Battle of Peralta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Peralta |
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| Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Confederate States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Edward Canby |
 Thomas Green |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2nd New Mexico Infantry 1st Colorado Infantry |
4th Texas Cavalry 7th Texas Cavalry |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 killed 3 wounded |
4-6 killed 3 wounded/captured 22 captured |
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The Battle of Peralta was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened near the end of Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley's plan to take over New Mexico Territory in 1862. This battle was a victory for the Union army.
The Battle of Peralta
What Happened at Peralta?
After a tough battle at Glorieta Pass, the Confederate soldiers were retreating. A group of them, the 5th Texas Mounted Volunteers, led by Colonel Thomas Green, stopped in the town of Peralta. They planned to cross some irrigation canals the next day. The rest of the Confederate army was camped across the Rio Grande river in a town called Los Lunas.
On April 14, 1862, the Union army, led by Colonel Edward Canby, caught up with the Confederates.
The Fight Begins
Early in the morning, Union cavalry (soldiers on horseback) attacked. They quickly captured the Confederate wagon train, which carried supplies. They also killed or captured the guards. The Confederates in Peralta used the low adobe houses in the town as strong defenses. Adobe houses are made of sun-dried mud bricks, and their thick walls offered good protection.
Colonel Canby also captured a Confederate supply train that was coming towards Peralta. He then sent his officers, John Chivington and Gabriel R. Paul, to surround the Confederates. This was to stop any more soldiers from reaching Colonel Green.
The adobe walls and irrigation ditches around Peralta were very strong. Colonel Canby decided it was too risky to attack directly.
A Dusty Escape
When General Sibley heard about the fighting, he quickly brought more Confederate soldiers, the 4th and 7th Texas Mounted Rifles, across the river. Both armies then started firing their cannons at each other in an artillery duel.
Suddenly, a big dust storm blew in. This storm helped the Confederates. They used the dust to hide their movements and safely pull back to the west side of the Rio Grande river. When they left, the town of Peralta was mostly destroyed.
The Confederates reached Los Lunas around 4 a.m. They rested for a few hours before continuing their retreat. Colonel Canby and the Union army followed them, with Union cavalry constantly bothering the Confederate soldiers as they marched away.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Peralta para niños
