Confederate Arizona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arizona Territory
Organized incorporated territory of the Confederate States
1861–1865
Flag of the Confederate States (1861-1863)
Map of the Confederate States with Arizona Territory highlighted
Capital	Mesilla (1861–1862) San Antonio (in exile; 1862–1865)
Area
• Coordinates	32°16′N 106°42′W / 32.267°N 106.700°W / 32.267; -106.700
Government
• Type	Organized incorporated territory
Governor
• 1861–1862	Col. John R. Baylor
• 1862–1865	Dr. Lewis S. Owings (in exile)
Legislature	Arizona Territorial Legislature
Historical era	American Civil War
• Ordinance of Secession	March 28, 1861
• Col. Baylor's Proclamation	1 August 1861
• Organized by Confederacy	January 18, 1862
• Occupied by U.S.	July 8, 1862
• Surrender of C.S. Trans-Mississippi Department	26 May 1865
Preceded by Succeeded by New Mexico Territory Arizona Territory New Mexico Territory
Today part of	United States Arizona New Mexico

The Arizona Territory, also called Confederate Arizona, was a part of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. It existed from August 1, 1861, to May 26, 1865. This territory was located in what is now parts of New Mexico and Arizona.

Even though it was a Confederate territory, the Confederates lost control of most of the area by July 1862. This happened after a major battle called the Battle of Glorieta Pass. The capital of Confederate Arizona was Mesilla. Later, its government had to move to San Antonio, Texas, because of the war.

It's important to know that this Confederate Arizona was different from the Arizona Territory created by the Union government in 1863. The Confederate territory covered the southern half of the old New Mexico Territory. The Union's Arizona Territory covered the western half, which is closer to today's Arizona state.

Why Was Confederate Arizona Formed?

Before the Civil War, the land that became Arizona and New Mexico was part of the New Mexico Territory. People in the southern part of this territory felt ignored by the US government. They were far from the capital in Santa Fe.

Concerns of the Settlers

• Distance and Desert: A tough desert area called the Jornada del Muerto separated the southern parts from Santa Fe. This made it hard to govern.
• Apache Attacks: Settlers faced many attacks from Apache Native Americans. They felt the US government wasn't sending enough soldiers to protect them.
• Mail Service: The important Butterfield Overland Mail route, which connected them to the East and California, was closed. This made them feel even more cut off.

Early Attempts to Form Arizona

As early as 1858, people in the New Mexico Territory wanted to create a separate "Arizona Territory." In 1860, delegates met in Tucson and wrote a constitution for a new territory. They even elected Lewis S. Owings as a temporary governor.

However, the US Congress never approved this new territory. Some politicians didn't want a new territory that might become a slave state. Many people in the southern part of the territory had ties to the Southern states and supported slavery.

Joining the Confederacy

When the Civil War began, many people in southern New Mexico Territory supported the Confederacy. They felt their interests were more aligned with the Southern states.

Secession Conventions

• Mesilla Convention: In March 1861, citizens in Mesilla held a meeting. They voted to leave the New Mexico Territory and join the Confederacy. They felt the US government wasn't protecting them and had cut off their mail service.
• Tucson Convention: On March 28, another meeting in Tucson agreed with Mesilla's decision.
• Provisional Government: These meetings set up a temporary government for the "Territory of Arizona." Lewis S. Owings was again chosen as the temporary governor.

Official Recognition

On August 1, 1861, Colonel John R. Baylor declared Arizona a Confederate territory. This happened after his victory at the First Battle of Mesilla. He even made himself the governor.

The Confederate Congress officially approved the creation of the Confederate Territory of Arizona on February 14, 1862. Interestingly, Arizona became a US state exactly 50 years later, on February 14, 1912.

Confederate Military Units

Confederate Arizona had its own military units. These included:

• Arizona Militia (1860–1862)
  • Arizona Guards (from the Pinos Altos mining camp)
  • Arizona Rangers (from Mesilla)
  • Minute Men (from the Pinos Altos mining camp)
• Herbert's Battalion, Arizona Cavalry (1862–1863)
  • Captain Thomas Helm's Company (Arizona Guards)
  • Captain G. H. Oury's Company (Arizona Rangers)
  • Captain R. L. Swope's Company (Arizona Rangers)

Arizona Guards soldiers.

Major Battles and Campaigns

Confederate Arizona was important because it offered the Confederacy a way to reach California. This led to several important battles in the western part of the war.

Early Confederate Victories

• Battle of Mesilla (July 1861): Colonel John R. Baylor's Confederate forces entered Mesilla. They defeated Union troops from nearby Fort Fillmore.
• Union Retreat: After the defeat, Union Major Isaac Lynde abandoned Fort Fillmore. He tried to march north but was caught by Baylor's troops. Lynde surrendered without a fight.
• Battle of Canada Alamosa (September 1861): Confederate cavalry under Bethel Coopwood defeated Union New Mexican militia. This was another Confederate victory.

The New Mexico Campaign

The Confederacy tried to gain full control of the region in what was called the New Mexico Campaign.

• Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 1862): This was a major turning point. The Confederates lost this battle, which forced them to retreat from the territory.
• Battle of Stanwix Station (March 1862): Union forces fought a small battle against Confederate Arizona Rangers. This battle, near the Gila River, was the westernmost fight between regular armies in the Civil War.
• Battle of Picacho Pass (April 1862): A small group of Arizona Rangers fought a Union cavalry patrol. This also slowed down the Union's advance.

Raising the Confederate flag in Tucson.

Confederate Retreat and End of Control

By July 1862, Union forces were moving into Mesilla. The Confederates abandoned Mesilla and retreated south to Franklin, Texas.

• Government in Exile: The Confederate Arizona government moved to Franklin, then to San Antonio, Texas. It stayed there for the rest of the war.
• Continued Representation: Even in exile, the territory was still represented in the Confederate Congress.
• End of the War: Union troops controlled most of Confederate Arizona. Confederate units from Arizona continued to fight until the war ended in May 1865.

Other Conflicts

Besides the main campaigns, there were other fights:

• Battle of Apache Pass (1862): Union volunteers fought against 500 Apache warriors. This battle is considered part of the Civil War.
• Apache-Confederate Skirmishes: There were also several smaller fights between Apache groups and Confederates. The First Battle of Dragoon Springs is notable as the only known place where Confederate soldiers died in combat within modern Arizona.

See also

In Spanish: Territorio Confederado de Arizona para niños

• List of governors of dependent territories in the 19th century
• New Mexico Territory in the American Civil War