The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941 Page: 163
546 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Confederate Western Ambitions
Roberts, according to his testimony in Washington the follow-
ing year, refused to participate in the scheme and left the post
to report the information to the departmental commander, Col.
W. W. Loring. At Santa Fe, Roberts had an interview with
Col. Loring and his adjutant general and learned that they were
also involved. Although commanded to return to his post, Rob-
erts succeeded in warning the other loyal officers, and shortly
afterwards Loring, Crittenden, and other officers resigned their
commissions and took service in the Confederate Army.4
One of these officers, Major Henry H. Sibley, stopped at El
Paso on his flight from the territory. On June 12, he addressed
a letter to Col. Loring urging him to delay his departure from
New Mexico until several companies of Texas troops ordered
to garrison Fort Bliss could arrive from San Antonio.' Valu-
able stores and ammunition included in the surrender of the
department of Texas had been collected at the post, and it was
feared that if Loring were relieved from command too soon
his successor would attempt to recapture the property. Espe-
cially concerned were Simeon Hart, wealthy Rio Grande mill
owner, J. F. Crosby, district judge, and Col. James W. Magoffin,
sutler at Fort Bliss. Loring was instructed to send immediate
notice to Hart should the property become endangered. "Your
seat in the stage," Sibley pointed out, "may at the same time
be engaged."
Sibley, who later was to command the Confederate invasion
of New Mexico, wrote that movements from Texas which could
not be disclosed in a letter were being contemplated, but ad-
vised Loring that he would arrive at El Paso in time to hear
"everything."" He left shortly afterwards for the Confederate
capital at Richmond, promising Hart, Crosby, and Magoffin to
hurry the troops on from San Antonio. His letter was not to
reach its destination, however, for the day before it was written
Loring had placed Col. Edward R. S. Canby, who commanded
the northern military district, in general charge of the affairs
of the department, and had announced that he would await
4"Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War," Senate
Miscellaneous Document, No. 108, 37 Cong., 3 Sess., 364-372.
5H. H. Sibley to W. W. Loring, June 12, 1861, 0. R., S., 1, IV, 55-56.
In his letter Sibley disclosed an interesting sidelight on the sentiment
of the officers in New Mexico. "I am satisfied now of the disaffection of
the best of the rank and file in New Mexico," he wrote, "and that we are re-
garded as having betrayed and deserted them. I wish I had my part to play
over again; no such peace scruples should deter me from doing what I con-
sidered a bounden duty to my friends and my cause." Ibid., 55.163
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current periodical.
Van Dorn's Trails, 1858 - 1859 (Map)
Survey map of Van Dorn's Trails, showing Texas and Oklahoma counties, towns, rivers, creeks, and Indian reservations.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941, periodical, 1941; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146052/m1/183/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.