N.M. had big role in the Civil War

As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln, here in New Mexico we have lots to be proud about on this momentous occasion.

In New Mexico, we are also preparing to celebrate the 151st anniversary of the Civil War victories that Hispano soldiers fought valiantly to win in February and March of 1862.

The New Mexico Volunteers provided over 8,000 Union soldiers — more than any other Western state — led by Lt. Col Manuel Chavez for this tremendous effort of sacrifice and bloodshed in order to end slavery in America and to help in the formation of a more “perfect Union.”

As a native New Mexican who was born and raised in Las Vegas, N.M. — and whose great-great-grandparents, Innocencio Arellanes and Albino Garcia (as well as uncles, relatives and many Hispano New Mexicans) fought in the Civil War in order to defeat the Confederate Army invasion — it is frustrating to continually read and hear absolutely nothing about our New Mexico Volunteers and the significant role our forefathers played in ending the Civil War.

It was the Spanish speaking soldiers of New Mexico who sacrificed, fought and many died to end the Civil War that was headed west. This victory by the New Mexico Volunteers secured the victory by the Union Army giving Abraham Lincoln the strength and authority to write and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

It is exactly this history that I proudly shared with President Obama and our first lady during our visit to the White House in December 2011. The president and first lady were most appreciative and thanked me for sharing this.

On the Feb. 17 article in the Albuquerque Journal about the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the acting director for Africana Studies at the University of New Mexico, Alfred Dennis Matthewson, said, “Though New Mexico likely wasn’t on Lincoln’s radar during the Civil War, the anniversary is as important here as it is anywhere else in the United States.” He further states, “I don’t see any reason for it to be any less of a celebration because New Mexico wasn’t in the South.”

The Fort Union National Monument, located just 30 miles north of Las Vegas, served as a military base and a stronghold for the Union Army during the Civil War. All one has to do to learn more about this is Google “Fort Union National Monument” or “The Battle of Glorieta Pass.” This famous battle is also known as “The Gettysburg of the West.”

Most historians and academicians don’t know this because it has simply been erased from our history books.

Yet, for the acting director of Africana Studies at UNM, whose job includes conducting research on the subjects of his profession — and a part of history that is so significant to our nation, to the Hispanic community, to the African American community and to New Mexico — this part of history should be much better known, understood and properly researched.

The fact is we were front and center on Lincoln’s radar screen during America’s most bloody war.

Let’s be very clear about the Civil War: It was New Mexico’s Spanish speaking soldiers, many who fought and died in these battles, who ended the Civil War headed west that delivered the major and defining blow to the Confederates and handed the victory to Abraham Lincoln and the Union Army.

This is why we are proud to celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation in New Mexico, just as much as anywhere else in America!