Battle of Albuquerque

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Battle of Albuquerque
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the
American Civil War
DateApril 8, 1862 (1862-04-08)April 9, 1862 (1862-04-09)
Location
Result Union victory [1]
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg United States of America Flag of the Confederate States of America (1861-1863).svg Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg Edward R. S. Canby Flag of the Confederate States of America (1861-1863).svg Henry Hopkins Sibley
Strength
~1,150 ~850
Casualties and losses
1 killed [1]
Unknown wounded [2]
None

The Battle of Albuquerque was a small engagement of the American Civil War in April 1862 between Confederate Brigadier General [3] Henry Hopkins Sibley's Army of New Mexico and a Union force of the Department of New Mexico under Colonel Edward R. S. Canby. [4]

Contents

Battle

The Confederates were on the retreat from New Mexico Territory after the Battle of Glorieta Pass. On April 8, Sibley's 4th, 5th and 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers occupied Albuquerque for a second time as they retreated southeast to Texas. Colonel Canby moved his army up from Fort Craig to ascertain the strength of the Confederates in Albuquerque.

Canby's artillery opened fire at long range from the edge of town for two days. The Union artillery ceased firing when a local citizen informed Canby the Confederates would not permit the civilians to seek shelter. Canby felt he had accomplished his mission; he knew the Rebels were still willing to put up resistance. The Union demonstration also caused Colonel Tom Green to hastily pull out of Santa Fe and move to Sibley's aid, hoping to counterattack in the morning. Under cover of darkness Canby's forces slipped away without the rebels' knowledge. [1]

Lacking the resources to take a large force captive, Canby hoped the Confederates would concentrate their forces together and move out of New Mexico in one unit. The rebels did indeed end their occupation of Albuquerque a few days later on April 12. Sibley left behind the sick and wounded along with eight mountain howitzers, buried near the edge of town. [5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Alberts p.158
  2. At least one officer (Maj. Thomas Duncan, 3rd U.S. Cavalry) was wounded. Eicher, 2001, p. 217.
  3. Eicher, 2001, p. 798.
  4. Canby was nominated by President Lincoln for promotion to the grade of brigadier general of volunteers on March 22, 1862 and confirmed by the United States Senate on March 31, 1862 to rank from that date but the appointment was not made until April 11, 1862. Eicher, 2001, p. 719.
  5. Alberts p.159

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References

35°06′39″N106°36′36″W / 35.110703°N 106.609991°W / 35.110703; -106.609991