Saturday, March 6, 2004

The Civil War in New Mexico

Part 2 - This Ain't Missouri

Paul Harden For El Defensor Chieftain

na5n@zianet.com

Summary of Part I --

The Confederate army in New Mexico clashed with Union soldiers from Ft. Craig on Feb. 21, 1862. This was not just a glorified skirmish. The Battle of Valverde was a full-blown engagement comprising 6,000 men lasting about eight hours. Each army lost about 10 percent of their effective forces, a casualty rate (killed and injured) typical of many of the Civil War battles back East.

Though a Confederate victory, the Sibley Brigade found themselves desperately low on supplies, food, and a need to care for their wounded. To secure supplies and establish a hospital, they next headed for Socorro.

Aftermath of Battle

In the Civil War, the "War in the West" usually referred to the Missouri campaign. The men in Sibley's Brigade volunteered for Confederate service "in the west." Many believed they were destined for Missouri. Since then, they had marched 700 miles across the deserts of west Texas and New Mexico, marched through snow storms, endured frigid, cold nights, a want for food and water, engaged an enemy force at Valverde, and then caring for their dying brothers. They were now painfully aware that "this ain't Missouri."

The Battle of Valverde officially ended when Col. Canby ordered the retreat of the Union Army back to Ft. Craig around 5 p.m., Feb. 21. Jubilation swept across the battlefield as the Texans realized they had won their first battle for the Confederacy. Shortly thereafter, the sun began to set, trapping the men in darkness with no established camp. It was then that the men began to notice the groans and screams from scores of wounded men, now laying about the pitch-black darkness of the battlefield.

The Texans built fires for warmth, tended to the injured and comforted the mortally wounded as best they could. With the supply wagons over a mile away, most men worked all night long with no food or drink. What blankets were available were used to keep the wounded warm or cover the dead. Private William Howell (5th Regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers, Company H) recorded in his diary: "Is truly a sad day to hear the groans of the wounded and witness the burial of the lamented dead wrapped in a blanket as a coffin."

White Flag of Truce

After sundown, several officers from Ft. Craig approached Lt. Col. Green's camp carrying a white flag, requesting a truce to tend to the wounded. The meeting was cordial, with Green granting the truce. Within the hour, men from both armies were again on the battlefield tending to their dead and wounded.

By early morning (Feb. 22), the Texans had dug a mass grave to the north of the battlefield. The Confederate supply wagons made their way to the battlefield with badly needed medical supplies and food. The Texans were fed their first meal in over 24 hours.

The Union dead and wounded had been carried on wagons to Ft. Craig. The fort hospital was expanded to every building and spare mattress they could find, with many of the soldiers helping the few surgeons deal with the chaos.

The Texans were not so fortunate. They had no hospital, buildings or mattresses — just the cold, damp ground of the battlefield. The Texan's chief surgeon, Dr. Edward Covey, reported to Sibley that the wounded were stabilized, but he needed proper facilities to care for them. The decision was made to secure buildings in Socorro to establish a hospital.

Advance to Socorro

General Sibley dispatched an advanced guard of Texans to Socorro on Feb. 24, commanded by Lt. Col. Henry McNeill, the 2nd in command for Lt. Green's 5th Regiment. Socorro was being defended by Company A of the 2nd New Mexico Militiamen, commanded by Col. Nicholas Pino. An additional 280 militiamen were heading for Polvadera under Maj. Charles Wesche. The exhausted men of these two units had just returned from action at the battle of Valverde.

About 8 p.m., a canon was fired from atop a hill (near present day Nicholas Street) alerting Socorro that the Confederates had arrived. Most historical accounts simply state that following the firing of the canon, Socorro immediately surrendered. However, there is far more to the story than that, as documented in the Official Records.

Following the canon shot over the plaza, there was no immediate response from Socorro except some return rifle fire by Pino's men. A company of McNeill's Texans were sent into town and located Don Pedro Baca, the alcalde of Socorro. Baca directed them to the quarters of Col. Nicholas Pino, where the surrender of Socorro was demanded. In the meantime, Pino had sent a message to the men at Polvadera for assistance. Over the next several hours, McNeill kept insisting on the surrender of Socorro. Col. Pino kept hesitating with excuses about waiting until daylight so they could fight for the town and the like. He was stalling for time, knowing the people of Socorro would be subject to harm upon a nighttime military engagement. Pino was also killing time awaiting the arrival of the men from Polvadera, awaiting reports from his spies on the Texan strength, and quietly informing Socorroans to stay in their homes for safety should a fight ensue.

