Battle of Valverde

Overview

The Battle of Valverde, also known as the Battle of Valverde Ford, was fought from February 20 to 21, 1862, near the town of Val Verde at a ford of the Rio Grande in Union-held New Mexico Territory, in what is today the state of New Mexico. It is considered a major Confederate success in the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War, despite the invading force abandoning the field. The belligerents were Confederate cavalry from Texas and several companies of Arizona militia versus U.S. Army regulars and Union volunteers from northern New Mexico Territory and the Colorado Territory.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Valverde, fought at a ford of the Rio Grande in Union-held New Mexico Territory, was a major Confederate success in the New Mexico Campaign despite the Confederate force ultimately abandoning the field. The engagement pitted Confederate cavalry from Texas and Arizona militia companies against U.S. Army regulars and Union volunteers drawn from New Mexico Territory and Colorado Territory. Confederate casualties were lower than those suffered by the Union force, and the outcome advanced Confederate operational momentum in the campaign to seize the territory. That the invading force held the tactical advantage yet did not hold the ground reflects the broader logistical and strategic limits that would constrain the New Mexico Campaign as a whole.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)