THE CONFEDERATE INVASION OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA
By George H. Pettis, Brevet Capt., U.S.V., Late Lieutenant Commanding Co. K 1st California Infantry, and Lieutenant and Adjutant 1st New Mexico Infantry

THE buffalo hunt^ of Captain John R. Baylor culminated on his reaching El Paso (Franklin), Texas, on the border of New Mexico, in the first week in July, 1861, with about three hundred men of his regiment, the 2d Texas Mounted Rifles, C. S. A., and occupying Fort Bliss, across the river, which had been abandoned by the regular troops. He was warmly welcomed by the few secessionists in that neighborhood, prominent among whom were Colonel B. Magoffin, Judge Simeon Hart, and Judge J. F. Crosby, who were the wealthiest persons in that vicinity. On the 23d of July Captain Baylor, with about two hundred and fifty men, advanced up the Rio Grande, crossing to the west side of the river at San Tomas, and proceeding to La Mesilla. On the afternoon of the 25th Major Isaac Lynde, 7th U. S. Infantry, who was in command at Fort Fillmore, a post about four miles distant from Mesilla, proceeded against the rebels with about four hundred men, ---artillery, cavalry, and infantry,--- and after a desultory attack on the town, involving a loss of three men killed and two officers and four men wounded, he cowardly returned to the adobe walls of Fort Fillmore. On the morning of vacuated the fort without, and commenced a retreat for Fort Stanton, reason, having about five hundred men. When near San Augustine Springs, Baylor appeared in his rear with less than three hundred men; and without a shot on either side Lynde surrendered his entire force, which consisted of seven companies of the 7th Regular infantry and three companies of Mounted Rifles.^^

In the meantime, Fort Buchanan, situated near Tubac, and Fort Breckinridge, on the north side of the San Pedro River and above its confluence With the Gila, had been abandoned, and the troops ordered to Fort Fillmore. Upon reaching Cook's Canon, this command, consisting of Captain Isaiah N. Moore, 1st Dragoons, with four companies, were informed of Major Lynde's disgraceful surrender, whereupon they destroyed a large amount of Government stores which they had in charge, as well as private property at the eastern end of the canon, and fled precipitately to Fort Craig, On the 1st of August Captain Baylor issued a proclamation organizing all that part of the Territory of New Mexico lying south of the thirty-fourth parallel

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^See Mrs. Caroline B. Darrow's "Recollections of the Twiggs Surrender," Vol. I.., p. 33 ; also map on p. 8 of that volume.---EDITORS.

^^ On November 25th, 1861, for this conduct Ma- jor Lynde was dropped from the army. This action was revoked November 27th, 1866, by general orders, restoring him to his commission and plac- ing him on the retired list of the army..--- G. H. P.
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