Unknown New Mexico History: Secrets" of the Union's part in NM during the Civil War.

1) NM was invaded by Confederates in 1861 - the rebels came from TX into Mesilla (now Las Cruces.) The Rebels sought access to the gold and silver fields.

2) AZ was split off from NM in 1863 when Elkins arrived with the new AZ territorial officials.

3) Union soldiers mined for gold from 1862 to 1867 to pay off the Civil War debt. This occurred in NM, AZ, NV, and Utah. They mined on public land once controlled by Indians, mostly Apaches.

4) NM government was conducted in Spanish as was the court system until the turn of the century (I believe.) The courts and the legislature used translators for Americans who didn't speak enough Spanish to understand. Grand juries were made up of the well-to-do Spanish speaking Mexican-Americans. Petit juries were made up of the common people. The income from jury duty was important to the average Mexican worker.

5) Slavery, called peonage, was practiced in semi-secrecy until about 1890. It consisted of holding hostages in payment for Indian raids on settlers' farms. These hostages worked the farm's and household's labor and was given a little adobe hovel and a pittance to survive on as a means of subsistence.