The battle of glorieta could then be seen as a clear union tactical and strategic victory. The battle of glorieta pass was fought march 2628, 1862, during the american civil war 18611865 and was the culminating engagement of the new mexico campaign. The battle of glorieta pass santa fe national forest. This historic battle ground and surrounding strategic locations are well preserved with accurate battle strategies documented for march santa fe travelers. Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items. On this day in 1862, union forces stop the confederate invasion of new mexico territory when they turn the rebels back at glorieta pass. The union troops, mostly from colorado, met the confederate troops, mostly texans, in presentday northern new mexico at the battle of glorieta pass in late march. Pyron encamped at johnsons ranch, at one end of the pass.
Though this pass is wellknown for being a place of civil war battle, humans have actually traveled on it for over 10,000 years. March 26 saw a minor skirmish between the union and confederate forces whereas the main battle was fought on march 28. It was one of the farthest west battles of the war. The battle of glorieta pass, often referred to as the gettysburg of the west, is attributed to ending a confederate charge into the west and thus ending the civil war in the western us. Recounting the adventures of five people caught in a quandary of allegiances and passions brought on by the civil war, this engrossing debut dramatizes the preamble to the 1862 battle between texans fighting for the south and union troops reinforced by ragtag coloradans at glorieta pass, just outside santa fe, n. There was a skirmish or minor battle between small groups on march 26.
Mar, 2017 the history guy remembers when texas and colorado went to war and the battle of glorieta pass. A series of skirmishes, jockeying for position, and a pitched battle on march 28 took a heavy toll on both sides and left the rebels under gen. Struggles for the integrity of a civl warbattlefield, 101 pp. Sibley, had their supply train destroyed by the 1st colorado union volunteers at glorieta pass, and have only one prize remaining. Sibley, their supply train destroyed by the 1st colorado union volunteers at glorieta pass, have only one prize remaining. The battle of glorieta pass was a battle during the american civil war. The battle of glorieta pass fiction and fact from old. The act, together with abraham lincolns issuance of greenbacks, raised money for the federal government in the american civil war by enticing banks to buy federal bonds and taxed state bonds out of existence. At stake is a route to colorados gold and san franciscos. Battle of glorieta pass glorieta, new mexico landmark. At that time, the area was known as simply new mexico territory. This study focuses on modernday attempts to preserve the site where union volunteers from colorado defeated a confederate army from texas at. Glorieta pass was important battle civil war history. Know as the gettysburg of the west, glorieta was actually quite small perhaps 2,100 men, both sides together though of considerable strategic importance.
Government publication, national government publication, internet resource. I have read the book boldly they rode, which the writer who was a lieutenant in the battle makes the claim the union won the battle. Edward richard sprigg canby november 9, 1817 april 11, 1873 was a career united states army officer and a union general in the american civil war in 18611862, canby commanded the department of new mexico, defeating the confederate general henry hopkins sibley at the battle of glorieta pass, forcing him to retreat to texas. Edrington 2000, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
The new mexican a highly readable account that will appeal to general readers and military history buffs alike. Mar 25, 2020 at pigeons ranch near glorieta pass, they encountered a yankee force of 1,300 colorado volunteers under colonel john slough. Union forces halt confederates at battle of glorieta pass. Reports of the battle of glorieta pass colonel john p. Though this pass is wellknown for being a place of civil war battle, humans have actually traveled on it. The rest of the book developed the characters, their relationships and where they thought they were headed. Now, 50 years later, a modern history book america aflame by david goldfield tells me that the battle of glorieta pass makes it into most civil war books primarily because readers in the. Following the third day of the battle of glorieta pass, the texans. Sibley sought to drive union forces from the region and open a path to california. Buy a cheap copy of glorieta pass civil war in the far. The gettysburg of the west the battle of glorieta pass, fought from march 26 to 28, 1862 in northern new mexico territory, was the decisive battle of the new mexico campaign during the american civil war. He dispatched his battle report to colonel edward s. Confederate forces suffered 48 killed, 80 wounded, and 92 captured.
The history guy remembers when texas and colorado went to war and the battle of glorieta pass. In this updated episode, the history guy fixed some edits. Battle of glorieta pass in the civil war thoughtco. Dubbed the gettysburg of the west a term that serves the novelist better than the historian by some authors, it was intended as the killer blow by confederate. Taking place in what is now the state of new mexico, the battle of glorieta pass occurred in 1862. Pecos pueblo mission lies beside the glorieta pass battlefield. The battle of glorieta pass university of new mexico press. Henry hopkins sibley apparently victorious over gen. A civil war battle on the rio grande, february 21, 1862. The battle of glorieta pass from the university of san diego history department. Mar 01, 1998 i have a decedent that fought this battle, james sampson. This action was part of the broader movement by the confederates to capture new mexico and other parts of the west.
Mar 07, 2019 the battle of glorieta pass, often referred to as the gettysburg of the west, is attributed to ending a confederate charge into the west and thus ending the civil war in the western us. Now, 50 years later, a modern history book america aflame by david goldfield tells me that the battle of glorieta pass makes it into. The american civil war and the battle of glorieta pass. Short summary and significance the battle of glorieta pass was fought in the northern territory of new mexico between march 26 and 28, 1862. The battle of glorieta pass was dubbed the gettysburg of the west by historians, it was the decisive blow by union forces to stop the confederate invasion of the west along the base of the rocky mountains. Union casualties at the battle of glorieta pass numbered 51 killed, 78 wounded, and 15 captured. The battle of glorieta pass, fought from march 26 to 28, 1862 in northern new mexico territory, was the decisive battle of the new mexico campaign during the american civil war. The pass, along the santa fe trail, was extremely important strategically in the southwest theater.
