Battle of Peralta

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Battle of Peralta Began: April 14, 1862 Ended: Same day Location: Peralta, New Mexico Territory Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Sibley's New Mexico Campaign Outcome: Union victory Combatants Dept. of New Mexico 5th Texas Mounted Volunteers Commanders Edward Canby Colonel, USA Thomas J. Green Colonel, CSA Strength 1,500 500 Casualties Killed: 1 Killed: 4

The Battle of Peralta was a minor engagement which took place in the town of Peralta in what is now Valencia County, New Mexico. Confederate troops of the 5th Texas Mounted Volunteers under Colonel Thomas Jefferson Green camped in Peralta on April 13, 1862, planning to cross a series of irrigation canals the following morning and continue on a retreat which began with General Henry Hopkins Sibley's defeat at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. On April 14, before they could set out, Colonel Edward Canby and his pursuing force had caught up with Green, trapping them within the low adobe houses in the town, which they used as fortifications. An artillery duel was fought for several hours, the Confederates being forced to do without a supply train captured earlier by Canby, as well as two Union cavalry units sent some distance away to scout for and prevent reinforcements from arriving. The battle ended with an act of nature: a dust storm blew in, which Green took advantage of, allowing him to make a complete withdrawal.