Battle of Stanwix Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Stanwix Station |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War |
|||||||
 The desert in Arizona, where Stanwix Station lies. |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Confederate States |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| William P. Calloway | John W. Swilling | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 272 | 10 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 wounded | none | ||||||
Stanwix Station was a small but important stop in western Arizona. It was part of the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route in the 1850s. This station was located near the Gila River, about 80 miles (129 km) east of Yuma, Arizona.
It was first known as Flap Jack Ranch. Later, it was called Grinnell's Ranch or Grinnell's Station. In 1862, this spot became known as Stanwix Ranch or Stanwix Station. It was here that the westernmost fight of the American Civil War took place. A traveler in 1864, John Ross Browne, noted that Grinnell's was about six miles southwest of the hot springs of Agua Caliente, Arizona.
The Skirmish at Stanwix Station
The westernmost fight of the American Civil War happened at Stanwix Station. This event took place on March 29, 1862. Captain William P. Calloway led 272 Union soldiers from the California Column. They found a small group of Confederate Arizona Volunteers. This Confederate group was led by Second Lieutenant John W. Swilling.
The Confederates were burning hay at Stanwix Station. This hay was meant for the Union army's animals. After a short exchange of gunfire, the Confederates retreated. They headed back to Tucson. Tucson was the capital of the western part of Confederate Arizona.
Only one Union soldier was hurt in this skirmish. Private William Frank Semmelrogge was wounded but later recovered. No other soldiers were injured or killed in this small battle.
Why Was This Skirmish Important?
The fight at Stanwix Station was important for two main reasons. First, the Confederates burned hay at Stanwix and five other stations. These stations were along the Gila River east of Fort Yuma. This action slowed down the Union army's advance. The Union soldiers were trying to reach Tucson and Mesilla. Mesilla was the main city of Confederate Arizona.
Before leaving Tucson, the Confederates also destroyed supplies. These supplies had been gathered for the Union army by Ammi S. White. They were located at the Maricopa Villages.
Second, and more immediately important, Lieutenant Swilling escaped. He was able to reach Tucson and warn Captain Sherod Hunter. Hunter was the military commander for western Confederate Arizona. Swilling's warning helped Hunter prepare his defenses.
Hunter then placed lookouts at important spots. This led to another small battle called the Battle of Picacho Pass. In that fight, ten Confederate lookouts were attacked. They faced about twelve Union cavalry soldiers. The Battle of Picacho Pass was also a skirmish. It was different from Stanwix Station because more soldiers were hurt. Three Union soldiers died, and three were wounded. Three Confederates were taken prisoner.
Stanwix Station Today
The old stagecoach lines were no longer used in the 1880s. This happened when the Southern Pacific Railroad finished building tracks. The railroad connected Tucson from Yuma. The railroad built a new station just east of the Maricopa County line. They called this new stop "Stanwix Station."
