I Just Learned About Arizona’s Surprising Civil War History

In the midst of the 19th century, just under a century after America declared its independence from the British Empire, the United States became much less united.

The American Civil War was the bloodiest war fought on our soil, which is impressive, as it basically was just fought on the Eastern Seaboard. Many forget, or never learned; however, that Arizona played a role in the fight against the Confederacy.

Arizona's Confederate Takeover

While much of the war's focus was on the deep south, Confederate leadership hoped to secure the west coast of the country, and found Arizona the perfect place to do it. The state's cotton production was a main selling point, and in February, 1862, the Confederate army captured Tucson, claiming it as the capital of the Arizona territory.

The Union did not take that action lightly, so Col. James Carleton and 1,500 men were sent from the California coast into the Arizona desert to counter the Confederate's advances.

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The Westernmost Battle of the Civil War

Several skirmishes took place across the Sonoran desert, and the Confederates were slowly pushed out. Union soldiers stayed alert, though, ready to expel any remaining southern infantry. This all came to a head on April 15th, 1862.

Lt. James Barrett of the First California Cavalry and a small group of Union Soldiers heard that a group of Confederates were hiding out in the Picacho Peak area, so they headed that way, guns at the ready. What followed was the westernmost battle of the Civil War with confirmed fatalities, with three confirmed Union deaths, and an unconfirmed number of Confederates. The remaining traitors were captured, and soon, forces in Tucson saw the writing on the wall: their time in the desert was over.

Now, a small plaque and unmarked graves are all that remain, but the sacrifice given for this country will never be forgotten.

[Emerging Civil War]