Existing comment:
Fort Union and the Civil War:
The Confederates invaded New Mexico from Texas, hoping to secure a path to the Pacific and access to Colorado's gold mines.
Brig. General Henry Sibley, Commander of the Southern forces in New Mexico (CSA), had been Commandant at Fort Union in 1861 and knew the country well.
June 11, 1861: Union officers sympathetic to the Confederate cause had been resigning their commissions since bombardment of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, April 12. When Col. W.W. Loring relinquished his commission on June 11, Col. Edward R. S. Canby assumed command of the U.S. Department of New Mexico.
July 8, 1861: Confederate President Jefferson Davis ordered Brig. Gen. H. H. Sibley to organize a brigade in Texas for the conquest of New Mexico.
July 23, 1861: Meanwhile, Col. John Baylor (CSA) with 230 (?) men, marched into New Mexico from Fort Bliss, Texas.
July 25, 1861: 380 Union troops led by Maj. Isaac Lynde intercepted Baylor at Mesilla but were forced to retreat to Fort Fillmore.
July 27, 1861: Major Lynde then attempted to evacuate 700 troops to Fort Stanton. They were overtaken at San Augustine Springs and surrendered without a fight.
August 1, 1861: Colonel Baylor proclaimed all New Mexico Territory south of 34 degree latitude to be the Confederate Territory of Arizona. [This includes Fort Stanton.]
August 2, 1861: Following Lynde's capture, Lt. Col. Benjamin Roberts decided to destroy his stores, abandon Fort Stanton, and move his garrison to Fort Craig. [Fort Craig is also below the 34 parallel.]
August to November, 1861: A star fort was begun at Fort Union, and Fort Craig's defenses were improved.
January, 1862: Col. Canby arrived at Fort Craig, commanding 3630 (?) men.
December, 1861 - March, 1862: Colorado Volunteer Regiments were organized and moved into New Mexico. One regiment under Col. John Slough made a forced march of 172 miles in five days!
February, 1862: 2000 Confederate troops resumed their march north. Brigadier General Sibley now commanded.
February 21, 1862: Approaching Fort Craig, exchange of gunfire led Sibley to swing east of the river [the Rio Grande]. Union forces moved out to intercept him. At Valverde, the first major battle of the campaign forced Canby to return to Fort Craig.
Losses:
Union: Killed 68, Wounded 169 (?), Prisoners 35
Confederate: Killed: 40, Wounded: 200
Sibley headed north to Albuquerque where (March 2) he found all government stores destroyed.
March 23, 1862: The Confederates occupied Santa Fe without opposition.
March 25, 1862: Confederate troops moved from Santa Fe toward Fort Union with Maj. C.L. Pyron in command.
March 26, 1862: Colonel Slough, at Bernal Springs, dispatched 410 (?) Union troops toward Santa Fe under Maj. John Chivington.
March 26-28, 1862: Completely surprised, Pyron came upon the Union troops at Glorieta Pass, about 13 (?) miles east of Santa Fe. After brisk fire, the Confederates were routed.
Losses (1st day):
Union: Killed 5, Wounded 15
Confederate: Killed 32, Confederate: 43, Prisoners: 71
Colonel Slough took over command of Union forces but the second battle two days later with both commands reinforced was no more decisive than the first, though Brigadier General Sibley reported a Confederate victory.
Losses (3rd day):
Union: Killed 29, Wounded 45
Confederate: Killed 36, Wounded 60 (?), Prisoners: 17
During the battle, Major Chivington had taken a Union detachment behind the Confederate lines, falling on their supply train at Johnson's Ranch.
News of the destruction of their meager supplied led Major Pyron to order the Confederate retreat.
April 1, 1862: Colonel Canby, with 1216 (?) men, marched north from Fort Craig.
April 10 (?), 1862: Canby reached Albuquerque and began bombarding positions held by the retreating Confederates. Regulars from Fort Union led by Col. G. R. Paul, arrived to reinforce Canby. Confederates evacuate the area.
April 16, 1862: Union forces continued pursuit of the fleeing Confederates, clashing at Peralta.
April 21, 1862: Disorganized Confederates moved toward the Texas border, abandoning animals and equipment along the way.
July 12, 1862: Confederate troops abandoned Fort Bliss and moved east with only 2000 men of the 3700 men who had entered Mexico since July, 1861. |