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Journal North: Home | Sports | Opinion | Obits | Entertainment
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Glorieta Defenders Mostly Hispanic
By Raam Wong
Journal Staff Writer
PECOS — The Civil War re-enactor's voice bellowed across the battlefield, keeping his Union troops marching in rhythm.
"Uno! Uno! Uno, dos, uno!" 1st Lt. Michael Garret repeated as the soldiers moved across the open field near the site of the key 1862 Battle of Glorieta Pass.
The Civil War may be known for generals from out East like Grant and Sherman, but it was names like Pino and Chavez of the New Mexico Volunteers who helped stem the Confederacy's westward expansion.
"They were all recruited from small villages like Las Vegas, Mora and Taos," said Frank Torres, a member of the first-ever all-Spanish speaking regiment of Civil War living history demonstrators, which is based at Fort Union National Monument.
Speaking at the opening of the new Glorieta Battlefield Trail at Pecos National Historical Park Saturday, Torres said the group was formed about two years to recognize the thousands of Hispanic and Mexican soldiers who fought in the war.
"Many of us have relatives that were Civil War troops," Torres said.
Sandwiched between Interstate 25 and N.M. 50, the Glorieta battlefield has long been off-limits to Civil War buffs such as Torres due to parking and safety concerns.
But that changed Saturday with the opening of a new, 2.25-mile walking trail traversing the site. The interpretative trail tells the story of how Confederate troops from Texas invaded the New Mexico territory, with their sights set on the mines of Colorado and ports of California.
A critical skirmish came at nearby Cañoncito, where Union troops led by Lt. Colonel Manuel Chavez destroyed a Rebel supply trail, ultimately forcing the Confederacy out of New Mexico.
Saturday's events featured living-history demonstrators who gave presentations on antique artillery, medicine, cavalry drills and more. The events wrap up today with Flag Day ceremonies and the official dedication of the trail.
Short on manpower, the Union organized several companies of New Mexico and Colorado volunteers to fend off the Texas invaders.
Having only recently been incorporated into the Union, the men of New Mexico may have taken up arms more out of a desire to protect their land than their country.
"They hated tejanos," said Garret of the First New Mexico Volunteer Infantry Company A, based in Albuquerque. "They had invaded New Mexico again and they needed to be sent home."
Most of the soldiers of the New Mexico Volunteers spoke only Spanish. They preferred broad-brimmed hats to protect against the sunshine over the standard-issue forage caps of most Union men. They were often outfitted with surplus Army gear; some weapons couldn't hit a target 100 yards away.
"We didn't get a lot of the new and modern stuff they got out East," said Don Shoemaker, who was playing an officer with the infantry company.
In the Southwest, men might become an officer if they could speak both English and Spanish. Others earned their rank by raising a regiment.
"There's no impeachment unless you shoot me in back," Shoemaker said, to which one of his smart-aleck privates responded, "That's a possibility."
Battlefield events begin at 9 a.m. today and include black-powder demonstrations, lectures and a Massing of the Colors. Admission to the opening weekend events is $3 per person; all National Park Service passes are accepted; children under 16 are free.
The Visitors Center is at 1 Peach Drive, two miles south of Pecos on N.M. 63. For more information, call (505) 757-7241. Bus transportation to and from the battlefield will be available all weekend.
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