New Mexico did not have many Civil War Battles fought within the boundaries of the territory, but there were three of significance.
Present day travelers on Interstate-25 pass within sight of the location of Ft Craig, and Valverde without slowing down. If they stop at the rest-area and take the time to read the sign, they may gain a bit of knowledge.
A number of forts were built to protect travelers along the Camino Real,
the Spanish Royal Road, which had run from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Constructed in the 1850's, and located south of Socorro, Ft. Craig was one of several
built to protect travelers on the journey through the Jornada del Muerto.
In February 1862, Confederate forces numbering about 2,000, and under the command of Henry H. Sibley, were marching north from Texas. Ft Craig had a force of 3,800 regulars, Colorado and New Mexico volunteers, and another 1,000 unorganized militia under the command of Edward S. Canby. These two men had been close friends while cadets at West Point, and Canby had served as best-man at Sibley's wedding.
Sibley, in an attempt to lure Canby away from the fort, camped two miles east of the fort. During the night of February 20, Canby attempted to harass the Confederates by lashing boxes of 24-pound howitzer shells to the backs of mules and sneaking them toward the Confederate camp. When near the Confederate camp the fuses were lit, and attempts to send the mules into the camp were to no avail, as the mules attempted to follow the raiders back to Ft Craig.
The next day the forces met across the Rio Grande, northwest of Ft Craig. The Texans were armed with squirrel rifles, bear and sportsmen's guns, single- and double- barreled shotguns. The Union lines collapsed on the left and Canby and his forces withdrew to the protection of the adobe walls of the Fort.
Both sides were too weak to resume fighting, but Sibley marched the remainder of his forces north and raised the Confederate flag over the Albuquerque plaza, taking possession of the town on March 2, 1862.
Pictures are from a re-enactment of the Valverde battle. In addition to personal observation and research, a source of reference is Roadside History of NEW MEXICO, by Francis L. and Roberta B. Fugate, 1989.
Updated 31 October 1998