Western national parks association, 2009 ocolc761886357. Located roughly 25 miles east of santa fe, the glorieta pass battlefield is located within the pecos national historical park in new mexico. The battle of glorieta pass fiction and fact from old new. Confederate and union troops fought in this most important battle in the new mexico territory of the us civil war. Carefully reconstructed in this book is the first full account of what happened on both sides of the line before, during, and after the battle. It was fought in new mexico territory on 28 march 1862. The history guy remembers the battle of glorieta pass, the decisive battle of the campaign in the far west during the american civil war. An easy afternoon read, the battle of glorieta pass does an admirable job of explaining what happened during three cold days in new mexico in the 1860s. The characters are fully developed, the plot is tight, and the facts of the actual battle of glorieta pass are accurate. Dubbed the gettysburg of the west a term that serves the novelist better than read more. In 1862 a small army of texans invaded new mexico in ord. Sibleys texas confederates are opposed by a union army under colonel e.
The battle began in late morning, and the federal force was thrown. Battle of glorieta pass reenactment santa fe pueblo. In the book the battle of glorieta pass gives resounding evidence that the confederates won the battle and were heavily outnumbered. The battlefield features many classic southwestern mesas, rough canyons and vistas, and is a truly unique civil war battlefield. Battle of glorieta pass simple english wikipedia, the. The battle of glorieta pass, fought on march 2628, 1862, in northern new mexico territory, was the decisive battle of the new mexico campaign during the american civil war. According to the 1993 congressionallyappointed civil war sites advisory commission, the battle had as much or more impact on the outcome of the civil war as the battles of gettysburg and antietamthe battle is sometimes. Although the fighting around pigeons ranch was a draw, the texans having gained two miles of santa fe trail while taking almost identical casualties as their foe some 48 killed and 60 wounded, the destruction of the rebels supply train was an. At stake is a route to colorados gold and san franciscos unblockadable sea coast, two goals that would give the confederate states a vital edge. In 1862 a small army of texans invaded new mexico in order to win it for the confederacy. Well, i was looking for a book that described the battle of glorieta pass in new mexico but read a book that dealt with people only. Dubbed the gettysburg of the west a term that serves the novelist better than the historian8 by some authors.
While a tactical confederate victory, the battle of glorieta pass proved to be a key strategic win for the union. The author has produced a readable, very satisfactory account of the battle in new mexico that put an end to the confederate attempt to expand to the pacific ocean. Civil war battle of glorieta pass pages 1 16 text version. Dubbed the gettysburg of the west a term that serves the novelist better. In march 1862, a confederate force of 200300 texans under the command of maj. Briney during the battle of glorieta is in the museum collection at pecos like this book. The battle of glorieta pass, written jointly by john and retired sandian tom edrington, a history buff and former deputy director of surety assessment center 12301, hit local bookstores in may. The battle of glorieta pass was the first hostile engagement for the 1st colorado volunteers and it was a huge success. It tells the story of a threeday battle in march 1862 at glorieta pass where 47 confederate and 54 union soldiers were killed. Pushing into the new mexico territory in early 1862, brigadier general henry h. An easy afternoon read, the battle of glorieta pass does an admirable job of explaining what happened during three cold days in new mexico yin the 1860s a fine book on glorieta not lengthy, but far more than an overview. The battle of glorieta pass on saturday, march 22, 1862, colorado militia colonel john potts slough led his troops out of fort union to meet the texan confederate army that had seized santa fe twelve days earlierthe same day slough and his colorado militia, or pikes peakers, had arrived at fort union. May 16, 2012 now, 50 years later, a modern history book america aflame by david goldfield tells me that the battle of glorieta pass makes it into most civil war books primarily because readers in the southwest and california want to be included in the great american drama.
Nagle has an intimate knowledge of the terrain and the steps leading up to and through the battle at glorieta pass, just outside of what was then the tiny village of santa fe, new mexico. Civil war battle of glorieta pass the saber used by union army corporal john e. A gettysburg in the west, march 2628 1862 by john taylor and thomas s. You can publish your book online for free in a few minutes. Next lets hike the battlefield trail and explore the place where the battle of glorieta pass, also known as the gettysburg of the west, was fought. Dubbed the gettysburg of the west by historians, it was the decisive blow by union forces to stop the confederate invasion of the west along the base of the rocky mountains. I have a decedent that fought this battle, james sampson. Glorieta pass, the battle known as the gettysburg of the west. Detailed maps of the individual skirmishes allow readers to follow along as the troops pushed forward. Its called the gettysburg of the west, the battle for control of glorieta pass, near santa fe. It was part of the new mexico campaign, led by the confederacy, as. The texan confederate armies, under general henry h. The battle of glorieta pass, fought from march 2628, 1862, in the northern new mexico territory, was the decisive battle of the new mexico campaign during the american civil war.
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