The Battle of Glorieta PassThe Battle of Glorieta PassNew Mexico HistoryNew Mexico History

Battlefield: New MexicoBattlefield: New Mexico

• A ranch on a stage coach stop on the Santa Fe Trail set the scene for an epic Civil War battle in March of 1862 that shaped the history of our nation, right here in New Mexico.

Civil War in the WestCivil War in the West

• Time Period: November 1861- May 1862 • Area: New Mexico • Explanation: Henry H. Sibley proposed that the

Confederate government send an army of Texans into New Mexico, from El Paso, Texas, and press through Arizona gathering supplies and recruits and subduing California. Certain of much Confederate sentiment and cooperation in the sparsely defended deserts, Confederate officials gave Sibley a brigadier general's commission and approval for his plan.

Battle MapBattle Map

Union PlayersUnion Players

• General Slough General Chivington

Confederate PlayersConfederate Players

General Sibley Colonel Scurry

Union advanceUnion advance

• Early in the morning of March 26, Chivington moved toward the Confederates. His men captured a 30-man Confederate advance, then fell on Pyron's main force 1.5 miles west of Pigeon's ranch, which lay 6 miles northeast of Johnson's ranch.

Confederate standConfederate stand

• As his men reorganized at Johnson's ranch, Pyron sent for reinforcements from Lt. Col. William R, Scurry at Galisteo, 15 miles south of La Glorieta. Scurry arrived on the morning of March 27, bringing the Confederate force to 1,100 men. They waited 24 hours at Johnson's ranch, expecting Chivington to renew the attack. When the Federals failed to act, Scurry decided to take the offensive.

BattleBattle

• Scurry had advanced down the canyon, and his scouts saw the Union column approaching. Immediately, he ordered his cavalry to the rear, where they dismounted and formed a battle line. Slough discovered the Confederate line at 800 yards, and the battle began. Slough's 8 field guns battered the Texans artillery into uselessness, but the Confederates were able to keep a company of the 1st Colorado from moving around their flank. Slough yielded ground. Five times the Confederates charged, losing all of their field officers killed or wounded.

Union Union VictoryVictory

• Initially, Scurry believed he had repeated the Confederate victory at Valverde, where a month earlier, Brig. Gen. Sibley's troops had defeated a Union force under Col. Canby. Later, he learned that Chivington had reached Johnson's ranch, but burned the Confederate supply wagons, bayoneted 1000 mules and horses, and captured 17 prisoners. Chivington had destroyed nearly all of the Confederates' supplies, forcing the Confederates to withdraw to Texas, thus giving the victory to the Union. So complete was their devastation that during a truce in the early evening, the Texans even had to borrow Union shovels to bury their dead.

Glorieta TotalsGlorieta Totals

Union Forces Commanded byMaj. John C. Chivington and

Col. John P. Slough

Confederate Forces Commanded byMaj. Charles L. Pyron and Lt. Col. William R. Scurry

Conclusion: Union Victory

Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured

900 32 75 35

Strength Killed Wounded Missing/Captured

1,100 36 60 93

Turning pointTurning point

• The Battle of Glorieta Pass was named the "Gettysburg of the West", it was the decisive blow by Union forces to stop the Confederate invasion in the west.