Civil War in New Mexico Civil War 1861

Civil War in New Mexico

Civil War • 1861 -1865 • Main issue was slavery • 1860 Election – Abraham Lincoln elected President – Vowed not to extend slavery to new territories • Most Civil War battles fought east of the Mississippi • War in the West was fought between the Appalachians and Mississippi

Battles in NM • Several key battles in NM • NM 1848 -61 – Conquered by US in 1848 – After 1848 most movement was through NM to California gold fields – Most important transportation route was the Butterfield Stage Line

Butterfield Stage Line

US Troops • Stationed in NM for 3 reasons 1. Protect stage lines 2. Protect Santa Fe Trail 3. Protect settlers from “hostile” Indians • Southern states seceded from the Union in 1861

Confederate Invasion • Most officers in NM were from the South • Left to join the Confederate Army • First invasion – July 1861 – Confederates occupied Messilla

Invasions • Goal was to secure a route to California, then Colorado gold fields • Second Invasion – January 1862 – Confederates move up the Rio Grande – Union forces were defeated at the Battle of Val Verde in February – Confederates march north and take Albuquerque and Santa Fe

Invasions • Union forces retreat to Ft. Union • By March the Union is reinforced by “volunteers” from Colorado

Battle of Glorietta Pass • March 26 -28 1862 • Union forces manage to defeat the Confederates by burning their supplies • By April 1862, Confederates were chased out of NM

The Long Walk • Because US troops were fighting Confederates – Many tribes in West took opportunity to attack settlers – Union forces left in NM after 1862 were given the task of dealing with attacks – Result: The Long Walk