PROLOGUE
Early in the Confederate War, as Texans called the conflict, southern forces from Texas captured much of the region known as the New Mexico Territory. The men of the 2nd, 4th, and 7th Texas Mounted Rifles had been supremely confident that they could run roughshod over Union troops commanded by the over cautious Major General Canby. Indeed, in a series of small battles and skirmishes culminating in their victory at Valverde, the Texans, accustomed to fighting and surviving in harsh terrain, easily defeated a numerically superior Union army.

Throughout the winter months, the Union forces received a steady flow of reinforcements and supplies. Newly formed units from Colorado, mostly tough miners and lumberjacks, joined hardened U.S. regular army troops, as General Canby formulated a plan to recapture the territory.

In March of 1862, the clashing armies fought a decisive battle southeast of Santa Fe at Glorieta Pass, a part of the original Santa Fe Trail. The pass was of strategic importance, as it provided the only easily accessible route through the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Before the battle, Union cavalry surprised and captured most of an advance party that had been sent ahead by the Texans to scout the Union fortifications and disposition at the pass. However, two Confederates made it back and, they were able to detail the strength of the Federal forces to their officers. The Texans knew then that the forthcoming battle for Glorieta Pass was about to be anything but glorious.

"In the sparsely settled Territory of New Mexico the traditional enemies have been first, the Indians and, second, the Texans. War gave the Texans an opportunity to exercise their ambitions for expansion and, early in 1862, they invaded our homeland of New Mexico in the name of the Confederate government. Gentlemen, the Enemy is Texas and the Texans!"

Facundo Pino, President of the Council, and J. M. Gallegos, Speaker of the House. Address to the Legislative Assembly of New Mexico. 29 January, 1862.

The Texans replied, "Texas forever!"