Confederate General Henry H. Sibley, in command…

February 1862 CE

Confederate General Henry H. Sibley, in command of the Army of New Mexico, had issued a proclamation taking possession of New Mexico in the name of the Confederate States on December 20, 1861, calling on the citizens to abandon their allegiance to the Union and to join the Confederacy, warning that those "who co-operate with the enemy will be treated accordingly, and must be prepared to share their fate."

In February 1862, Sibley advances northward from Fort Thorn up the valley of the Rio Grande, toward the territorial capital of Santa Fe and the Union storehouses at Fort Union.

Along the way, Sibley detaches fifty-four men to occupy Tucson.

The Confederate advance follows the west bank of the river via Fort Craig, which is garrisoned by a thirty-eight hundred-man Union force under Colonel Edward Canby.

Knowing he cannot leave such a large Union force behind him as he advances, Sibley attempts to lure the Union forces out into battle on favorable terms.

On February 19, Sibley camps at the sandhills east of the fort with the intention of cutting the Union lines of communications with Santa Fe.

Locations
Fort Craig Socorro New Mexico United States of America View →

People
Edward Canby View → Henry Hastings Sibley View →

Groups
United States of America (US, USA) (Washington DC) View → Texas, State of (U.S.A.) View → New Mexico, Territory of (U.S.A.) View → Confederate States of America (C.S.A.) View → Arizona Territory (Confederate States of America) View → Colorado Territory (U.S.A.) View →

Topics
American Civil War (War between the States, War of the Rebellion, War of Secession, War for Southern Independence) View → Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War View → New Mexico Campaign View → Valverde, Battle of View →

Subjects
Conflict View → Mayhem View → Government View →

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