Picacho Pass

[SJU]

I'm on a road trip from El Paso to Tucson so naturally I have to search out sites related to the Civil War. Early this morning I visited Picacho Peak State Park. The battle of Picacho Pass was fought April 15, 1862 and was the westernmost fight resulting in fatalities. Three Union soldiers died. The Confederates lost 3 captured. There are older very informative posts with great photos. I'll only add a little. These 2 photos explain the battle. The Confederates were attacked while camped at a Butterfield Stage station next to the outcropping.
Below is a great thread by Buckeye Bill.

The Picacho Pass (Peak) Battlefield | Traveler's Companion - Visit Historic Sites

The Battle of Picacho Pass (Picacho Peak) was an engagement of the American Civil War which occurred on April 15, 1862. The action occurred around Picacho Peak, 50 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona. It was fought between a Federal cavalry patrol from California and Confederate troops from...

civilwartalk.com

Yesterday I visited Dragoon Springs where Apaches and Confederates fought. It is a tough place to reach to put it mildly. There are some Confederate soldiers buried there. Very interesting place. I'll post something when I get the chance. Working off a dysfunctional iPhone.

Just to clarify. These 2 photos are from Picacho Pass not Dragoon Springs.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I'm on a road trip from El Paso to Tucson so naturally I have to search out sites related to the Civil War. Early this morning I visited Picacho Peak State Park. The battle of Picacho Pass was fought April 15, 1862 and was the westernmost fight resulting in fatalities. Three Union soldiers died. The Confederates lost 3 captured. There are older very informative posts with great photos. I'll only add a little. These 2 photos explain the battle. The Confederates were attacked while camped at a Butterfield Stage station next to the outcropping.
Below is a great thread by Buckeye Bill.

The Picacho Pass (Peak) Battlefield | Traveler's Companion - Visit Historic Sites

The Battle of Picacho Pass (Picacho Peak) was an engagement of the American Civil War which occurred on April 15, 1862. The action occurred around Picacho Peak, 50 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona. It was fought between a Federal cavalry patrol from California and Confederate troops from...

civilwartalk.com

Yesterday I visited Dragoon Springs where Apaches and Confederates fought. It is a tough place to reach to put it mildly. There are some Confederate soldiers buried there. Very interesting place. I'll post something when I get the chance. Working off a dysfunctional iPhone.

Just to clarify. These 2 photos are from Picacho Pass not Dragoon Springs.
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Interesting post.

 

[SJU]

Interesting post.

Picacho Peak State Park is really nice and well maintained. I was too early for the Visitor Center but the Ranger on duty was more than helpful. The posts by other people like Buckeye Bill are a lot more informative with better photos than the ones I took. I just posted two I thought were helpful.

 

[Stryker65]

Was this the battle with the California Column? Probably the first time Californians fought Confederates...

 

[huskerblitz]

Got to visit there a few years ago. Nice little off-the-beaten-path visit.

 

[SJU]

Was this the battle with the California Column? Probably the first time Californians fought Confederates...

Yep. I may make it to Apache Pass in a couple of days. The California Column had a big fight with the Apaches there.
Alex check out the Dragoon Springs post and let me know what you think. You're up on the West.

 

[JerryD]

Was this the battle with the California Column? Probably the first time Californians fought Confederates...

If I remember correctly, this was not really what we should call a "battle". Total number of soldiers engaged, on both sides, was 23. In the east this would not even count as a skirmish.

 

[east_beast]

If I remember correctly, this was not really what we should call a "battle". Total number of soldiers engaged, on both sides, was 23. In the east this would not even count as a skirmish.

Trust and believe the men there with bullets flying about them would've rightfully considered it a "battle". LOL

 

[JerryD]

Trust and believe the men there with bullets flying about them would've rightfully considered it a "battle". LOL

You know what, I dont know if I would agree with that. Granted, conflict in the west was smaller. But the Battle of Picacho Pass was not much bigger than the "Battle" of the Ok Corral!

But if they did think it was a battle, its only because they never saw a real battle. Veterans in the AoP or ANV would laugh at the thought that a fight between 23 guys, with 3 deaths, would be called a "battle".

 

[on again]

The bodies of the two Union enlisted men killed at Picacho (George Johnson and William S Leonard) were later removed to the National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco in San Francisco, California. However, Lieutenant Barrett's grave, reportedly buried near the present railroad tracks, remains undisturbed and unmarked as the site was lost.Union reports claimed that two Confederates were wounded in the fight, but Captain Hunter in his official report listed no Confederate casualties other than the three men captured. One of the rebels named John Hill was recognized by a Private Frank Clark, as they were both from Napa.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

If I remember correctly, this was not really what we should call a "battle". Total number of soldiers engaged, on both sides, was 23. In the east this would not even count as a skirmish.

Come on, @JerryD - let's at least grant them a Skirmish!

 

[Stryker65]

Come on, @JerryD - let's at least grant them a Skirmish!

Or at the minimum, an Action!

 

[G Low]

Or at the minimum, an Action!

Jerry and his numbers…