Second Battle of Mesilla

The Second Battle of Mesilla was an unusual engagement of the American Civil War. It was fought on July 1, 1862, and was the last engagement between Union and Confederate forces in the Arizona Territory. A skirmish outside of Confederate Arizona's capital of Mesilla between a confederate party and local pro-Union New Mexican guerrillas resisting the Confederate foraging expedition, resulted in a United States victory. Various accounts report from seven to twelve Confederates killed, including their commander Capt. Cleaver of the 7th Texas Infantry and as many as 40 of the local guerrillas.[1]

Second Battle of Mesilla
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the
American Civil War
DateJuly 1, 1862
Location
Mesilla, Confederate Arizona
Modern Day: Mesilla, New Mexico
Result Union victory, Confederates minor loss.
Belligerents
Confederate States United States
Commanders and leaders
Captain Sherod Hunter unknown
Strength
Company A, Herbert's Battalion of Arizona Cavalry
7th Texas Infantry		 New Mexican guerillas
California Column
Casualties and losses
none, lost several horses and their equipment none known

The arrival of the advance party of the California Column on the west bank of the Rio Grande on July 4, 1862, prompted the rebel army to begin withdrawal to Franklin and then San Antonio three days later, covered by Herbert's Battalion of Arizona Cavalry acting as rearguard.

References
  1. Kiser p. 188
  • Martin Hardwick Hall, The Confederate Army of New Mexico, Austin, Texas: Presidial Press, 1978, pp. 363
  • L. Boyd Finch, Confederate Pathway to the Pacific: Major Sherod Hunter and Arizona Territory, C.S.A., Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Historical Society, 1996, pp. 164–166
  • William S. Kiser,Turmoil on the Rio Grande: History of the Mesilla Valley, 1846–1865, Texas A&M University Press, 2011, pp. 187–188

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