The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Friday, February 18, 2022

Battle of Velverde Re-enactment This Weekend

From the February 17, 2022, El Defensor Chieftain (Socorro, New Mexico) "Valverde reenactors converge again at  Escondida" by John  Larson.

Most people, when they think of the Civil War, do not think of New Mexico.  But, there was some action in that future state back then.

This weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19 and 20,  dozens of Civil War re-enactors will turn back the hands of time as Confederate and Union forces clash.

Over 50 re-enactors are expected.

Back in 1862, at the battle, Confederates carried an assortment of weapons including hunting rifles and black powder shotguns as Gen. Sibley's troops were poorly  equipped at the beginning of their New Mexico Campaign.

At the Battle of Velverde, one Confederate unit captured a Union battery of artillery and were only armed with shotguns.   In 1862, Socorro County extended  from Texas to California and included New Mexico and the goldfields of Colorado.

Confederate General Henry  Hopkins Sibley gathered a force at El Paso, Texas, and had this objective with the first target the Union's Fort Craig.

--Old Secesh


No comments: