New Mexico Territory in the American Civil War

• 1. Territorial Origins And Division

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  The New Mexico Territory organized itself in 1850, covering lands that now form the states of New Mexico and Arizona. For years, its boundaries remained undefined while settlers argued over governance. A conference convened in Tucson on the 29th of August 1856, issued a petition signed by 256 people to Congress. They elected Nathan P. Cooke as their territorial delegate to push for separation from Santa Fe. The proposal failed because Congress deemed the population too small for statehood. Another attempt in January 1857 also died in the House of Representatives. By February 1858, the territorial legislature adopted a resolution favoring division along the 109th meridian. This plan included removing all Indians to northern Arizona. Impatient delegates met again in April 1860 at Tucson to draft a constitution south of 34 degrees north latitude. They chose Dr. Lewis S. Owings as provisional governor. Congress refused to recognize these conventions due to low population numbers. On the 2nd of March 1861, the U.S. government revoked a contract with the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Company. This cut off mail delivery from San Antonio through El Paso to California. Settlers in the Arizona region felt abandoned just as southern states began seceding.

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• 2. Political Allegiances And Secession

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  Many New Mexicans felt apathetic toward the secession crisis following annexation from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. Their distinct Hispanic ethnicity and cultural identity created alienation from Texans who had recently joined the Confederacy. In early 1861, Texans overwhelmingly voted to leave the Union. Consequently, much of the New Mexico Territory sided with the Union despite some settlers joining the Confederate States of America. The more populous northern section maintained strong ties to Northern trade via the Santa Fe Trail connecting Kansas and Missouri. A convention held at Mesilla on the 16th of March 1861 adopted an ordinance of secession. It called citizens of western territory to join their movement. Another convention convened in Tucson on March 28 under chair Mark Aldrich. This body ratified the Mesilla meeting and elected Dr. Lewis S. Owings as governor. Granville Henderson Oury became the first delegate to the Confederate States Congress. He immediately petitioned for admission while traveling to Richmond, Virginia on the 1st of October 1861. Delegate Oury did not initially sit in Congress but met President Jefferson Davis. Texas Congressman John Reagan introduced a bill on the 22nd of November 1861 to create Arizona Territory officially. Legislation passed on the 13th of January 1862 and was proclaimed by President Davis on February 14. Meanwhile, Abraham Rencher served as territorial governor until July 1861 when Henry Connelly took over. Connelly repealed slavery laws and moved Indian tribes onto reservations.

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• 3. The Confederate Arizona Campaign

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  Confederate forces launched an offensive known as the New Mexico Campaign from February to April 1862. The Army of New Mexico marched west from Texas to occupy southern territory. They arrived in February 1862 aiming to push north toward Colorado for mineral resources. Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor led a small force of Texans who captured Mesilla in July 1861. Union troops abandoned their fort allowing Baylor's men to cut off fleeing soldiers and force surrender. On August 1, Baylor issued a Proclamation declaring possession of the territory with Mesilla as capital. His administration dismantled existing Union forts leaving white settlers vulnerable to Apache attacks. Many settlers sought refuge in Tucson while local Apache Indians gained control of the area. Despite this chaos, residents held another convention on the 28th of August 1861 in Tucson to ratify Baylor's proclamation. G.H. Oury returned as congressman to the Confederate States Congress. Governor Baylor approved proceedings before sending Delegate Oury to Richmond. Confederate power effectively broke when Union victory occurred at Glorieta Pass in March 1862. A detachment of the 1st Colorado Infantry under Major John M. Chivington burned their supply train. Though Union regulars lost battles initially they ultimately won the campaign. Confederate troops withdrew because their logistics collapsed despite battlefield defeats.

• 4. Battle Of Glorieta Pass

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  The Battle of Glorieta Pass marked the turning point where Union forces destroyed Confederate supply lines. Fighting took place from February through April 1862 during the New Mexico Campaign. Confederate Army of New Mexico arrived in February 1862 attempting to capture valuable mineral resources in Colorado. Union troops re-captured territory early that year forcing Confederates to retreat after the battle. Major John M. Chivington led a detachment of the 1st Colorado Infantry who burned the enemy supply train. This action caused Confederate withdrawal even though Union regulars and volunteers suffered battlefield losses. The engagement became known later as the Gettysburg of the West. Kit Carson helped organize and command the 1st New Mexico Cavalry militia unit against Apache, Navajo, and Comanche tribes. He also participated earlier in the Battle of Valverde against Confederate forces. Federal troops left Arizona early in 1861 to reinforce eastern operations leaving territory open to Apache attacks. Mangas Coloradas and Cochise led raids killing dozens of white civilians and spreading fear across the region. Both armies attempted to control these Native groups resulting in engagements considered part of both Civil War and American Indian Wars. Colonel Edward R.S. Canby commanded the Union Department of New Mexico raising regiments of volunteers to replace regular units ordered east.

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• 5. Frontier Warfare And Native Relations

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  Captain Sherod Hunter led the Confederate Arizona Rangers occupying southern Arizona during spring 1862. He received orders from Governor Baylor to lure Apache people into Tucson for peace talks then exterminate adults. Hunter's frontiersmen spent most time expelling Union supporters and skirmishing with Federal troops so the order never enforced. A detachment traveled along Butterfield Overland Mail route destroying hay caches to prevent Union use. They advanced within eighty miles of Fort Yuma without enforcing their genocidal directive. In April 1862 a small Confederate party moving northwest met Union cavalry near Stanwix Station. One Union cavalryman wounded during this skirmish marks often cited westernmost engagement of the war. Following Battle of Picacho Pass at Picacho Peak about northwest of Tucson, Colonel James H. Carleton drove Confederates out of Tucson. His California Column advanced on Mesilla where Confederate Arizona capital stood. By July Confederates retreated to Texas managing territorial government from El Paso until war ended. Carleton's troops later fought Battle of Apache Pass ambushed by Apache warriors led by Cochise and Mangas Coloradas in Chiricahua Mountains. The column withstood attack establishing Fort Bowie to secure pass though fighting continued throughout war beyond. Peralta New Mexico razed by weapons fire rebuilt and remains inhabited today.

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• 6. Postwar Administration And Legacy

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  The Confederate Arizona Territory split off from rest of New Mexico Territory in 1861 as first U.S. incarnation of Arizona. Official organization occurred February 24 when President Abraham Lincoln signed Arizona Organic Act into law. First capital established at Fort Whipple then moved to Prescott in northern Union-controlled area. Boundary created an Arizona separated west from New Mexico east along 107th meridian instead of previous east-west division. Territorial legislature arranged monument commemorating Union war dead condemning Confederacy erected in Santa Fe Plaza. Roughly 7,000-8,000 troops from New Mexico Territory served Union more than any other western state or territory according to American Civil War Research Database statistics. Despite remoteness from eastern battlefields several important battles took place regionally. Confederate power broken effectively campaign culminated Union victory Glorieta Pass 1862. Though never attempted another invasion territorial government operated Texas Confederate troops marched under Arizona flag until end war. Population demographics shaped response crisis resulting significant role trans-Mississippi theater American Civil War.