Capture of Tucson (1862) facts for kids
| Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War |
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Raising the Confederate flag in Tucson, March 1, 1862
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| Date | May 20, 1862 |
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| Location | Tucson, Arizona Territory, Confederate States (present-day Tucson, Arizona, United States) |
| Participants |  Company B, 1st California Cavalry Regiment |
| Outcome | Union occupation of Tucson, 1862-65 |
Quick facts for kids Casualties |
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| None | |
On May 20, 1862, soldiers from the Union army entered Tucson. This force of about 2,000 men took control of the city without any fighting.
Contents
Why Tucson Was Important in the Civil War
Before the American Civil War began, in the late 1850s, people in Tucson and Mesilla wanted to create a new territory called Arizona. This idea failed because Northern and Southern states disagreed on how to divide the existing New Mexico Territory. Southerners wanted an east-west border, while Northerners preferred a north-south border.
Arizona Territory: North vs. South
When the Civil War started, the Confederacy created its own Arizona Territory in February 1862. They used the east-west border that Southerners had wanted. A year later, in 1863, the United States (the Union) also created an Arizona Territory. Their border was the north-south line, which is similar to Arizona's current state boundary.
People living in Arizona hoped a new territory would help them connect better with the eastern states. They also wanted more military help. The Apache people were fighting in the region, and Tucson was surrounded by Apache lands. The old walls of Tucson's presidio (a fort) were the only protection for its people.
Lack of Protection for Settlers
When Union troops left Arizona to fight elsewhere, and the Butterfield Overland Mail stations closed, the settlers had no military support. This left them unprotected against Apache attacks.
Confederate Arrival in Tucson
In mid-1861, Confederate forces from Texas arrived. They set up small groups of soldiers in towns like Tucson and Mesilla. These soldiers sometimes fought the Apache successfully. However, more military strength was needed to hold the territory.
In early 1862, General Henry Hopkins Sibley sent Captain Sherod Hunter to Tucson. Captain Hunter led about 75 men, including some Arizona Rangers and Texas cavalry. One of his men was Jack Swilling, who later helped found Phoenix.
Captain Hunter's Mission
Captain Hunter's orders were to make friends with the Pima (Akimel O'odham) and to watch for Union soldiers. These Union soldiers, called the California Volunteers, were marching from Fort Yuma, California. They planned to capture Mesilla and El Paso, Texas.
Colonel James Reily joined Captain Hunter on the way to Tucson. Colonel Reily had 20 men from the Pinos Altos Arizona Guards. These guards were mostly men who had left their homes near Tubac and Tucson after a fight there in August 1861.
About 100 Confederate cavalrymen arrived in Tucson on February 28, 1862. They joined about 25 local soldiers already there. No more military help arrived from the South. The Confederate flag was officially raised on March 1. After this, Colonel Reily went to Sonora, Mexico for a diplomatic mission.
Skirmishes Before Union Arrival
In early May, the Confederate soldiers in Tucson fought two battles with the Apache while looking for supplies. The first fight was a loss for the Confederates, but the second was a victory.
After other small battles nearby, Colonel James Henry Carleton and his army of over 2,000 Californians occupied Fort Breckinridge. This fort was northeast of Tucson. On May 14, the Californians began marching towards Tucson. On the same day, Sherrod Hunter ordered his men to leave Tucson. He left ten soldiers behind to watch for the Union army.
How the Union Took Tucson
On May 20, 1862, Captain Emil Fritz and his Company B of the 1st California Cavalry Regiment entered Tucson. The Confederates expected them to come from the west. But Captain Fritz came from the east, and Lieutenant Juan F. Guirado came from the north.
Lieutenant Tevis, who was watching the western side of town, was completely surprised. He barely escaped capture by the Union forces. Lieutenant Tevis quickly retreated south and then east, heading towards Mesilla. The California Volunteers took control of Tucson without firing a single shot. The American flag (Stars-and-Stripes) was raised again after the Confederates had held the city for 80 days.
What Happened Next
When Captain Hunter reached Mesilla on May 27, his company joined with the Arizona Rangers and Arizona Guards. They became part of Lieutenant Colonel Philemon Herbert's battalion, called the Arizona Cavalry. These Arizonans were no longer just local soldiers; they officially became Confederate soldiers under General Henry Sibley.
After the Battle of Glorieta Pass and General Sibley's army retreated, the Arizona Cavalry battalion was ordered to stay and hold Mesilla. Men under Sherod Hunter fought a small battle near Mesilla on June 1, 1862. There were no known deaths on either side. Reports say the Union won because the Confederates lost horses and equipment. The Confederates left Mesilla a few days later.
Arizona's New Boundaries
The Arizona Cavalry were some of the last Confederate soldiers to leave Confederate Arizona. The Confederates could not hold Arizona because they didn't have enough soldiers. However, the Arizonans did achieve their main goal: creating a territory separate from New Mexico Territory.
As mentioned, the United States established Arizona Territory in 1863. Tucson became its capital. This new territory used the north-south boundary. Towns like Mesilla and Pinos Altos were not included in the new Arizona Territory. They stayed part of New Mexico Territory and are now in the state of New Mexico.
The Confederate presence in Arizona made the Union send forces back to the region. This helped the Federal government regain control. It also gave Arizona the military support it needed to protect against Apache attacks. The California Column stayed in Arizona until 1866, making them some of the last volunteer soldiers to leave service in the American Civil War.
