Battle of Glorieta Pass, 28 March 1862 (part 1)

In March 1862, an invasion of New Mexico by Confederate forces culminated in a battle near Glorieta Pass, near present day Pecos. The Texan Confederate forces and Union troops battled on 26 March, both forces withdrawing and receiving reinforcments the following day. On 28 March the fighting resumed, with the Confederate forces attaining a victory on the battlefield--only to find their supply train burned by Union troops who had circled around their rear. With the loss of supplies, the Confederates were forced to return to Texas, ending Confederate hopes of taking the U.S. southwest.

A portion of the battle site is preserved in Pecos National Historical Park, which this year has commemorated the 150th anniversary of the battle. These pictures are from a battle reenactment on 6 May 2012 at El Rancho de las Golondrinas, a living history museum on a ranch near the Santa Fe County Airport.

Some relevant links:

Pecos National Historical Park, National Park Service
Battle of Glorieta Pass page at Pecos National Historical Park website
El Rancho de las Golondrinas

Go to Part 2 for more pictures.