This year the Civil War of the Southwest event is being coordinated with financial support from the Arizona State Parks Foundation and Union Pacific Railroad. Volunteers from across the state will be offering their assistance during these two days so this popular re-enactment of Arizona's Civil War history can take place.
"We know that few people even understand what was happening during the Civil War in Arizona and these battles bring the public together to learn about that late 1800s era in Arizona," said Janet Hawks, the Arizona State Parks Chief of Operations.
Visitors travel from around the country to experience the three fascinating historic re-enactments complete with lifestyles of the soldiers in the southwest during the 1860s. More than 200 re-enactors come in from many states and will camp at Picacho Peak State Park with their authentic Civil War camping gear.
Food and beverage concessions will be available. Please be sure to bring along plenty of water, hat, lawn chair and sunscreen. Please note that pets will not be permitted to this event.
Civil War battles across America were well documented and history teachers carefully covered each battle across the East Coast, but few ever knew what was happening in the West during this time. A battle of the American Civil War was a skirmish fought near a rocky spire called Picacho Peak located between Phoenix and Tucson. The new highway follows the old wagon route that passed Picacho in 1862.
In 1860 the New Mexico Territory, which consisted of the lands that would become the states of Arizona and New Mexico, was sparsely populated. It ranked 34th in population out of 43 states and territories with only 83,009 inhabitants. It was 37th in black populations, with just 8 whom were free.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the U.S. Government recalled the majority of its troops from the West to build the Union army for the fighting in the east. Henry Hopkins Sibley joined the Confederacy and convinced Jefferson Davis that he would raise an army in Texas and invade New Mexico territories. He proposed that mineral resources would fill the coffers of the Confederacy and fund their massive war effort.
THREE BATTLES REENACTED AT THIS EVENT
Picacho Pass, Arizona - April 15, 1862
Twelve Union cavalry troopers and one scout, commanded by Lieutenant Barrett, were conducting a sweep of the Picacho Pass area, looking for Confederates reported to be nearby. During their patrol they discovered and captured 3 Confederate lookouts, but failed to see 7 other Confederate soldiers before they opened fire. During the ensuing skirmish, Lt. Barrett and 2 of his men were killed and 3 others wounded. More than an hour later, both sides withdrew from the scene. The remains of two Union soldiers buried at Picacho were later returned to California, but Lt. Barrett's grave, near the present railroad tracks, remains unmarked and undisturbed. Union reports indicate 2 Confederates may have been wounded, but there is no confirmation of this.
Valverde, New Mexico - February 21, 1862*
Under the command of General Sibley, about 2,000 Texans departed their camp early in the morning. Water was scarce and breakfast was only a bit of beef. They marched and rode to Valverde on the Rio Grande where they were soon engaged by the nearly 2,500 Union soldiers and 8 cannons under Col. Roberts. At 8 a.m. the Texans, equipped mostly with old civilian hunting arms and shotguns, set a line of defense behind a low embankment. They held this line until the left flank, under Captain Baylor, was severely mauled by the Federals. At that point, nearly five hours into the battle, Union artillery moved close to the Confederate center, raking the line with grapeshot and canister. In danger of being flanked and decimated by the artillery, some 200 Texans, aided by the four 6-pounder cannon of Captain Teel's artillery, charged the Union battery. Although suffering numerous casualties, the Texans captured the battery and turned it on the Federals pressing Baylor. This effectively turned the tide of the battle and forced the Federals to flee the field of battle, leaving it in the hands of the victorious Confederates. Confederate casualties were 36 killed, 150 wounded and 1 missing. The Union suffered 68 killed, 150 wounded and 35 missing. * Extracted from the journal of Sgt. A.B. Peticolas, CSA
Glorieta, New Mexico - March 28, 1862*
A month after the Confederate victory at Valverde, the Texans had arrived at the mouth of Apache Canyon east of Santa Fe, where they prepared to choke Union access to the Santa Fe Trail. The Confederate force, under Lt. Col. Scurry, consisted of about a thousand men and 3 cannon. The Union forces, led by Col. Slough, numbered about 850 men and 8 cannon. At 11 a.m. Union skirmishers met the Texan advance guard and fired the first shot of the Battle of Glorieta, sometimes called the Gettysburg of the West. Furious fighting broke out all along the line which spanned the narrow timber and rock-choked canyon. By 2 p.m. the Confederates had managed to push the Union right flank back a quarter of a mile. Gaining high ground on the Union right, Texans poured heavy fire into the federal positions, forcing their withdrawal into the canyon. By Battle's end, at 4:30 p.m., the Federals had retreated more than a mile with the Texans in firm command of the mouth of the canyon. During the main battle, 490 Federals, led by Major Chivington, struck a fatal blow to the Texan advance. While attempting to link up with the main force, Chivington's men discovered the hidden Confederate 80 wagon supply train. They drove off the weak guard, slaughtered the draft animals and burned the supply wagons. The loss of these supplies spelled disaster for the confederates who, although having won a tactical victory, were now forced to begin a long and agonizing retreat back into Texas. The Battle of Glorieta was a Union victory, the Santa Fe Trail was no longer threatened by Confederate forces, and the garrison of Fort Union remained undefeated. Confederate losses were 36 killed, 60 wounded and 25 missing. The Union lost 38 killed, 64 wounded and 20 missing.
For more information about the re-enactments, please visit AZStateParks.com or call Picacho Peak State Park at (520) 466-3183. The full schedule is available at AZStateParks.com. Please print the schedule and bring it with you to the event!
Special Event Vehicle Entrance Fee is $10 per vehicle for up to 4 persons, each additional person is charged $3 each. A $3 per person entrance fee applies to pedestrians and bicyclists. There is no charge for children aged 13 and younger. The park is located off I-10, on exit 219; 60 miles south of Phoenix, and 40 miles north of Tucson.
Please call ahead to find out the latest information about the State Parks by calling (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.
CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST
Picacho Peak State Park
March 13 & 14, 2010
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (all times are approximate)
9:30 am Gates open
10:15 am Artillery Demonstration - Battlefield
Spencer & Jackson Traveling Theatrical Troupe - Encampment
11:00 am Reenactment of Battle of Valverde - Battlefield
11:30 am Fashion Show - (Sat. Only) - Sutler's Row
Church Service - (Sun. Only) - Sutler's Row
12:00 pm "Soldiering in the Southwest" Presentation - Sutler's Row
12:30 pm Spencer & Jackson Traveling Theatrical Troupe - Encampment
Civilian Living History Demonstrations (spinning, bullet making, displays...) - Encampment
1:00 pm Artillery Demonstration - Battlefield
1:30 pm Reenactment of Battle of Glorieta Pass - Battlefield
2:15 pm 4th U.S. Cavalry Regimental Band - (Sat. Only) - Sutler's Row
Tea Party - (Sat. Only) - Encampment
Fashion Show - (Sun. Only) - Sutler's Row
3:00 pm Cavalry Demonstration - Battlefield
Civilian Living History Demonstrations (spinning, bullet making, displays,...) - Encampment Spencer & Jackson Traveling Theatrical Troupe - (Sun. Only) - Encampment
**Entrance Gates Closed to Spectators; No Further Public Entry**
3:30 pm Reenactment of Battle of Picacho Pass - Battlefield
4:00 pm Spencer & Jackson Traveling Theatrical - (Sat. Only) - Encampment
Special thanks to the following:
The Re-enactors, Pinal County Sonoran Search & Rescue, Marana Police Department Explorers, and the many volunteers.
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