Socorro Surrenders

Around midnight, McNeill began to threaten an attack on the town. The sacrifice of innocent lives rested heavily on Col. Pino's shoulders. Maj. Wesche's report in the Official Records describes the conclusion: "Colonel Pino, Lieutenant-Colonel Baca and myself rode along with our visitors (the escorts to McNeill's camp) and after having looked at the long line of rebels and seeing that no relief came from Camp Connely (Polvadera), then, at 2 a.m., February 25, Colonel Pino surrendered."

Col. Pino had bravely held off several hundred Confederates from entering Socorro at night for six hours with bluffs, stall tactics and a mere 37 men! Not a single Socorroan was harmed due to Col. Pino's tactics to defend and protect the people of Socorro.

Col. Nicholas Pino, a resident of Socorro himself, was the commander of the 2nd New Mexico Militia since before the Civil War. His brother, Col. Miguel Pino, was the commander of the 590 men of the 2nd New Volunteers during the battle of Val Verde. Born in Galisteo, Nicholas and Miguel lived in Socorro for many years. Many of the Pino's living in Socorro today are descendants of these two brothers.

Confederates Arrive

in Socorro

At day break, McNeill's men entered Socorro, raised the Confederate flag over the plaza, and began searching for quarters to use as the hospital. The following day, Feb. 26, the 2,600 men of Sibley's brigade arrived. The Regimental Officers and several companies of men entered Socorro. The rest of the command camped about two miles north of town. Private A.B. Peticolas (4th Regiment, Company C) wrote in his diary, "... it was late in the evening before we reached camp. Socorro is a place of considerable size and has 2 little villages on the north side of it, about 2 miles off, between which we are camped tonight; one is on the right and the other on the left bank of the river." Peticolas was describing Escondida and Parida.

As soon as the ambulance wagons arrived, the sick and wounded were transferred into the quarters secured for the hospital. Surgeon Dr. Covey and staff went promptly to work on those most seriously injured. One can only imagine the grueling scene over the next several days as men were sewn back together and limbs amputated — with no anesthesia. (The first effective sedation agent, ether, was not discovered until 1858 and barely became available by the war's end).

While the surgeons were busy in their newly established hospital, the soldiers were pilfering Socorro for whatever they could seize. Peticolas recorded in his journal they had "taken" 300 stands of arms, 150 mules, about the same in horses, 8,000 barrels of flour and some government wagons. The confiscation of the animals and flour alone, at the end of winter and months away from the next harvest, no doubt placed a large hardship on the people of Socorro.

On the morning of Feb. 28, the whole of Sibley's Brigade left the Socorro camps and began their march to Albuquerque. According to records assembled by the author, about 200 men were left at the Socorro Hospital. Of these, 97 were listed as wounded and 16 as sick, mostly pneumonia. Twenty-three men were assigned to the Socorro Hospital as "staff," which included the medical orderlies and the assistant surgeons, and a small garrison of about 20 soldiers. Of particular interest are the 18 men left to tend to family. There were many siblings in Sibley's Brigade, most serving in the same company. In such cases, the immediate family member signed on as an "attendant" at the Socorro Hospital to care for their wounded brother or cousin. For example, Pvt. John White was an attendant caring for his wounded brother, Pvt. Hardy White, both of the 4th Regiment, Company H. By April 20, when Col. Canby recapitulated Socorro and closed the hospital, 26 Texans had died from their wounds and were buried in Socorro.

The most sorrowful death was clearly that of Capt. Willis Lang of the 5th Regiment, Company B — the Lancer Company at the Battle of Val Verde. Lang was seriously injured, his leg ripped open by a bayonet during the lancer charge against the Colorado Volunteers. As recorded in Hall's Confederate Army book, "His wound was a terrible one, and one that caused the most intense suffering, and knowing from its nature that it was not possible for him to live, he ordered his colored servant to hand him his pistol, which he did, and with this weapon he ended his suffering and his life." Capt. Lang had committed suicide in the Socorro Hospital. (There were several officers who brought "colored servants" with them on the New Mexico campaign). Two other men of Lang's company also died in Socorro from wounds received during the lancer charge.

The Socorro Hospital

The largest home in Socorro in 1862 was that of Juan Nepumoceno Garcia. This placita-style home was built as a large square building with an internal placita (courtyard) with a well, fruit trees and stock corrals. This was the building most likely used by the Texans for the hospital, and the building seemingly portrayed in the sketch of the "C.S.A. Hospital, Socorro" by A.B. Peticolas. This historic building, north of the plaza, now houses the Security Title Abstract Company, although, portions of today's structure were added in later years. It is doubtful all of the sick and wounded were contained within this single building.

Other nearby buildings were likely used for the less critical patients and quarters, such as the Juan Jose Baca store and house across the street. Built in 1851, Baca's old store now houses the Socorro Springs Brewing Company.

The location of the Confederate hospital is not known with certainty. Local oral history largely confirms the location was the Garcia (Security Title) building. Charles and Jessie Headen, upon restoring the building, searched under the old wood floors and other areas for artifact evidence. Nothing was found that could be positively linked to the hospital occupation. However, this building has had a dynamic history. Several structural changes were accomplished before the death of Mrs. Garcia in 1911.

Afterwards, the building was converted into apartments and business offices by Holm O. Bursum Jr., being constantly occupied and altered from 1918 until the 1970s restoration by Security Title. Artifacts that may have existed from the Confederate occupation have undoubtedly been long removed, buried or floored over many years ago. Built in 1854, the Garcia building may be one of the longest occupied structures in Socorro.

Union forces entered Socorro on April 1, 1862 and assumed the care of the wounded Texans. The able-bodied men were taken to Ft. Craig as prisoners of war. On April 18, Col. Canby officially recapitulated Socorro. The Confederate hospital was closed on April 20th when the remaining injured were moved to the Ft. Craig hospital to complete their recovery. The Garcia family was finally allowed back into their home.

Some historians believe Socorro was Confederate property during this time. However, Socorro was used strictly for the hospital, not a military occupation. While the Confederate flag flew over the plaza a few days past a month, there is no evidence they interfered with the civil operation of the town. Months earlier, Col. Baylor declared all of New Mexico below the 34th parallel to be Confederate property. The 34th parallel is located about halfway between Socorro and Luis Lopez (through the Socorro landfill, to be exact!). Even under this rule, the Confederacy missed the Socorro plaza by a mere four miles!

During their occupation, the Texans brought no harm to Socorroans, other than seizing all the housing, supplies and food they could get their hands on. The people of Socorro gave no special assistance to the Texans. They seemed to tolerate each other's presence at best. Sibley had hoped the Mexicans would be sympathetic to the southern cause and give the Confederate army support. But this was not to be. Peticolas wrote in his diary toward the end of the campaign, "Not a friend did we find in the territory."

The Confederate Cemetery

It is not known where the fallen Confederates are buried in Socorro, other than "west of town." Between the incensed townspeople and the Catholic priest, it is known the Confederates were not allowed to bury their men in the town cemetery, forcing them to bury their dead elsewhere. It is this author's opinion that the Texans formed a military-style burial site south of the Catholic cemetery, near Blue Canyon Road. Socorroan Charles Mandeville has searched for the Confederate graves as well, and likewise believes they are buried in this same general area. His research has led him to suspect a site near Peralta Street. For whatever reason, the site of the Confederate cemetery seems to have been quickly forgotten, perhaps suggesting the graves were poorly marked, if at all. It is a shame that time has prevented Socorro from properly honoring these fallen Americans.

The New Mexico Militia

Before the Civil War, local Mexicans served in the New Mexico Militia — an arm of the U.S. Army. These men were given Army uniforms and rank, a small stipend, and served as garrisons for the towns along the Rio Grande and as escorts to civilian caravans. In many ways, similar to today's Army Reserve, they lessened the burden on the regular Army troops by performing such services. There were units of the New Mexico Militia stationed at Socorro, Polvadera, San Pedro and Paraje. The 1st N.M. Militia was commanded by Socorroan Gen. Manuel Armijo, while the 2nd Regiment was commanded by Gen. Nicholas Pino. The San Pedro detachment was commanded by Gen. Estanislado Montoya. All of these men have descendants still living in Socorro today.

In 1861, these militia units were reorganized at Ft. Craig, reporting directly to Col. Canby. The commanders, Generals in the volunteer service, were given the rank of Colonel in the regular army. Col. Armijo and Col. Pino continued to protect Polvadera and Socorro, while Col. Montoya served on occasion with Capt. Rafael Chacon and Paddy Graydon's Independent Spy Company in providing surveillance against the Texans. When the Texans arrived at Ft. Craig on Feb. 16, 1862, Col. Canby called all of the New Mexico Miltiamen to the fort for active military duty. All saw action with the Texans.

New Mexico Volunteers

In addition to the Militiamen, Col. Canby began recruiting for the New Mexico Volunteers. On the eve of the Confederate invasion, about 1,200 volunteers were stationed at Ft. Craig. Half of these men were in the 1st Regiment of New Mexico Volunteers under Col. Christopher "Kit" Carson, and the other half in the 2nd Regiment under Col. Miguel Pino. Unlike the Militiamen, these men were not issued uniforms. As volunteers, they provided their own clothes, horse, tack and weapons; while the Army provided food, a small expense stipend and ammunition. Most all of these volunteers saw action during the battle of Valverde or were assigned to protect Ft. Craig.

