What happened on February 21 during the U.S. Civil War?

2016-02-21T14:05:26-05:00

The battle of Val Verde which began on February 20 ended on February 21, 1862. The results of the first battle in the west were inconclusive but cost both sides dearly. Confederate BG Henry Hopkins Sibley attacked Union troops commanded by COL Edward R. S. Canby. Kit Carson commanded the First Regiment of New Mexican volunteers
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-val-verde

Battle of Val Verde - Feb 21, 1862 - HISTORY.com

On this day in History, Battle of Val Verde on Feb 21, 1862. Learn more about what happened today on History.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 2:07 PM

2016-02-21T14:07:15-05:00

This is new to me, thanks!

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Feb 21 at 2016 2:08 PM

2016-02-21T14:08:13-05:00

very good article. Thanks for sharing. LTC Stephen F.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 21 at 2016 2:13 PM

2016-02-21T14:13:29-05:00

As Paul Harvey used to say Here is the rest of the story [or at least some significant aspects]
"Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley envisioned that he would invade New Mexico with his army, defeat Union forces, capture the capital city of Santa Fe and then march westward to conquer California and add it to the territory of the Confederacy. Sibley's first step was to gather an army in El Paso, Texas and lead it north along the Rio Grande with the objective of capturing Fort Craig and the supplies in the fort and defeating the Federal army under Colonel Edward Canby. On Jan 3, 1862, Sibley left El Paso with three regiments and one partial regiment of mounted Texans comprising 2,510 officers and men. Fort Craig, 140 miles (225 km) north of El Paso, was the major obstacle in his path. Canby awaited him there with 3,800 men of whom most were infantry. Only 1,200 of Canby's men were seasoned soldiers. The remainder consisted of 2,000 New Mexican volunteers, 100 Colorado volunteers, and 500 militia. Kit Carson commanded the First Regiment of New Mexican volunteers."
Aftermath of the battle
Left in possession of the battlefield, the Confederates gained the victory but had suffered substantial casualties, reporting 36 killed, 150 wounded, and one missing out of 2,590 men. Due to the strength of the fort's walls, Sibley decided to abandon his attempt to capture the fort and instead continued northwards towards Albuquerque and Santa Fe, where he hoped to capture much needed supplies. However, he was severely hampered by the losses in horses and mules from the battle, which forced him to dismount the 4th Texas as infantry and to destroy some supplies and wagons.
Canby reported that his forces had 3 officers and 65 men killed/3 officers and 157 men wounded/1 officer and 35 men missing for a total of 264. He also had additional missing and deserters, mostly deserters, thus suffering a 16 percent casualty rate, including deserters, of about 432 men out of 2,800 men engaged. Considering himself to be outnumbered, he chose not to pursue Sibley, instead sending mounted detachments of New Mexico volunteers against the Confederates' rear for harassment. He would remain with the main body at Fort Craig to cut off the Confederates' supply line and to intercept reinforcements for Sibley, eventually hoping to pin the main Confederate main body between himself and Union reinforcements from Fort Union.
Neither Sibley nor Canby received high marks for their generalship during the battle. Sibley was indisposed by alcohol and illness and spent most of the day riding in an ambulance. Col. Green was the de facto commander and it was his aggressive attack on Canby's center and left that won the battle. Canby blamed the New Mexican volunteers, mostly Hispanics, for his loss—but his decision to reinforce his right while weakening his center and left was the real cause of the Union defeat. On Canby's right wing, Kit Carson's regiment of New Mexican volunteers saw only limited action but comported itself well. The volunteers were advancing and thought they were winning the battle. They were incredulous when Canby gave the order to retreat.
The battle represented Canby's low point in his military career and Sibley's high point. Both men would go opposite directions to the terms of reputation after the battle. It was rumored following the battle that the two commanders of these battles, Canby and Sibley, who had been allies and trained together earlier, might have actually been brothers-in-law. However, research showed that there is little if any evidence that they were related by marriage. LTC Private RallyPoint Member SGT John " Mac " McConnell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Valverde

Battle of Valverde - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle of Valverde, or the Battle of Valverde Ford from February 20 to February 21, 1862, was fought near the town of Valverde at a ford of Valverde Creek in Confederate Arizona, in what is today the state of New Mexico. It was a major Confederate success in the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War. The belligerents were Confederate cavalry from Texas and several companies of Arizona militia versus U.S. Army regulars and Union...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2016 2:16 PM

2016-02-21T14:16:21-05:00

I always wondered if the Confederates attacked west. In the classic Clint Eastwood Movie 'THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY' there was a battle in the west that somewhat describes what happened today in history. I am not sure if they had gattling guns like in this movie. The attack scene taking the bridge is missing here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryo8RtIYBnU

The Good The Bad And The Ugly Branston Bridge.flv

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Feb 21 at 2016 3:17 PM

2016-02-21T15:17:37-05:00

The western territories did play a role in the US Civil War. California had been admitted as a free state in 1850. The Indian territories which would be Oklahoma today actually sided with the Confederates and so the federals used the Homestead Act 0f 1867 as "punishment." I suspect that would have happened no matter how the various tribes acted. The Confederate Army still had to fight the Apaches in Texas. The western theater did see some large troop concentrations but really nothing decisive occurred east of the Mississippi for the duration. The Battle of Vicksburg with its subsequent dismemberment of Confederate territory obviously was just as decisive for the winning of the war as Gettysburg which occurred that same week. The Confederacy was never able to produce a workable transportation system to move men & material.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Feb 21 at 2016 3:54 PM

2016-02-21T15:54:36-05:00

Great post! History - the more the better.

Response by SSgt Mark Lines made Feb 21 at 2016 9:53 PM

2016-02-21T21:53:36-05:00

Another good piece of knowledge. Thank you for sharing!

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Feb 25 at 2016 8:40 AM

2016-02-25T08:40:40-05:00

LTC Stephen F. These posts on the Civil War are very cool and informative. As you can see I'm pretty far behind, but I wanted you to know that I'm reading them and I appreciate your posting them. I really like history! Thanks Stephen!