Civil War Weekend 2012

Park Photo by Patricia Lenihan

Visitor Center museum provides chronology of park-related history, including the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass.

The 2012 living history encampment held at Pecos National Historical Park (March 24 and 25) commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass saw the largest turnout ever. Visitors observed black powder demonstrations, attended dynamic lectures on subjects such as Civil War medicine and weapons used in the Southwest; took van tours of the battlefield; engaged with 5th Regiment U.S. Infantry reenactors; and interacted with living history demonstrators who shared their expertise on a wide range of subjects. Children even got to learn how to drill like a Civil War soldier.

If you missed this exciting weekend, don't despair. There are more events to come around the state concerning the Civil War in New Mexico:

May 4-6, 2012: El Rancho de Las Golondrinas, Santa Fe, NM: reenactors will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in New Mexico with a three-day event. The NM Civil War CommemorativeCongress, NM National Guard, and other organizations will participate. Here is a link to a Youtube video from Las Golondrinas about the Civil War in New Mexico. Here are specific event schedules for what's happening at Las Golondrinas on Saturday and Sunday.

June 6-8, 2012: Fort Union Junior Ranger camp public program for families with focus on NM education-based curriculum planning for learning about the Civil War in the Southwest.

August 3-12, 2012: Las Vegas NM Heritage Week.August 11, 2012: Fort Union Candlelight Tours--Civil War theme. Closing event for NM Heritage Week.

Additional details about upcoming regional events related to the Civil War Battle in New Mexico are available at this link. 

 

Infantry on the move, Battle of Valverde reenactment, 2009

Photo by Robert Mallin

 

Louisa Hawkins Canby, wife of Union officer Edward Canby, took bold steps to help the Confederate wounded after the Battle of Glorieta Pass and came to be known as "the Angel of Santa Fe."

National Archives