Confederate Gazette Page 3

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Confederate Gazette Page 3 Volume 14 No. 7 December, 2001 C ONFEDERATE GAZETTE Sibley Exhibit Opened December 1st NEW EXHIBIT AT HILL COLLEGE MUSEUM The Hill College History campaign, which led to the more hard fighting. Center’s Confederate Re- capture of Albuquerque In 1863, General Tom search Center and Texas and Santa Fe, the Texas Green became the com- Confederate Heritage Museum recently Brigade ran low on sup- mander of the brigade. In 1864, the brigade joined Gazette other Confederate troops in Louisiana at the battle of Mansfield, there the Union Is a monthly publication forces were defeated pre- of the venting them from invading East Texas. Major Robert M. White After the war, veterans Camp #1250 of the Sibley/Green Texas Sons of Confederate Brigade, formed a life long Veterans alliance through their Bri- Temple, Texas gade association. For many years the Sibley/Green Bri- gade Association held re- Web Site: unions in various towns in www.rootsweb.com/~tx1250 Texas, as was the custom opened a major exhibit at Above, the Texas Heritage Mu- Cannon tube Greg Manning seum at the Hillsboro Col- used by Sibley’s Commander lege. The new exhibit fea- Brigade; Rt. 1 Box 1737 tures artifacts from the Kempner, TX 76539 Sibley/Green Brigade and Right, Sibley’s formally opened letter book used on December 1, 2001. during the war. John C. Perry General Henry Hop- Editor kins, Sibley's Texas Bri- P.O. Box 794 gade, 4th, 5th & 7th Texas Salado, TX 76571 Mounted Volunteer Regi- ment, invaded New Mexico plies and retreated back to of the day. In 1926, the territory in February of Texas. They buried eight of Brigade Veterans, then few 1862. Their mission was their cannons in Albuquer- in number, joined with © 2001, Major Robert M. White to secure the Arizona and que to reduce their bur- the veterans of another Camp #1250 Sons of Confederate Veterans New Mexico territories as den on the retreat. After famous Texas brigade, Temple, Texas the beginning of the west- fighting at the battle of Gal- Hood's, and from 1926 to ward expansion of the veston on January 1, 1933 they held joint meet- Confederacy. 1863, the Texas Brigade ings in Bryan Texas. After a successful was sent to Louisiana for (Continued on page 4) Page 2 Volume 14 Issue 7 C ONFEDERATE PROFILE HENRY H. SIBLEY War Department paid s Southern The conical shaped tent Sibley a $5.00 royalty for states began was modeled after Sioux every tent manufactured. to leave the wigwams and was able to A accommodate 20 men. Payments, however, Union in 1861 so did many stopped when Sibley left of the officers that com- The tent design was raised the Union army. The tent manded Federal troops in on an iron tripod and was was in regular U.S. Army the southwestern Indian supported by a center issue until the 1890's. Territory. Men like Briga- pole. One of its advan- His pre-War Between dier General Albert Sidney tages was the ease in the States days were spent Johnston, Major James erecting the tent, which fighting Indians in what is Longstreet, Captain Rich- purportedly could be done today New Mexico and Ari- ard Ewell, and Lieutenant in two minutes. The huge zona. As Southern states Joseph Wheeler were all began leaving the Union, Leader of Texas Southerners, and they left Sibley was the experienced Federal command posi- commander of the 2nd Troops and tions in the southwest. Dragoons at Taos, New One of the men that left Inventor Mexico. He resigned from the Federal army was Ma- the U.S. Army on May jor Henry Hopkins Sibley, 13,1861, ironically, the commander of the 2nd very day that he received a Dragoons in the New Mex- promotion from captain to ico Territory. Sibley, an major. He immediately left inventor and experienced New Mexico for El Paso, Indian fighter, left New Texas, and there wrote a Mexico, but vowed to re- letter expressing his pro turn to claim the territory Southern feelings. "We are for the newly formed Con- at last under the glorious federacy, telling the re- banner of the Confederate maining Federal soldiers, Henry H. Sibley States of America," Sibley "Boys, if you only knew it, I wrote. am the worst enemy you In El Paso, Sibley have." tent was over 18 feet in joined the Confederate Sibley was born in Nat- diameter and 12 feet high. Army as a colonel, and chitoches, Louisiana on At the top was a one foot then made his way to Rich- May 25, 1816. In 1838 he round opening for ventila- mond, Virginia. There he graduated from West Point tion in warm weather and was able to secure an ap- and began a long and var- for a stove pipe in cool pointment with Confeder- ied career of military ser- weather. Sibley also in- ate President Jefferson vice. Almost immediately vented a type of stove pipe Davis. Davis was anxious after graduation he saw to be used in the tent. to meet with Sibley, who combat in the Seminole The tent was adopted Davis knew as an experi- War of 1838-39. He by the U.S. Army and was enced soldier with much served in the Utah Expedi- popular, in spite of its 73 knowledge about the tion against the Mormons pound weight, in service in southwest. Davis had long and was brevetted for gal- the west before the War felt that the New Mexico lantry in the Mexican War. Between the States. Dur- Territory was strategically Sibley, utilizing his ing the War it is estimated important to the South. military experience in- that 43,000 Sibley tents Sibley convinced Davis to vented the Sibley tent and were used, mainly in per- give him the authority to the Sibley stove. He pat- manent camps, because raise volunteer troops in ented the designs in 1856. its weight made it too heavy for field use. The (Continued on page 3) Confederate Gazette Page 3 be a death march for some Confederate through the desert. Sibley's casualties were Camp Schedule Profile estimated as high as (Continued from page 2) 2,000, many dying on the December, 2001 Texas. With the troops he return march. would lead an expedition As Sibley's men began December 7-9th: Annual into the New Mexico Terri- to straggle into San Anto- Christmas at Old Fort tory to rid the territory of nio, Sibley reorganized the Concho, San Angelo, TX. Federal troops. brigade. He gave all the survivors a 60 day leave. Sibley left Richmond th th Men continued to filter into December 10 : 10 An- in July as a Brigadier Gen- nual UDC District IV Con- eral and commander of San Antonio the entire federate Christmas the Department of New summer of 1862. Mexico. Sibley raised an Sibley spent the rest Gala, 5:30-11:00 P.M. almost all Texas volunteer of the year regrouping his army, although it took him men and supplies. His December 11th: Regular over four months to do so. goal was to lead them Camp Meeting, 7:00 Sibley had three complete again out of Texas, but this P.M. at King’s Daughters time in a easterly direction. regiments, the 4th, 5th Hospital in Temple, TX. and 7th Texas Mounted Before his 1,300 men could leave the state they Speaker: John Larson. Volunteers, totalling about 3,700 men. were called in late Decem- December Camp January, 2002 Sibley and his army ber, 1862, to assist in the Meeting: first moved to the aban- recapture of Galveston, doned Federal outpost at Texas. This was accom- January 12th: Annual Fort Bliss, Texas in De- plished on January 1, Robert E. Lee-Stonewall cember of 1861. In Janu- 1863 and Sibley's men Jackson Dinner Meeting, 1. Election of ary of 1862 he then in- performed well. Inn at Scott & White, In early 1863 Sibley Officers vaded the New Mexico 7:00 PM. Territory. They found a and his men, including the 2. Speaker: John Valverde Battery, entered larger Federal force at Fort February, 2002 Larson Craig, but was able to de- Louisiana. They joined feat the Federals at the Major General Richard Tay- Battle of Valverde. During lor's Confederate Army of February 12th: Regular the fight Sibley removed about 6,000 men. Taylor Camp Meeting, 7:00 himself from command was anything but im- P.M. at King’s Daughters due to "illness." Many ac- pressed with Sibley's men. Hospital in Temple, TX. He described them as, cused him of being drunk Speaker: George Ballen- rather than ill during the "The men were hardy and many of the officers brave tine, “John Pelham: battle. Lee's Boy Artillerist” Fresh from victory at and zealous. but the value Valverde Sibley's army of these qualities was less- then moved north and ened by lack of disci- March, 2002 captured Albuquerque and pline . Officers and men the territorial capital of address each other as March 12th: Regular Santa Fe. In March, at a Tom, Dick, or Harry, and Camp Meeting, 7:00 had no more conception of two day fight at Glorieta P.M. at King’s Daughters Pass, New Mexico, called military gradations than that of celestial hierarchy Hospital in Temple, TX. by some, The Gettysburg of the West, a portion of of the poets." Sibley's army was winning Sibley and his men April, 2002 the battle, but in the rear were first assigned along having all its supplies de- the Teche River. In fight- April 13th: Quarterly stroyed.
Recommended publications
  • The Camp Olden Gazette News from the Camp Olden Civil War Round Table Winter, 2011 President’S Gavel
    The Camp Olden Gazette News from the Camp Olden Civil War Round Table Winter, 2011 President’s Gavel. Returning from Gettysburg Remembrance Day sausages, jams and jellies, pickles, relish, cakes, cookies, muffins, and an amazing assortment of Weekend I thought of Thanksgiving being only a few days away. I hope everyone did have a homemade and commercial condiments. Often, happy one and enjoyed time with family and in the cavities of chickens and turkeys, secreted bottles of whiskey were sent for the making of friends. As Thanksgiving has passed, Christmas will be on everybody‘s mind. From time to time egg nog for Christmas celebrations. Those soldiers that did not receive boxes were allowed we get inquiries sent to our website and recently we received one regarding Christmas and I felt to share in the plenty coming into camps, and that the best person to answer it was our friend many company messes merged the contents of soldier‘s boxes for company parties that might Kevin Rawlings who portrays Thomas Nast‘s Patriotic Santa and is also the author of We Were last several days at Christmas. Many letters written by both Union and Confederate soldiers Marching On Christmas Day - A History & Chronicle of Christmas During the Civil War. I talk about these holiday boxes and their found his answer to be very informative and anticipated arrivals in camp at Christmas time. Prisoners of war also received Christmas boxes thought you would also. The question and excerpts from Kevin‘s response follow. at the less harsh prisoner of war camps north and south.
    [Show full text]
  • Fort Craig's 150Th Anniversary Commemoration, 2004
    1854-1885 Craig Fort Bureau of Land Management Land of Bureau Interior the of Department U.S. The New Buffalo Soldiers, from Shadow Hills, California, reenactment at Fort Craig's 150th Anniversary commemoration, 2004. Bureau of Land Management Socorro Field Office 901 S. Highway 85 Socorro, NM 87801 575/835-0412 or www.blm.gov/new-mexico BLM/NM/GI-06-16-1330 TIMELINE including the San Miguel Mission at Pilabó, present day Socorro. After 1540 Coronado expedition; Area inhabited by Piro and Apache 1598 Spanish colonial era begins the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, many of the Piro moved south to the El Paso, 1821 Mexico wins independence from Spain Before Texas area with the Spanish, probably against their will. Others scattered 1845 Texas annexed by the United States and joined other Pueblos, leaving the Apache in control of the region. 1846 New Mexico invaded by U.S. General Stephen Watts Kearney; Territorial period begins The Spanish returned in 1692 but did not resettle the central Rio Grande 1849 Garrison established in Socorro 1849 –1851 hoto courtesyhoto of the National Archives Fort Craig P valley for a century. 1851 Fort Conrad activated 1851–1854 Fort Craig lies in south central New Mexico on the Rio Grande, 1854 Fort Craig activated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, or The Royal Road of the Interior, was with the rugged San Mateo Mountains to the west and a brooding the lifeline that connected Mexico City with Ohkay Owingeh, (just north volcanic mesa punctuating the desolate Jornada del Muerto to the east. of Santa Fe).
    [Show full text]
  • Sibley's 1862 New Mexico Campaign
    BGES Civil War Field University: Sibley’s 1862 New Mexico Campaign The potential of the territories had precipitated the Civil War. It was here that President Abraham Lincoln and his Republican Party proposed to stop the spread of slavery. Gold had been discovered in California and silver was being mined in the mountains of Colorado. The gold had quickly populated California and brought it to statehood and the wealth ensured the country would continue to move west. This certainty demanded a trans-continental railroad and the competition for it had been tremendous. Confederate President Jefferson Davis understood that much of the future of his country would depend upon gaining a foothold in those territories. In early 1861, Henry Hopkins Sibley, a West Point trained officer who had been stationed out west proposed taking a force from Texas into New Mexico to sweep the undermanned Federal forts protecting the Santa Fe Trail and into Colorado to control the silver mines. A victory that evicted the Federals from the New Mexico territory would also provide the Confederacy control of the overland routes into California. It was a bold plan worthy of a nation-state and Davis agreed. This is the story of that expedition which ended in defeat for the Confederacy—they would never return. Saturday, September 6, 2014 7 PM: This is the first time we have done this program in nearly 10 years. It was very well received then and I am sure you will love it now. Meet at the headquarters hotel to pick up your reading books and for a brief overview of the next few days.
