audiobook New Mexico Territory During the Civil War: Wallen and Evans Inspection Reports; 1862-1863 by From Brand: University of New Mexico Press in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Turning a Light on a Little-Known Part of the WarBy Charles F. PriceProfessor Thompson's absorbing new book offers a wealth of richly detailed information about the fascinating but too-long-neglected subject of the Civil War in the American Southwest. Thompson has rescued from the National Archives the reports of inspector generals Maj. Henry Davies Wallen and Capt. Andrew Wallace Evans; who toured New Mexico and Southern Colorado in 1862-63 evaluating conditions at a series of remote army posts. While the book is not a traditional narrative history; Thompson helpfully provides an introduction describing the context within which Wallen and Evans worked--the ultimately unsuccessful 1862 invasion of New Mexico by a Confederate force under Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley and Col. John R. Baylor. Within that setting; the book provides a series of descriptions of the garrisons; equipments; weather; and conditions of life at such posts as Fort Craig; Fort Union; Fort Stanton and others which played historic roles in the struggle for the Southwest. Thompson serves up not history itself but; more importantly; the stuff of history; and he does it so fully that the informed reader--and even the armchair generalist--can clearly visualize the harsh; unforgiving; often unglamorous and sometimes hazardous lives the officers and men of the Union forces led. The famous--Kit Carson and Big. Gen. James H. Carleton; for example--as well as the anonymous officers and rankers who also served; are found in these pages. The author provides a treasure trove of biographical and historical annotations to supplement the reports of Wallen and Davis; and the result of the whole is an invaluable reference work for anyone who wishes to write about; or learn about; the Civil War period in New Mexico Territory. This is a must read!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. the North prepares to hold New Mexico during the Civil WarBy Henry BerryThroughout most of the Civil War; New Mexico Territory was occupied by Northern troops in a network of fairly simple forts mostly along the Rio Grande River or not far off it. Northern forces from Colorado had won the Territory back after having previously been routed by Southern forces out of Texas. Once New Mexico was taken back and Northern troops garrisoned there; Union General James Henry Carleton in California was directed to have the troops prepared to defend the state in the event of another Southern attempt to retake it.Carleton appointed the Army captains Henry Davies Wallen and Andrew Wallace Evans to go on an inspection tour of the Union forces in New Mexico and write reports on the condition of the troops; the available war supplies; and other matters relating to military preparedness. Though of little importance to the course of the Civil War; New Mexico Territory was fought over by opposing regional forces because whoever occupied it would determine the course of its development. There was no more military conflict of any significance in New Mexico. But the Wallen and Evans reports have much historical interest not only for providing a detailed picture of what life was like in New Mexico in its early days as a United States territory following the Mexican War and also a picture of the foundations--i. e.; the forts and nearby settlements--for development leading to statehood.Parts of the collected reports are simple inventories. "The post ordnance on hand consisted of 970 rounds rifle-cartridges; Cal. 54; 2;000 rounds Cal. 58; 1;500 blank; 2;400 percussion caps;" Evans writes in his report on Fort McRae. But as historians will recognize; the inventories are basic parts of the picture of the frontier time. In the following paragraph; Evans goes on to list the food stores: "The only anti-scorbutics on hand were 30 gals. of pickled rations. Rations of the following articles; in proportion; to last till June 30 [the report was dated May 8] were on hand--viz: bacon; flour; rice; beans...candles; salt...molasses; corn meal. The following articles were needed; and not on hand; viz: soap; vinegar; kraut; chili; and fresh beef. There is a herd of about a dozen herd of beef cattle; entirely too poor to kill." Besides counting the number of officers and soldiers; the reports often comment on certain officers; as when Evans writes; "Of Capt. Pfeiffer; as regards his personal qualifications; I feel it my duty; though reluctantly; to speak. He is an old soldier who served well faithfully...." But the old soldier suffers from some disease; and should be allowed to go somewhere to improve his health.Wallen's reports are similar to Evans'. Both captains were clearly well-suited to the task of the inspections. Not only observant and able to get to the actual situation of each fort; they were also knowledgeable about how the forts stood with regard to acceptable military preparedness; including the competence of the most important officers; morale of the men; and training regimens. Occasionally; raids by Indians and limited actions against nearby troublesome bands are reported. In descriptions; comments; and recommendations for the living conditions of troops quartered in towns adjacent to some forts; one learns about their supplies; buildings; and inhabitants.Thompson is a professor of history at Texas AM International University and author of many other books on the history of the Southwest. In introductions to each of the reports; he relates historical background on the respective fort or location. His 36-page Introduction goes over the Civil War-related military engagements in New Mexico and relationships between the relative newcomers the Anglos and traditional Hispanics and Native Americans. Though plain and factual in style; with their unique store of military and historical details; the Wallen and Evans reports are unflaggingly colorful and informative.