MCHENRY COUNTY PRESENTATION CIVIL WAR ROUND DISCUSSION GROUP AT THE TABLE AT THE

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BOOK REVIEW From Wikipedia Missouri was a hotly contested border state populated by both Union and Confederate THE CIVIL WAR sympathizers. War in the state of Missouri IN was continuous between 1861 and 1865, with battles and skirmishes in all areas of the MISSOURI & ARKANSAS state, from the Iowa and Illinois borders in the northeast to the Arkansas border in the FAITH OF THE FATHERS southeast and southwest. Counting minor CATHOLIC CIVIL WAR CHAPLINS actions and skirmishes, Missouri saw more than 1,200 distinct engagements within its REMAINS boundaries . INCLUDE CIVIL WAR Arkansas was a Confederate state, and MCCWRT HEROES played a major role in controlling the vital Mississippi River and neighboring states, WELCOMES ALL THE BATTLE OF including Tennessee and Missouri. There GLORIETA PASS were o ver 750 engagements fought in the TO OUR state of Arkansas, some of the better known NEW MEXICO CAMPAIGN 2018 battles were,the Battle of Pea Ridge in March BATTLE 1862, the Battle of Saint Charles June 17, PRESENTATION APACHE CANYON 1862 , Prarie Grove December, Arkansas GLORIETA PASS Post January, 1863 and the Battle of Helena SEASON fought on July 4,1863.

REMAINS THE BATTLE INCLUDE OF GLORIETA PASS CIVIL WAR HEROS From Wikipedia a DECATUR HERALD & REVIEW (DATE UNKNOWN) The Battle of Glorieta Pass, fought from March DECATUR, ILLINOIS- A 6-foot tall obeisk sits 26–28, 1862, in the northern New Mexico atop a stone monument in Greenwood Territory, was the decisive battle of the New Cemetery. Weathered lettering on the Mexico Campaign during the American Civil monument proclaims, “A Country’s Gratitude is War. the Hero’s Best Reward.” Dubbed the "Gettysburg of the West" (a term The monument marks the final resting place of that "serves the novelist better than the the brothers Nathan W. Tuper and Ansel Tuper, historian") by some authors, it was intended as both Union Army officers, who died during the the decisive blow by Confederate forces to break Civil War. Also etched into the stone is “To the the Union possession of the West along the Tuper Brothers by Citizens of Macon County” base of the Rocky Mountains. and the brothers’ service records. It was fought at Glorieta Pass in the Sangre de Decatur Township Cemeteries Superintendent Cristo Mountains in what is now New Mexico, FAITH Harrell Ellis points to cracks that line the base of and was an important event in the history of the OF THE FATHERS the monument. “Water gets in these, and New Mexico Territory in the American Civil War. The freezing and thawing action is breaking it up,” There was a skirmish on March 26 between Ellis said of the base. “It looks like someone Courage, Humor and Dedication advance elements from each army, with the tried to smear some concrete on the outside at main battle occurring on March 28. of some point. But that’s come off.” “I don’t know Catholic Civil War Chaplains how long it will last until it falls over,” Ellis said. Although the Confederates were able to push Other stones in the cemetery are leaning at the Union force back through the pass, they had AT various angles because of settling of the graves to retreat when their supply train was destroyed THE KENOSHA CIVIL WAR under them, Ellis said. The stones are extremely and most of their horses and mules killed or MUSEUM heavy and he township doesn’t have the driven off. responsibility to right them, he said. FRIDAY MARCH 9, 2018 Eventually the Confederates had to withdraw NOON That same sentiment is echoed by his brother; entirely from the territory back into Confederate Lisle Ellis, chairman of the township cemetery Arizona and then Texas. Glorieta Pass thus Presented by Rev. Robert Miller. board. “the township doesn’t have the financial represented the climax of the campaign. resources to rejuvenate stones throughout the The more than 100 Catholic priests who cemetery.” Lisle Ellis said a lot of local residents New Mexico Campaign served as chaplains in the Civil War were NOT don’t even know where Greenwood Cemetery is your usual priests and bishops. located. The 100-acre facility is at the end of The lower portion of the New Mexico Territory South Church Street. It is shaded by large had been largely neglected by both the Federal They were a unique group of priest pioneers: ancient oak trees. “If you go in and wonder government and the territorial government in adventuresome, courageous, outspoken, around, you’ll see the who’s who of Decatur’s Santa Fe. As a result, Confederate sympathy ground-breakers and apologists as well as past,” Lisle Ellis said. “We have more was strong, in hopes of receiving better Catholic churchmen in a “foreign land.” mausoleums in that cemetery than there are in treatment by the new government. Following secession moves by residents, This presentation focuses on the role of these all the other cemeteries in Macon County put Catholic chaplains in the war, their numbers, together.” Confederate forces seized Mesilla and captured impact, and some stories of some colorful and ______the Federal troops there, who made a interesting characters among them. halfhearted attempt to retreat to Santa Fe.

Being an antebellum Catholic was not an easy In early 1862 the Confederacy established the task due to a lack of priests as Catholic Confederate Arizona Territory, which included immigrants flooded the country, a strong anti- the southern halves of both modern Arizona and Catholic culture, and a Vatican that didn’t get New Mexico. American democracy. The territorial capital was at Mesilla, some 45 We will put flesh on the long-ignored topic of miles from El Paso and near today's major city of religion in the war and introduce a group of Las Cruces. Catholic clergymen who changed the country and became legends because of their service The strategic goals were to gain access to the gold and silver mines of California and the – Corby, Cooney, Sheeran, the Jesuits, Irish Colorado Territory and the seaports in Southern Catholics, and many more. California, and thus evade the Union naval Battle of Glorieta Pass blockade.

