1861-1865

Colorado and the Civil War

Most of the garrisons out west quickly depleted and headed to their home states to serve in the Confederacy and Union

Terrified that the South would take over Washington D.C., the Union orders back every soldier it can and leaves the West defenseless

Nathan Coriel, the first man who attempted to volunteer for the Union Army in the Civil War, was from Denver

During the spring of 1861, almost the whole army was in the West to protect it from Indians

Here at Home

At the onset of the Civil War, Coloradoans and the Native Americans were at peace.

There were only two forts in the territory at that time.

In the San Luis Valley there was the old Spanish Fort Garland.

Military Forts in Colorado

Along the Arkansas River east of Pueblo, was Fort Wise.

Fort Wise was originally a trading post.

It was named after the Governor of Virginia (Henry Wise)

In hopes that he would stay with the Union.

When Virginia joined the South, they renamed it Fort Lyon, after the first Union General killed in the war.

Fort Wise/ Lyon

During the gold rush thousand of people came to the area

By 1860 the government counted 34,277 people living in the area

The area was made up of four different territories so the US leaders used the lines of latitude and longitude to cerate the new territory

People called the new territory Colorado Red cliffs and reddish water of the

Colorado River

Colorado Territory

Colorado officially becomes a territory in 1861 and William Gilpin is appointed its first governor

He was from Kansas but had the backing of President Lincoln.

There were some Confederate sentiments.

However, most early Coloradoans came from Northern and Midwestern states and sided with the North.

The main threat to Colorado came from the Confederate state of Texas.

Territorial Status

Gilpin was convinced that the Confederate threat to his territory was imminent.

Gilpin issued $375,000 in I.O.U.’s from the Federal government to supply and pay the 1st Colorado Regiment.

Gilpin never received permission from President Lincoln to do so….

Gilpin Responds to the Confederate Threat

New Mexico was largely split between Northern and Southern Sympathizers.

In February 1862, Texas Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley took command of the Army of New Mexico.

His initial orders were to take the territory then seize the Gold Fields of Colorado and the Ports of California.

The New Mexico Campaign

Seeking access to Colorado’s rich goldfields, Texas troops were already advancing through New Mexico by March 1862.

To prevent rebel Texans from invading Colorado, Gov. Gilpin raises the 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers

Nicknamed “Gilpin’s Pet Lambs,” the 1st Regiment was anything but.

They had a well-earned reputation for hard drinking and excessive celebrating

1st Colorado Regiment

Fought March 26-28 1864The Army of New Mexico marched

North towards the Colorado Border in an effort to seize the valuable Gold Fields for the Confederacy.

John P Slough and the 1st Colorado Infantry met the Confederates at Glorietta in Northern New Mexico and stopped them cold.

Glorietta Pass

When war broke out the Methodist minister was offered a commission as a military chaplain.

Chivington declined the “praying duty” for a “Shootin duty.”

Gained fame when he cut off the Confederate supply line and turned the tide of the battle for the Union.

Returned to Colorado as a hero and with political aspirations.

John M. Chivington

Glorietta PassHigh water mark for Confederates in the

WestIntended to serve as a knockout blow for

Union in West.Union turned the Confederates back

South and they never came close to that point again.

Gettysburg

High water mark for Confederates in the East

Intended to serve as a knockout blow for the Union in the East.

Union turned the Confederates back South and they never came close to that point again.

Glorietta Pass:

“Gettysburg of the West?”

When Lincoln found out about Gilpin’s unauthorized I.O.U.’s he was livid.

He responded by removing Gilpin from office.

He then placed Illinois politician John Evans as Colorado Territory’s new Governor.

Evans was popular because of his toughness on Indians.

He was the father in law of Samuel Elbert.

Gilpin’s “Hot Water”