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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC05987.33 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of Confederate Imprints and Broadsides |
| Title | Letter from Fort Craig written by H. D. Donald detailing the little-known Confederate expedition to capture New Mexico Territory |
| Date | 27-28 February 1862 |
| Author | Donald, H. D. (fl. 1862) |
| Document Type | Broadside; Newspapers and Magazines |
| Content Description | From a soldier detailing the little-known Confederate expedition to capture New Mexico Territory. Appears to be two letters printed in a Southern newspaper. Written by H.D. Donald to R.V. Cook at Soloro which is "30 miles above Ft. Craig." In first letter from 27 February writes from a hospital bed. Says they were in a "great battle" on 21 February 1862 in the valley of the Rio Grande, near Val Verde. Mentions that his captain led a charge against a battery of cannon and carried the day. Says 40 were killed and 140 injured. Says his company lost 1 killed and 22 wounded. Lists each person's name and the injury. Says Captain Shropshire is now major in place of S.A. Lockridge who was killed leading the charge. Says Thomas G. Wright is now Captain. Second letter from 28 February says Lieutenant Hubbard died last night and that Lieutenant Oakes is now first lieutenant. Says Captain Killough's company lost 2 killed and 1 wounded. Says enemy lost 400 men. Says they captured 6 pieces of artillery. Asks him to "Tell the ladies of Columbus that the Flag they gave us was the first Southern banner that waved over the enemy's batteries in the great battle of Val Verde." |
| Subjects | Civil War Military History Confederate States of America American West Soldier's Letter Confederate Soldier's Letter Battle Hospital Injury or Wound Death Artillery Women's History |
| Place written | Soloro, New Mexico Territory |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Health & Medicine; Women in American History |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Early in 1862, Confederate forces in Texas under General H.H. Sibley undertook an invasion of New Mexico Territory. The goal of this expedition was to conquer the rich Colorado gold fields and thus deprive the Northern war machine of a valuable resource and direct it instead to Southern coffers. Advancing up the Rio Grande River, Sibley's command clashed with Canby's Union force at Valverde on February 21, 1862. The day-long Battle of Valverde ended when the Confederates captured a Union battery of six guns and forced the rest of Canby's troops back across the river with losses of 68 killed and 160 wounded. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |