops removed. However, when the Union found out that the Texans were coming into the territory, they reinforced the fort.

What was the name of the garrison along the Oregon Trail?

The plan called for an invasion along the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, seizing Colorado Territory, which was in the height of a gold rush, as well as Fort Laramie, Wyoming , which was the most important garrison along the Oregon Trail.

Why was the Battle of Valverde so slow?

However, their progress was very slow due to the loss of many horses at Valverde, requiring many of the soldi ers to march. They also had lost much of their transportation in the Battle of Valverde, causing them to carry the wounded. Though slow, they continued northwestward, finally reaching Santa Fe on March 13th.

What was the southern part of New Mexico?

For years, residents in the southern part of the New Mexico Territory had been complaining that the territorial government in Santa Fe was too far away to properly address their concerns. The withdrawal of the Regular army at the beginning of the war confirmed to the residents that they were being abandoned. Secession conventions in Mesilla and Tucson voted to join the territory to the Confederacy in March 1861, and formed militia companies to defend themselves. In July 1861, Lieutenant Colonel John Baylor led a battalion of Texas mounted rifles into the southern portion of the New Mexico Territory, entering Mesilla and repulsing the attack of the Union garrison of Fort Fillmore at the First Battle of Mesilla. The victorious Baylor established the Confederate Territory of Arizona south of the 34th parallel.

Who took possession of New Mexico in 1861?

Sibley's advance. On December 20, 1861, General Sibley, in command of the Army of New Mexico, issued a proclamation taking possession of New Mexico in the name of the Confederate States.

What battle did the Confederates and Union forces fight?

The Union and Confederate forces met at the Battle of Glorieta Pass on March 28. The Confederates were able to push the Union force through the pass, but had to retreat following the destruction of their wagon train, which contained nearly all of their supplies and ammunition. Sibley pulled his army back to Albuquerque to await reinforcements from Texas. Slough, receiving orders from Canby to return immediately to Fort Union, also retreated, fearing a court martial if he disobeyed this order. Once he arrived at the fort, he resigned his commission and returned to Colorado, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Tappan in command of the regiment and Paul once again in command of the fort.

What was the second battle of Mesilla?

The Second Battle of Mesilla was a skirmish fought in the desert near Mesilla on July 1, 1862 between Confederate Arizona rebels and pro Union New Mexican militia. The engagement ended with a Union victory and with the threat of the more numerous Union forces closing in, prompted the rebels to withdraw from Mesilla, retreating into Texas in early July.

What was the New Mexico campaign?

La Paz. The New Mexico campaign was a military operation of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War from February to April 1862 in which Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley invaded the northern New Mexico Territory in an attempt to gain control of the Southwest, including the gold fields of Colorado and the ports ...

Why did the 4th Texas have to be dismounted?

Due to the loss of horses at Valverde, the 4th Texas had to be dismounted, with the remaining horses, already in a weakened state, distributed among the other units. They also had lost much of their transportation in the battle at Valverde, causing them to carry the wounded.

Where is the interpretive sign for the Battle of Mesilla?

The First and Second Battle of Mesilla have an interpretive sign on the Plaza in historic Mesilla, which was the capital of the Confederate Arizona territory during the Civil War, but is now part of metropolitan Las Cruces in far southern New Mexico.

What was the name of the battle that helped push the Confederacy out of New Mexico?

The Union victory helped push the Confederacy out of New Mexico for good, later earning Glorieta a nickname: the “ Gettysburg of the West.”. Today, the battlefield is part of Pecos National Historical Park, and a marker of Mexican Americans’ contributions to the U.S. military.

Where did Mexican Americans fight in the Confederacy?

Mexican Americans who joined the Confederacy fought as far away as Virginia and Pennsylvania. But Mexican American soldiers in the Union fought closer to home, and helped secure key victories in the southwest.

What divided the Mexican Americans of Texas?

In contrast, “the Civil War deeply divided the Mexican Americans of Texas,” Thompson writes for the Texas State Historical Association. Tejanos who joined the state’s Confederate militia units “frequently did so out of a fear of being sent out of the state and away from their families. Some were able to avoid conscription by claiming ...

Why did the Tejanos not join the Texas side?

“Some outright avoided joining either side because tejanos were accused of disloyalty even before ...

How many Mexican Americans joined the Confederate army?

Thompson, a history professor at Texas A&M International University, estimates that a few thousand Mexican Americans joined the Confederate troops and over 10,000 joined the Union Army and Militia. Though there was some overlap, most Mexican Americans who joined the Union lived in the U.S.

Why was the desertion rate high in the Mexican American Civil War?

The desertion rate among Mexican American Civil War soldiers was high, mostly because of the prejudice they experienced from white soldiers on both sides, according to the National Park Service.

What battle did Mexican soldiers fight at?

Mexican-American soldiers fighting off a Union General at the Battle of Valverde in 1862.

What forces are engaged in the Texas Cavalry?

Forces Engaged: Northern Division, Army of New Mexico [US]; 4th, 5th, and 7th Texas Cavalry Regiment, artillery, and a company of independent volunteers [CS]

Where did the Confederates retire?

The Confederates halted their retirement at the Old Rio Grande riverbed, which served as an excellent position. After crossing all his men, Canby decided that a frontal assault would fail and deployed his force to assault and turn the Confederate left flank. Before he could do so, though, the Rebels attacked.

How many men did Sibley have to cross the Rio Grande?

Description: Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley led his force of 2,500 men across the Rio Grande River and up the east side of the river to the ford at Valverde, north of Fort Craig, New Mexico, hoping to cut Federal communications between the fort and military headquarters in Santa Fe. Union Col. E.R.S. Canby left Fort Craig with more than 3,000 men to prevent the Confederates from crossing the river. When he was opposite them, across the river, Canby opened fire and sent Union cavalry over, forcing the Rebels back. The Confederates halted their retirement at the Old Rio Grande riverbed, which served as an excellent position. After crossing all his men, Canby decided that a frontal assault would fail and deployed his force to assault and turn the Confederate left flank.

Who captured the Rebels?

After noon, Chivington’s men captured some Rebel advance troops and then found the main force behind them. Chivington advanced on them, but their artillery fire threw him back. He regrouped, split his force to the two sides of the pass, caught the Rebels in a crossfire, and soon forced them to retire.

Where did Chivington retreat to?

Chivington’s men, how-ever, had destroyed all Scurry’s supplies and animals at Johnson’s Ranch, forcing him to retreat to Santa Fe, the first step on the long road back to San Antonio, Texas. The Federals had won and, thereby, stopped Confederate incursions into the Southwest.

Overview

Politics

Prelude to war

Military actions

Aftermath

See also

External links