These men made great sacrifices to serve as volunteers, and many provided invaluable service to the Union Army. However, Col. Canby blamed his loss at Valverde on the New Mexico Volunteers, claiming many failed to follow orders, were cowards or deserted. These charges can still be read in Canby's report of the battle in the Official Records of the Civil War, even though most of the claims have since been proved to be incorrect, even by Canby's own fellow officers. Unfortunately, most historical works on the battle of Val Verde keep quoting these reports without researching subsequent documentation, continuing this unfounded slander of the New Mexico Volunteers.

Setting the Record Straight

Capt. Rafael Chacon provided invaluable service as a spy to the Union by precarious interactions with the Confederates. On one occasion, he was accused by Capt. Deus of abandoning his mission and being captured (perhaps purposely) by the Confederates. Upon Chacon's return, in which his loyalty was suddenly suspect, Col. Canby listened to both sides of the story and ended up reprimanding Deus. By never questioning his loyalty, Canby showed the faith he had in Capt. Chacon and his company of volunteers.

During the battle of Valverde, Kit Carson's New Mexico Volunteers supported McRae's battery. Several attacks by the Texans, in order to capture the artillery battery, killed many. Canby claimed the Mexicans were cowardiced and fled the field, leaving McRae with no support, the cause of losing the canons to the Texans.

Yet, the Mexican companies flanking McRae's battery sustained 30 percent casualties, equal or greater than those sustained by the regular Army units fighting with them. Inarguable proof that the New Mexico Volunteers were in the very thick of the battle and fought valiantly. It has since been determined that the New Mexico Volunteers and the regular Army retreated together when overrun by the charging Texans.

After the battle, Col. Canby reported that over 400 volunteers failed to return to Ft. Craig and thus were considered to be deserters. At 1 a.m., over 300 of those volunteers arrived at the fort, after marching all night from the battlefield. They were now infantry men, having no horses, and were left to return to the fort on their own. Their appearance, clearly showing their loyal service to Canby, was never corrected in the Official Records. Some of the missing men were documented later as remaining at the battlefield to tend to the wounded.

Another 100 New Mexico Volunteers, in fact those under Col. Nicholas Pino, had stumbled upon some of the Confederate supply wagons left at the Feb. 20 "dry camp." After a skirmish with the guarding elements, Pino's men torched the wagons, destroying a significant amount of Sibley's food and supplies. Confederate correspondence verifies this was considered a major loss to the Texans. The loss of these wagons was Canby's major success during the battle. Yet, this blow to the enemy was accomplished by Pino's company of volunteers — while they were supposedly unaccounted for and assumed deserters!

After burning the Texans' wagons, Pino's exhausted company of Mexicans, and about 200 more of Col. Armijo's volunteers, traveled all night to return to Socorro and Polvadera, fearing an immediate Texan advance. Had they not returned to protect these towns, Socorro would have been left with no defense when the advance guard of the Texans (Lt. Col. McNeill) arrived on Feb. 24. The skirmish at Socorro, yielding no injuries or harm to the townspeople, could have been a different story.

Most all of the volunteers spoke only Spanish. Several officers claiming the volunteers did not follow orders on the battlefield admitted later that orders were issued in English, and no translators were available. As if the confusion on the battlefield isn't bad enough, some guy is yelling orders at you in a foreign language!

These are but a few examples researchers over the years have documented to show that the New Mexico Volunteers, indeed, fought bravely and assisted the regular Army units well. The sterling service of the volunteers is well documented in Meketa's book, "Legacy of Honor." There are documented cases of those fleeing the battlefield and deserting, but not the numbers originally reported by Canby.

There are also reports in the diaries and correspondence citing clusters of men who failed to fight due to cowardice on both the Union and Confederate sides as well. Nearly every military engagement experiences this misfortune.

By and large, the New Mexico Volunteers served Col. Canby and the Union Army with honor. Those who served remained loyal to the Union and many were involved in the significant events of the Confederate invasion of New Mexico, in spite of the racism and false accusations levied against them at the time. Many descendants of these men live in and around Socorro today, and all have the right to be proud of these gallant ancestors.

In Part III, this series will conclude with the Battle at Glorietta, the Confederate retreat, a few odds and ends, and more profiles of the local descendants of these brave fighting men.

References used for this article: "Rebels Along the Rio Grande," by Don Alberts; "Westward the Texans," by Jerry Thompson; "Bloody Valverde," by John Taylor; "Legacy of Honor," by Jacqueline Meketa; "The Confederate Army of New Mexico," by Martin Hardwick Hall; "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," 128 volumes, Govt. Printing Office; and personal interviews.

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