U. S. Civil War Debt 2

Gen. Zachary Taylor pictured on a white horse at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican-American War; coloured engraving, 19th century.

Credit: The Granger Collection, New York

Anticipating an invasion of U. S. territory by Mexico, General Zachary Taylor moved his forces to the Rio Grande River. On April 25, 1846 the Mexican Army crossed the Rio Grande and clashed with the Americans. Congress declared war on Mexico in May 1846. By then, General Taylor’s forces (15,000 men) had already attacked Monterrey. Meanwhile, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his 15,000 troops attacked Taylor’s forces at Buena Vista. A two-day battle began and the confrontation ended with a conclusive victory by the Americans. Taylor and his men then went on to several other provinces and declared them American ground.

At the same time these forces confronted each other in New Mexico, once the northernmost province of Mexico, the presence of the “Army of the West” led by General Stephen Watts Kearny maneuvered to peacefully overtake the new land. Provincial Governor, Manuel Armijo, realized the outcome of the war to the south and quietly surrendered the territory. A Missouri merchant, James McGoffin, was married to Susan Shelby, a cousin of Armijo. McGoffin, his wife, and a trading caravan had followed Kearny’s army into New Mexico and helped negotiate the peace. Favorable trade relations were restored while Kearny proclaimed the New Mexico territory part of the United States. The general established a civil government, appointed territorial officials, and began constructing Fort Marcy at Santa Fe to secure the presence of American troops.

The 15,000 American troops which accompanied Taylor and served in the Mexican War included many of the officers who would later serve in the Civil War. All were aware of the gold and silver mines of northern Mexico and New Mexico. These mines beckoned to new settlers who would dare face bitter tribes like the Apaches who dominated southern New Mexico and its Arizona province. At that time Arizona was the western district of New Mexico.

New Mexico was not formally created as a territory until 1850 when the Compromise of that year divided the area east of California into the territories of New Mexico and Utah. New Mexico was split into Arizona and New Mexico some fourteen years later. Early in 1864 officials arrived in Arizona and set up government there. It was with these officials that Steve Elkins first entered New Mexico.