The commanders of the New Mexico During the main battle on the 28th, Slough Glorieta Pass Campaign were Confederate Brig. Gen. commanded, in person, nine companies of the Both Scurry and Slough decided to attack on Henry Hopkins Sibley and Union Col. Edward 1st Colorado, a detachment from the 1st, 2nd March 28 and set out early to do so. Expecting Canby. and 3rd U.S. Cavalry regiments and two artillery the Confederates to remain in Apache Canyon, batteries. Chivington commanded five Slough sent Chivington with two infantry Sibley attempted to capture Fort Craig, companies of the 5th U.S. Infantry, one company battalions, under Lewis and Wynkoop, out in a completely outmaneuvering Canby at the from the 1st Colorado, James Hobart Ford's circling movement with orders to go hide out at Battle of Valverde in February and driving independent company from the 2nd Colorado Glorieta Pass and hit the Texans in the flank him back into his fort, but failed to force and some New Mexico militiamen. once Slough's main force had engaged their Canby's surrender. front. Prior to the battle Union forces performed a Sibley then bypassed the fort and advanced forced march from Denver, over Raton Pass, to Chivington did as ordered and his men waited north through the Rio Grande Valley, Fort Union and then to Glorieta Pass, covering above the pass for Slough and the enemy to occupying Santa Fe on March 10. the distance of 400 miles in 14 days. Combat arrive. commenced shortly after their arrival at the However, instead of remaining at Apache Canby remained at Fort Craig, hoping to cut battlefield, leaving them little time to recuperate. Canyon as Slough had expected, Scurry Sibley's logistical support from Texas and advanced down the canyon more rapidly than awaiting reinforcements before he dared to Apache Canyon Slough had anticipated. Scurry believed the take the offensive. Union force was retreating to Fort Union. Pyron's force of 300 camped at Apache Canyon, TO BE CONTINUED Sibley made his headquarters at the at one end of Glorieta Pass, leaving a picket post abandoned Union storehouse. In March of 50 men at the summit of the pass. Chivington ______Sibley sent a Confederate force of 200-300 led 418 soldiers to the pass and, on the morning Texans under the command of Maj. Charles of March 26, moved out to attack. L. Pyron on an advance expedition over the VISIT THE Glorieta Pass, a strategic location on the After noon Chivington’s men captured the picket Santa Fe Trail at the southern tip of the post and found the main force behind them. MCHENRY COUNTY Sangre de Cristo Mountains southeast of Chivington advanced on them, but their artillery Santa Fe. fire threw him back. He regrouped, split his force CIVIL WAR ROUND to the two sides of the pass, caught the TABLE WEB SITE Control of the pass would allow the Confederates in a crossfire, and soon forced Confederates to advance onto the High them to retire. Pyron retired about a mile and a www.mchenrycivilwar.com Plains and make an assault on Fort Union, a half (about 2=1/2 kilometers) to a narrow section DON PURN WEB MASTER Union stronghold on the route northward over of the pass and formed a defensive line before Raton Pass. Chivington’s men appeared. The Union forces

Sibley sent six companies under the flanked Pyron’s men again and punished them command of Col. Tom Green to block the with enfilade fire. Pyron ordered another retreat, READ THE eastern end of Glorieta Pass, turning any but the withdrawal of the artillery caused the Union defensive position in the Sangre de Confederates to become disorganized and start MCHENRY COUNTY Cristos.Albuquerque. fighting in separate clusters of men. Chivington ordered a mounted Colorado company to make CIVIL WAR ROUND Battle a frontal charge against the artillery; this TABLE MONTHLY succeeded in capturing several Confederates The Confederates were led by Charles L. and scattering the rest. Not knowing if NEWSPAPER Pyron and William Read Scurry. During the Confederate reinforcements were nearby, battle on March 26, Pyron had his battalion of Chivington then retired and went into camp at the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles, four Kozlowski’s Ranch to await Slough with the main companies of the 5th Texas Mounted Rifles body. His small victory was a morale boost for KEITH FISHER EDITOR under Maj. John Shropshire and two Slough's army. cannons. No fighting occurred the next day, as needed Scurry's force included nine companies of the reinforcements arrived for both sides. 4th Texas Mounted Rifles under Maj. Henry Raguet, five companies of the 7th Texas Scurry's troops arrived at 3:00 am on March 27, Mounted Rifles under Maj. Powhatan Jordan swelling the Confederate force to about 1,100 and three additional cannons. The Union men and five cannons; as senior officer present, forces were led by Col. John P. Slough of the he took command of the entire Confederate 1st Colorado Infantry, with units under the force. Thinking that Slough would attack again command of Maj. John M. Chivington. In the and expecting Green to arrive in the Union rear action on March 26, Chivington had three at any time, Scurry chose to remain in place for infantry companies and one mounted the day, digging rifle pits. company of the 1st Colorado and a Slough arrived early in the morning of March 28 detachment of the 1st and 3rd U.S. Cavalry with about 900 more men, bringing the Union regiments. strength to 1,300.