Open to all Descendants of Union and Confederate, Hispanic or Anglo Soldiers.

The New Mexico Territory, which included the states of New Mexico, Arizona as well as the southern part of Nevada and later became States in the US played a role in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. Both Confederate and Union governments claimed jurisdiction and territorial authority over it.

Union forces in the Department of New Mexico were led by Colonel Edward Canby, And under his immediate command at Fort Craig were five regiments of New Mexico volunteer infantry, a company of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, two provisional artillery units, eleven companies of the 5th, 7th, and 10th U.S. Infantry,[7] six companies of the 2nd and 3rd U.S. Cavalry, and two regiments New Mexico militia. At Fort Union, under the command of Colonel Gabriel Paul, were the 1st Colorado Infantry, a company of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, a battalion of the 5th U.S. Infantry Regiment, a detachment from the 1st and 3rd U.S. Cavalry, a company of the 4th New Mexico Infantry, and two provisional artillery batteries. over 8,000 troops from New Mexico Territory served the Union. Please add your Union ancestor to this project; looking for decadents of NM Volunteers.

The Confederate Army of New Mexico was led by Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley. His units included the 4th Texas Mounted Rifles and 5th Texas Mounted Rifles (both of which had batteries of mountain howitzers), five companies of the 7th Texas Mounted Rifles, six companies of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles (which also had an artillery battery attached), and several companies of Arizona Confederate mounted volunteers. Following his arrival in New Mexico in January, Sibley organized his artillery into a battalion under the command of Captain Trevanion Teel, whom he promoted to major. Five additional companies of the 7th Texas arrived near the end of February and served as the garrison of Fort Thorn at Mesilla.

In 1861 the Confederacy claimed the southern "arid-zone" tract as its own Arizona Territory and waged the ambitious New Mexico Campaign in an attempt to control the American Southwest and open up access to Union California and the newly discovered and much needed Gold.

In July 1861, a small Confederate force of Texans, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, captured Mesilla (Las Cruses) in the eastern part of the territory. After the fort was abandoned by the Union garrison, Baylor's force cut off the fleeing Union troops and forced them to surrender.

A Confederate invasion up the Rio Grand Valley resulted in the New Mexico Campaign. The Confederate Army of New Mexico from Texas arrived in February 1862, and tried to push north to Colorado from El Paso, Texas.

Several "battles" were fought in this "Campaign".
1. The Battle of Valverde,
2. The "battle" of Albuquerque, 3. The "battle" Santa Fe, 4. The Battle of Glorieta Pass, 5. The"battle" of Peralta,

Confederate troops withdrew after the Battle of Glorieta Pass, because a detachment of the 1st Colorado Infantry under Major John M. Chivington had burned their supply train. Confederate power in the New Mexico Territory was effectively broken after the Battle of Glorieta Pass and return to Union Jurisdiction. ==

Pleased add your ancestor