    [Show full text]
  • View of Papers, Hard Line Criticism and Tough Love Have Made Me a Better Person and Scholar
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2014 The Battle of Valverde: Lessons on How to Take a Defensive Position Shawn Erik Bergstrom Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES THE BATTLE OF VALVERDE: LESSONS ON HOW TO TAKE A DEFENSIVE POSITION By SHAWN ERIK BERGSTROM A Thesis submitted to the Department of History in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2014 © 2014 SHAWN ERIK BERGSTROM Shawn Bergstrom defended this thesis on September 19, 2014. The members of the supervisory committee were: G. Kurt Piehler Professor Directing Thesis James Jones Committee Member Neil Jumonville Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the thesis has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS One Sunday morning when I was a young teenager I sat with my father watching The Good, The Bad and the Ugly for the first time. I had a working knowledge of the Civil War thanks to Ken Burn's The Civil War on PBS. As I saw Union and Confederate soldiers in the far removed west during the movie I looked at my father and stated that this wasn't true. He assured me that it was in fact true and that there had been a campaign fought in the New Mexican Territory during the Civil War. As he went on to describe the events I was instantly captivated.
    [Show full text]
  • Thunder on the Rio Grande, the Great Adventure of Sibley's Confederates for the Conquest of New Mexico and Colorado
    Thunder on the Rio Grande, the Great Adventure of Sibley's Confederates for the Conquest of New Mexico and Colorado LE ROY BOYD* He was a failure; he was a magnificent failure. He lost a war for his country. Yet Major Henry Hopkins Sibley was the most important. officer in t.he United States Army at the time that General Beaure­ gard gave orders to his batteries at Charlestown to fire on Fort Sumter. thus opening the War Between the States. On :May 13, 1861, like many others in the Federal army, he resigned his commission and entered the service of the Confederate States. receiving from President Jefferson Davis the rank of Brigadier-General. He was, perhaps, the most brilliant general officer in the Southern ranks, the only one of the glittery galaxy of Confederate warriors whose mind grasped the grand strategy nec­ essary to win the ;rar. ToLlay his name has become almost obliterated from the rolls of great army men. For he lost a battle, and his downfall was primarily caused by a Methodist preacher ! •Mr. Boyd is a newspaper man of Las Animas, Colorado, and a student of Western history.-Ed. 132 COLORADO MAGAZINE THUNDER ON THE RIO GRANDE 133 Before his defeat he had one of the most outstanding records of Shiloh, he had charge of the transportation of supplies and of any man in either army. The old Free Lance of Fredericksburg, gained valuable experience that he was to make use of five years Virginia, in his obituary published August 24, 1886, stated that , later.
    [Show full text]
  • A Johnny Reb in Sibley's New Mexico Campaign: Reminiscences of Pvt
    East Texas Historical Journal Volume 25 | Issue 2 Article 7 10-1987 A Johnny Reb in Sibley's New Mexico Campaign: Reminiscences of Pvt. Henry C. Wright, 1861-1862, Part I Michael L. Tate Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj Part of the United States History Commons Tell us how this article helped you. Recommended Citation Tate, Michael L. (1987) "A Johnny Reb in Sibley's New Mexico Campaign: Reminiscences of Pvt. Henry C. Wright, 1861-1862, Part I," East Texas Historical Journal: Vol. 25: Iss. 2, Article 7. Available at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj/vol25/iss2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in East Texas Historical Journal by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 20 EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION A JOHNNY REB IN SIBLEY'S NEW MEXICO CAMPAIGN: REMINISCENCES OF PVT. HENRY C. WRIGHT, 1861-1862 I edited by Michael L. Tate Private Henry Clay Wright was only twenty-one years old when he enlisted in Company F, Fourth Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers. Like thousands of young Johnny Rebs who joined other units of the Con­ federate Army, Wright probably lacked a precise political understanding ofthe impending war, but he evidenced a strong admiration for the South's 4'noble crusade" and a youthful enthusiasm to make his military life an adventurous one. Lifted by the emotionalism of Polk County, whose citizens voted 604 to twenty-th;ee for secession, he answered Captain James Crosson's call for volunteers.
