The forgotten battle where teenage Confederate soldiers nearly split America in half

The Battle of Glorieta Pass, 1862

Texas soldiers pushed north into New Mexico dreaming of gold and glory.

Union forces blocked their path at Glorieta Pass on March 28th, in a brutal fight that lasted three days at Glorieta Pass.

This three-day fight ended Southern hopes of reaching California. People call it the “Gettysburg of the West” because it changed the course of the war.

Here’s what happened at this crucial battle, now preserved at Pecos National Historical Park where you can walk the battlefield today.

Confederate Advance Into New Mexico

General Henry Hopkins Sibley led 2,500 Confederate troops in early 1862.

After winning battles at both Fort Fillmore and Valverde, his men took control of Albuquerque and Santa Fe by March.

Sibley wanted to capture Fort Union, located 100 miles northeast of Santa Fe for its vital supplies needed for fighting in the region.

Major Charles Pyron led 200–300 men to seize Glorieta Pass, a key route (or mountain gap) allowing a direct attack on Fort Union.

Union Forces Rush To Defend

Colonel John Slough rallied over 900 Colorado Volunteers from mining towns near Denver who marched 300 miles south on March 11, 1862.

Slough ignored orders to stay at Fort Union and led 1,350 soldiers toward Glorieta Pass on March 22 for a head-on battle with the Confederates.

Major John Chivington, a former Methodist minister, led the advance troops that set up camp at Kozlowski’s Ranch east of Glorieta Pass on March 25.

This stagecoach stop worked well to spy on Confederate movements.

First Clash In Apache Canyon

On March 26, Major Chivington led 418 Union soldiers into Apache Canyon. His troops captured about 30 Confederate guards at the top of the pass around 2:30 pm.

Chivington’s men then found Pyron’s main Confederate force behind these guards. The Confederates fired their cannons, pushing back the Union advance.

Many Union soldiers hesitated under the blast of grapeshot from Confederate cannons. This was the first time many of them had faced enemy fire in battle.

Union Flanking Maneuver Changes The Tide

Chivington split his forces and sent them up both sides of Apache Canyon. The trap caught Pyron’s forces in a deadly crossfire of bullets.

Confederates fell back about 1.5 miles to a narrower part of the pass where the land offered better protection.

During their retreat, they burned a bridge to slow down the Union movement. But the enemy’s troops again outflanked Pyron.

From higher ground, they fired down the length of Confederate lines.

Confederate Defeat At Apache Canyon

Pyron ordered another retreat as his position became hopeless.

As Confederate cannons pulled back, their soldiers lost formation and fought in small groups instead of as one unit.

Union cavalry charged the scattered Confederates, jumping over the destroyed bridge to capture 71 Texans, the biggest single loss so far.

By 4:30 pm, Pyron’s remaining forces retreated to Johnson’s Ranch. The first day’s fighting ended with a clear Union win.

Chivington, knowing his troops were too far from supplies to continue, pulled back to Kozlowski’s Ranch.

Both Sides Reinforce

No fighting happened on March 27 as both armies prepared for the next battle.

Lieutenant Colonel William Scurry brought Confederate reinforcements at 3 am, bringing their total to about 1,100 men and five cannons.

Scurry took command of all Confederate forces in the area. His men dug defensive positions and built dirt walls at Johnson’s Ranch.

Colonel Slough reached Kozlowski’s Ranch with more Union troops, bringing their total to about 1,300 men waiting to wage war.

Both sides used the day to care for their wounded and resupply.

The Main Battle Begins on March 28

Both Scurry and Slough left their positions early that morning. Scurry left one cannon and a small guard to protect his supplies and wounded at Johnson’s Ranch.

Around 10 am, Scurry’s advancing forces met Slough’s troops near Pigeon’s Ranch, a stagecoach stop about a mile east of Glorieta Pass.

Neither commander expected to find the enemy so soon.

Slough had split his forces before the meeting, sending Chivington with about 490 men across Glorieta Mesa south of the trail.

Confederate Success On The Battlefield

The battle began before 11 am with Confederates holding their ground.

The fighting centered along the Santa Fe Trail and the areas just north and south of the road. From noon until 4 pm, Scurry launched several attacks.

Confederate soldiers charged Union lines despite facing the heat. Around 2 pm, Scurry’s troops gained control of the high ground above Pigeon’s Ranch.

This forced Slough to fall back to a second defensive line among the buildings and corrals of the ranch. By late afternoon, Slough abandoned this position too.

His forces set up a third defensive line farther east but eventually retreated five miles back to Kozlowski’s Ranch as darkness fell.

Chivington’s Decisive Raid near Pigeon Ranch

Major Chivington’s 490-man force made a wide circle around the battlefield, climbing the steep slopes of Glorieta Mesa, where wagons couldn’t go.

Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Chaves then guided Chivington’s forces. They found the Confederate supply camp at Johnson’s Ranch just 200 feet above.

Chivington’s men climbed down the steep slopes and surprised the small guard protecting the Confederate supplies.

But Union forces quickly overcame this light resistance and took control of the entire Confederate supply depot.

Destruction Of Confederate Supplies

According to the Texas State Historical Association, Chivington’s men destroyed the 80 to 90 Confederate supply train filled with bullets, food, and medicine.

They set fire to the wooden wagons, creating a huge blaze. They disabled the Confederate cannon left at the camp.

The Union raiders killed or drove off 500-800 horses and mules belonging to the Confederates to disable mobility.

After finishing this devastating raid, Chivington’s forces returned with their prisoners to Kozlowski’s Ranch.

Visiting Glorieta Pass Battlefield

Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico preserves the Glorieta Pass battlefield.

The park offers a 2.25-mile Civil War Battlefield Trail with interpretive signs explaining key events and positions during the battle.

Ranger-guided battlefield tours run regularly during summer months.

The visitor center displays artifacts recovered from the battlefield, including uniform buttons, bullets, and personal items from soldiers on both sides.

The entry requires a Park-authorized pass.

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