Colorado Territory in the American Civil War facts for kids
The Colorado Territory was officially created in 1861, just before the American Civil War began with the attack on Fort Sumter. Even though people had different opinions about the war at first, Colorado mostly supported the Union. Colorado was very important to both the Union and the Confederacy. This was because of its rich gold and silver mines. Both sides wanted to use these valuable minerals to help pay for the war.
In 1862, Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley led a military plan called the New Mexico campaign. His goal was to take control of the Southwest, including Colorado's gold fields. He also wanted to control Nevada's mines and California's ports. This plan was meant to prepare for an invasion of Colorado. It also aimed to cut off supplies between California and the Union. However, the Confederates lost the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico. They had to go back to Texas, which ended their campaign.
Confederate Supporters in Colorado
In the late 1850s, many people from the Southern states moved to the Colorado Territory. They were looking for new chances, especially in the recently found gold fields. When the Civil War started, many went back South to protect their homes. But some stayed and formed groups of soldiers in places like Fairplay, Leadville, Denver, and Mace's Hole (now Beulah).
These Confederate groups operated in Colorado from 1861 to 1865. They attacked supply wagons, messed with communication lines, and tried to get more people to join their side. They also had small fights with Union soldiers. There were also many Confederate supporters in the mining areas and in the Arkansas River Valley. This area stretched from Cañon City east to Lamar, and south to Trinidad.
The first public sign of opposition to the Union happened in Denver on April 24, 1861. This was just a few days after the attack on Fort Sumter. People in Denver woke up to see the "Stars and Bars" flag flying over a store on Larimer Street. A large crowd of Union supporters quickly gathered. They demanded that the flag be taken down. But the Southern supporters wanted the flag to stay up. A young man named Samuel M. Logan, who later became a Captain in the First Colorado Volunteers, climbed onto the roof to remove the flag. What happened next is unclear. Some say a deal was made, and the flag stayed for one day. Others say the flag was taken down.
In 1861, Confederate General Sibley planned his army to invade New Mexico. He sent Captain George Madison to Colorado. Madison had two main jobs: to disrupt federal mail and communication, and to help organize Confederate recruitment. At this time, new Confederate recruits in Colorado first went to a camp near Pikes Peak. Then they were sent to the main Confederate camp at Mace's Hole. In early 1862, Captain Madison and his men captured mail going to Fort Garland. Madison was also planning an attack on Fort Garland. Union soldiers found out about the camp at Mace's Hole. They broke up the group while many Confederates were away. The Union soldiers captured forty-four Confederates and took them to Denver.
The "Reynolds Gang" was a group of Southern supporters. They operated in South Park in 1864. Their goal was to rob gold mines in the area to help fund the Confederate government. However, they never achieved their goal and were eventually captured. While the captured Southern supporters were being taken to Fort Lyon, they tried to escape. A gunfight happened, and some of the prisoners died. However, two managed to steal horses and escaped to the New Mexico Territory.
Colorado's Other Confederate Connections
Colorado is the only non-Southern state to have two former Confederate soldiers elected as state governors:
- James B. Grant was a Private in the Confederate army. He served as the 3rd Governor of Colorado from 1883 to 1885.
- Charles S. Thomas was a Private in the Georgia State Militia. He served as the 11th Governor of Colorado from 1899 to 1901. He was also a U.S. Senator from 1913 to 1921.
Margaret Howell Davis Hayes was the daughter of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. She and her husband, Joel Addison Hayes, moved to Colorado Springs in 1885. As her husband became important in city banking, Margaret became involved in helping others. She was a leading member of local society. After she passed away in 1909, her husband and children took her ashes to Richmond. She was buried with the Davis family at Hollywood Cemetery.
Colorado is also the only non-Southern state to host a national meeting of surviving Confederate Veterans. The United Confederate Veterans organization held their 49th Reunion in Trinidad, Colorado. This event took place from August 22–25, 1939.
Union Regiments from Colorado
When President Abraham Lincoln asked for volunteer soldiers, Colorado residents answered the call. Nearly 4,000 men eventually joined the Union forces. Hundreds more served in local soldier groups called militia companies. Most of these groups were formed to fight Native Americans, not Confederates. Three regiments of infantry were formed. These were later changed into two regiments of cavalry. A third cavalry regiment was raised in 1864. Other Colorado residents joined units in New Mexico.
The territory's first governor, William Gilpin, organized the 1st Colorado Infantry in August 1861. This regiment was nicknamed "Gilpin's Pet Lambs." Its first commander, John P. Slough, led them to northern New Mexico Territory in early 1862. There, they fought in battles like Apache Canyon, Glorieta Pass, and Peralta. Slough resigned in April 1862. Major John Chivington took his place.
A second regiment, the 2nd Colorado Infantry, was formed in February 1862. It included four existing companies of independent militia. This new regiment mostly fought Native Americans. However, parts of the regiment also fought at the Battle of Honey Springs in present-day Oklahoma. Much of this regiment later combined with the 3rd Colorado Infantry Regiment to form the 2nd Colorado Cavalry. (The 1st Colorado Cavalry had been formed in November 1862.)
In January 1864, the 2nd Colorado Cavalry was sent to the Missouri border counties. They were there to help Kansas troops defend against Confederate groups. Starting in late April 1864, the regiment fought several small battles with Confederate groups throughout the summer. They also raided regular Confederate cavalry at the Battle of Camden Point. Meanwhile, John Evans, the new governor of Colorado Territory, asked for their return to Colorado.
Just as the 2nd Colorado was getting ready to return for duty in Colorado, Confederate General Sterling Price began his plan to take Missouri for the Confederacy. The 2nd Colorado joined the Union force that was sent to stop General Price's soldiers. They took part in the battles of the Little Blue River, Westport, Marais des Cygnes, and Mine Creek in October 1864. When Price retreated, the 2nd Colorado was part of the chase. They met him for the last time near Fayetteville, Arkansas, in November 1864.
The 3rd Colorado Cavalry Regiment, a regiment formed for a hundred days in August 1864, was involved in a series of violent attacks on local Native Americans. This included the well-known Sand Creek massacre against a village of peaceful Cheyennes. The commander of the regiment, Colonel John Chivington, was accused of causing a massacre. But many people in the territory, including the territorial legislature, defended him. As a result, Chivington was never put on trial by a military court.