    [Show full text]
  • Kit Carson's Last Fight: the Adobe Walls Campaign of 1864 David A
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository History ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 4-12-2017 Kit Carson's Last Fight: The Adobe Walls Campaign of 1864 David A. Pafford University of New Mexico Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hist_etds Part of the Military History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Pafford, David A.. "Kit Carson's Last Fight: The Adobe Walls Campaign of 1864." (2017). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ hist_etds/165 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in History ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. David A. Pafford Candidate History Department This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Committee: Dr. Paul A. Hutton, Chairperson Dr. L. Durwood Ball Dr. Margaret Connell-Szasz Dr. Jerry D. Thompson i KIT CARSON’S LAST FIGHT: THE ADOBE WALLS CAMPAIGN OF 1864 by Name: DAVID A. PAFFORD B.S., History, Eastern Oregon State College, 1994 M.A., Christian Ministry, Abilene Christian University, 2006 M.A., History, University of New Mexico, 2010 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy History The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico May 2017 ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing a book, especially a first book, requires a LOT of assistance – so much so that any list of incurred debts while composing it must be incomplete.
    [Show full text]
  • The Texan Retreat and the Confederate Occupation of Socorro
    The Confederate Retreat Originally published in El Defensor Chieftain Volunteers. Leaving Denver, the Coloradans newspaper, Saturday, March 3, 2012. marched over 400 miles through deep snows and Copyright: © 2012 by Paul Harden. Article may be cited with proper frigid cold weather to offer aid to New Mexico. The credit to author. Article is not to be reproduced in whole or placed on two armies arrived in Glorietta Pass at the same the internet without author’s permission. time. The battle was on. Both armies called for reinforcements; the main Battle of Glorieta was fought on March 28 By Paul Harden with the Confederate army seemingly gaining the For El Defensor Chieftain upper hand. A detachment of Coloradans, led by [email protected] Maj. John Chivington, was sent to attack from the rear. Enroute, his men discovered, and destroyed, the entire Confederate supply train near the This year marks the 150th anniversary of the entrance to Apache Canyon, and ran off their Civil War in New Mexico. Last month's article horses. discussed the campaign, the Battle at Valverde, The Texan Retreat and the Confederate occupation of Socorro. The loss of the supply wagons and most of their Following the Battle at Glorieta Pass, the horses decimated the Confederate Army, bringing Confederate's forced return to Texas, on foot, the New Mexico campaign to an abrupt end. With became one of the longest retreats in U.S. no food for his army, Sibley's Brigade had no Military history. choice except to begin a long and arduous 800- mile retreat back to Texas.
    [Show full text]
  • Hispanic Soldiers of New Mexico in the Service of the Union Army
    Fort Union National Monument Hispanic Soldiers of New Mexico in the Service of the Union Army Theme Study prepared by: Dr. Joseph P. Sanchez · Dr. Jerry Gurule Larry D. Miller March 2005 Fort Union National Monument Hispanic Soldiers of New Mexico in the Service of the Union Army Theme Study prepared by: Dr. Joseph P. Sanchez Dr. Jerry Gurule Larry D. Miller March 2005 New Mexico Hispanic Soldiers' Service in the Union Army Hispanic New Mexicans have a long history of military service. As early as 1598, Governor Juan de Onate kept an organized militia drawn from colonists~ Throughout the seventeenth century, encomenderos (tribute collectors) recruited militia units to protect Hispanic settlements and Indian pueblos from Plains warriors. Cater, presidios (garrisoned forts) at Santa Fe and El Paso del Norte housed presidia} soldiers who, accompanied by Indian auxiliaries, served to defend New Mexico. Spanish officials recruited Indian auxiliaries from the various Pueblo tribes as well as Ute warriors among others. In the late eighteenth century, Spain reorganized its military units throughout the Americas to include a regular standing army. Finally, after Mexican independence from Spain, Mexican officials maintained regular army units to defend the newly created nation. Militias assisted regular troops and took their place in their absence when needed. Overall, soldiers under Spain and Mexico protected against Indian raids, made retaliatory expeditions, and escorted mission supply trains, merchants, herders, and the mail. Under Mexico, soldiers protected the borders and arrested foreigners without passports. With the advent ofthe Santa Fe trade in 1821, Mexican soldiers were assigned to customs houses and, to some extent, offered protection to incoming merchants.
