Second Battle of Mesilla

Part of the American Civil War

Date	July 1, 1862
Location	Mesilla, Confederate Arizona Modern Day: Mesilla, New Mexico
Result	Union victory, Confederates minor loss.

Belligerents

Confederate States

United States

Commanders and leaders

Captain Sherod Hunter

unknown

Strength

Company A, Herbert's Battalion of Arizona Cavalry

unknown number of New Mexican guerillas

Casualties and losses

none, lost several horses and their equipment

none known

Engagements in Confederate Arizona

1st Mesilla Tubac Cooke's Canyon Florida Mountains Gallinas Mountains Placito Pinos Altos Canada Alamosa Valverde Stanwix Station Picacho Pass Tucson 1st Dragoon Springs 2nd Dragoon Springs 2nd Mesilla Apache Pass La Paz Mowry Mount Gray Doubtful Canyon Fort Buchanan

The Second Battle of Mesilla was an unusual engagement of the American Civil War, it was fought on July 1, 1862 and was the last engagement between Union and Confederate forces in Arizona Territory. A bloodless skirmish outside of Confederate Arizona's capital of Mesilla between Arizona militia and local pro Union New Mexican guerrillas resisting the Confederate foraging expedition, resulted in a United States victory. Combat ended with no known casualties on either side, but the Confederate force lost several horses and their equipment. The arrival of the advance party of the California Column on the west bank of the Rio Grande River on July 4, 1862, prompted the rebel Army to begin withdrawal to Franklin and then San Antonio three days later covered by Herbert's Battalion of Arizona Cavalry acting as rearguard.

References

Martin Hardwick Hall, THE CONFEDERATE ARMY OF NEW MEXICO, Austin, Texas: Presidial Press, 1978, pp. 363
L. Boyd Finch, CONFEDERATE PATHWAY TO THE PACIFIC: MAJOR SHEROD HUNTER AND ARIZONA TERRITORY, C.S.A., Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Historical Society, 1996, pp. 164-166

External Links

The Confederate Arizona Campaign of 1862, Col. Sherrod Hunter Camp 1525, SCV, Phoenix, Arizona.