THE CIVIL WAR IN THE WESTERN TERRITORIES: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Members of Civil War Round Tables, particularly those in the West, are likely aware that the War was fought in the Southwest territories. But even many of those members focus their attention only on the battles near the Mississippi River or in Texas. Ray Colton’s book The Civil War In The Western Territories presents details about the battles fought even farther west -- in the territories now constituting the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah -- to help readers understand why the battles occurred and their significance to the country that emerged after the War. In particular, Colton explores whether these battles merely involved rival factions fighting the only enemy within reach or whether they were part of a greater strategy.
Colton describes how the lure of California gold may have been the motivation behind Confederate plans to annex and control the Southern corridor through New Mexico and Arizona, with the aim to connect presumed Southern sympathizers in California who would bring their state and its mineral wealth into the Confederate realm. Chapter Four covers the Battle of Glorietta in New Mexico – called “The Gettysburg of the West” – which crushed Confederate hopes to establish “The Confederate Territory of Arizona.” In that battle, on March 28, 1862, 700 union regulars with Colorado and New Mexico Volunteers turned back the invading Texans, forcing them to start withdrawing from the Territory.
Chapter Six chronicles early battles in Arizona between California Unionists and Confederates, including the Battle of Picacho Peak, the “westernmost” fight of the war. Chapter Seven documents the opportunistic Indian Wars that arose because of the turmoil between the whites. The Sand Creek Massacre – one of the most examined incidents of the Indian Wars – occurred during this period. The attitudes exhibited by the political and military leaders concerning the Tribes explain the tenor of the times.
The Civil War In The Western Territories also examines the war-time political developments in each territory, which had consequences for the settlers and the Tribal Nation members. The book concludes with a brief summary of the status of each territory at the end of the War.
Colton has crafted a tome that comprehensively identifies and quantifies combatants, describes their movements, and ties them in to the larger story of the War. He also provides a helpful bibliography and index. I found his writing to be somewhat stilted with matter of fact reporting language, though, but the book was copyrighted in 1959, which might have been the style at the time. I have read much more engaging authors.
Although the Southwest was clearly a minor theatre of the War, reading about its events would be worthwhile to the passionate Civil War history student looking to examine often little known or overlooked endeavors, battles, and even heroes of the War.
For these reasons, I recommend The Civil War In The Western Territories to the Civil War history buff or to anyone with an interest in the history of the Southwest, in discovering its role during the Civil War, or in understanding the events of the Indian Wars.
Jim Gallen is a St. Louis, Missouri attorney. He is Chairman of the Military History Club of the Missouri Athletic Club, a member of the St. Louis Civil War Roundtable (https://civilwarstlmo.org/), and member of the Ulysses S. Grant Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