    [Show full text]
  • Advance and Retreat: Lt. Franklin Cook Recalls the Battle of Valverde
    New Mexico Historical Review Volume 81 Number 4 Article 2 10-1-2006 Advance and Retreat: Lt. Franklin Cook Recalls the Battle of Valverde Jerry Thompson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nmhr Recommended Citation Thompson, Jerry. "Advance and Retreat: Lt. Franklin Cook Recalls the Battle of Valverde." New Mexico Historical Review 81, 4 (2021). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nmhr/vol81/iss4/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Mexico Historical Review by an authorized editor of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Advance and Retreat LT. FRANKLIN COOK RECALLS THE BATTLE OF VALVERDE Jerry Thompson t the southern end ofthe pine-shrouded Sangre de Cristo Mountains, A near where the Santa Fe Trail wound through Glorieta Pass, a mass grave of thirty Confederate soldiers was unearthed in the summer of1987. The publicity that followed helped renew an interest in the Civil War in New Mexico Territory. A flurry ofarchaeological scholarship brought forth the grisly details of exactly how the Confederates perished in the Battle of Glorieta. l The approach ofthe centennial ofthe war more than three decades ear­ lier inspired the first serious scholarship on the Civil War in New Mexico Territory. Major studies concentrated on the failed 1861-1862 Confederate invasion.2 Interest in the conflict also spawned the republication of those portions of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies rela­ tive to the Confederate invasion of the New Mexico Territory as well as a number ofletters, diaries, journals, and memoirs from soldiers on both sides ofthe conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • Santa Fe County Resolution No. 2011-£.6 2 Introduced By
    . 1 ~ SANTA FE COUNTY RESOLUTION NO. 2011-£.6 , 2 INTRODUCED BY: 3 Commissioner Vigil 4 Commissioner Holian ,- 5 A RESOLUTION . I), 6 I ­ Requesting The United States Postal Service To Issue A Commemorative Stamp I. 7 Honoring The Sesquicentennial Anniversary Of The Battle Of Glorieta Pass In New , 8 Mexico And Recognizing The Importance Of The Battle Of Glorieta Pass I,I' 9 I­ I ­ 10 WHEREAS, in January 1862, Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley with a 11 brigade of two thousand six hundred volunteer Texans invaded the territory of New Mexico with 12 the intention of claiming the territory and the West for the Confederacy; and 13 WHEREAS, the Texas Confederate forces were victorious in defeating the Union forces 14 at the Battle of Valverde on February 21 , 1862, capturing Socorro, and then on March 7, 1862, 15 capturing Albuquerque; and 16 WHEREAS, the Confederate forces captured Santa Fe on March 10, 1862, however, the 17 capital had earlier been moved by the New Mexico Territorial Governor, Henry Connelly, to Las 18 Vegas, New Mexico; and 19 WHEREAS, following these battlefield successes, the Texas Confederate forces 20 planned to conquer Fort Union and then march to Colorado to take over the mines; and 21 WHEREAS, from there. the forces intended to form an alliance with the Mormons and 22 together take over the gold fields of California, which would have provided much needed capital 23 for the Confederacy; and 24 WHEREAS, the conquest of California would additionally provide two sorely needed 25 ports, free of Union blockades; and 26 WHEREAS, the fulfillment of these plans would sever the western territories from the 27 Union and strengthen the position of the Confederacy; and " WHEREAS, the Confederates next planned to take over the Mexican states of lower 2 California, Sonora and Chihuahua, which had the potential to gain much needed recognition by '/.
    [Show full text]
  • Atlas of Historic NM Maps Online at Atlas.Nmhum.Org
    U.S. Topo Bureau: Old Territory and Military Department of New Mexico 1867 11 10 5 6 9 2 12 13 17 4 3 7 15 16 14 1 8 Library of Congress Geography and Map Division - Terms of Use 1: Fort Fillmore 1855 1855 James Bennett was in the White Mountains when Apaches killed his commander, Captain Henry Stanton, and the survivors had to bear his remains back to his wife. Quote: (1855) Feb 2. No mistake about it, we are living on a light diet. Killed our last beef; flour is gone; we have no shoes. It is hard fare. We have decided to call this Camp Starvation. Feb 4. Have been subsisting on horse and mule flesh. No provision came, so started on yesterday. Travelled until 10 o'clock at night, driving our wornout animals. We burned a great number of our saddles, not being able to carry them. ... Feb 8. Crossed the [Manzano] mountains barefoot over sharp rocks and ice. There is nothing to ride. Crossed the Rio Grande and came into Las Lunas, where we are all glad to be once more in our quarters, cleaning up and getting new clothing. Feb 10. Started with the remains of Captain Stanton to go to Fort Fillmore. Feb 15. Yesterday crossed the Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead). This is a sandy place where no water is to be had. It is 90 miles in length and is noted for murders and massacres by the Indians.... Feb 16. Fort Fillmore, established 1853, is occupied by Company B, 1st Dragoons; Companies C, K, and H, 3rd Infantry.
    [Show full text]