Turmoil on the Rio Grande: History of the Mesilla Valley, 1846–1865

The Confederate Territory of Arizona

With the garrison of Federal troops at Fort Fillmore no longer an imminent threat, Lieutenant Colonel Baylor turned his attentions elsewhere. Much work remained to be done; indeed, the Confederate commander had only taken the first small step toward the ultimate goal of controlling the Territory of New Mexico. Baylor now began to concern himself with more important regional matters: the creation of the Confederate Territory of Arizona (with himself as governor), the marauding Apaches, and plans for the remainder of the Confederate scheme to take New Mexico. He clearly had his work cut out for him. The Mesilla Times, true to form, lavishly praised Baylor for his defeat of the Union army and encouraged their new leader to continue the “good fight.” The Times edition of July , besides spewing its typical share of proSouth editorials recounting the Battle of Mesilla and the defeat of Major Lynde at San Augustine Springs, recalled with enthusiasm the events of the past week in the Mesilla Valley: The excitement of the last five days leaves our citizens in a general glow of joy and congratulation. The rapid movements of Lt. Col. Baylor and his Command, has changed our position from one of fear and anxiety to wild enthusiasm—the dread of armed oppression and outrage give place to the brightest hopes and most confident security. The transition from darkness to light has been sudden, skillful, and glorious. We are now delivered from the hands of our enemies, and our most sanguine expectations realized. Our seven-starred banner, instead of being trampled in the dust by the minions of an Abolition despot, is bathed in new glories. Arizona has thrown off the chains which have so long bound her. . . . The present Confederate Congress will give us a territorial organization; the gallant Confederate troops have given us freedom from oppression; they will in proper time scurge [sic] our fair land of Indian marauders; the capital of the country will receive new impulses; every field of labor will feel the invigorating influence; the immense resources of the country TheConfederateTerritoryofArizona CHAPTER  176 CHAPTER 9 will be developed; and a golden age of prosperity and progress will be our heritage, instead of studied neglect and a continued series of misfortunes. Well may our citizens rejoice: ’tis a full theme of joy and congratulations. We have changed from sorrow to gladness, from death to life. The profound anti-Federal sentiment that obviously prevailed in Mesilla , and throughout the valley, cannot be understated. All throughout New Mexico, even before the Civil War broke out, political leaders and average citizens alike had expressed concern about the area as a potential safe haven for ill-intentioned advocates of secession. This had provided a tremendous boost of confidence to the Confederate invaders who knew they would be surrounded by friendly compatriots. On August , , Baylor issued his famous proclamation establishing a provisional Confederate government in the Territory of Arizona, with Mesilla to serve as the capital. “The social and political condition of Arizona being little short of general anarchy, and the people being literally destitute of law, order, and protection,” Baylor wrote, “the said Territory, from the date hereof, is hereby declared temporarily organized as a military government until such time as Congress may otherwise provide.” With this general statement, the people of Mesilla, Tucson, and everywhere in between finally received what they had so long desired: recognition as their own sovereign territory. The organization as such, however, did not come under the banner of the United States of America, as they had originally requested beginning in , but rather under the flag of the newly created Confederacy. For many of the leading citizens, this was even better than they had hoped for; they not only achieved their long-sought political recognition but also received it under the auspices of the South, whose cause they had so openly espoused. According to Baylor, who used the proclamation to appoint himself governor and vest within himself nearly all political powers and privileges possible, Arizona would consist of “all that portion of the recent territory of New Mexico lying south of the thirty fourth parallel of north latitude.” In other words, the Confederate Territory spread from the Rio Grande westward to the Colorado River, covering all of the southern portions of presentday New Mexico and Arizona, with the northern boundary just south of the town of Socorro, New Mexico. Map .. The Confederate Territory of Arizona, –. (Courtesy...