Civil War Union Burials in New Mexico
Compiled by Christina DeVita 2006©
Return to Military Index Page
Return to Forts Index Page
Return to NM AHGP Main Page
Rerturn to Territorial Soldiers of New Mexico

The following are names extracted from the work by Christina DeVita© as published in the New Mexico Genealogist 45(2) June 2006©.
The chart below lists only the names appearing in that exhibit. For details and history see the New Mexico Genealogist 45(2) June 2006©.
This data may not be used for profit or commercial purposes, nor may it be copied from this web site to other web sites. Format by C. W. Barnum 2011.

As Published in 1869 in the Quartermaster General's Office, a listing of deceased Union soldiers buried in National Cemeteries.
Fifteen forts/camps/posts existed in the New Mexico Territory. Most had cemeteries with Union Soldiers buried therein.

Fort Stanton
1855 - 1896

The United States Dragoons were known as the Black Hawk Division.
They were stationed at several forts beteween 1861 and 1862.

Mexican-American War
General Kearny was placed in command of the "Army of the West (1846)," which consisted of Companies B, C, G, I and K, 1st Dragoons, an artillery battalion, some separate infantry companies, two regiments of Missouri volunteer cavalry, the famous Mormon Battalion, and 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers that sailed from New York City to California by ship. All in all the Army of the West consisted of about 3,700 men, which ventured west to New Mexico, some of whom did not reach California. This command was concentrated at Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River, from which point it marched for Santa Fé, 1 August 1846. The force occupied Santa Fé without much opposition, and, after leaving part of his force there, Kearny marched into California, arriving in December.

On the morning of 6 December 1846 Kearny's 150-man command met and defeated an equal number of California lancers at San Pasqual, about 40 miles from San Diego, under Major Andres Pico. The action was severe, with the 1st Dragoons losing 3 officers and 14 men killed, principally with lance thrusts. General Kearny himself received two wounds. His force finally reached San Diego on 12 December 1846.

Kearny, with a force consisting of Company C, 1st Dragoons, (60 dismounted men) under Captain Turner, sailors and marines with a battery of artillery and California volunteers, left San Diego for Los Angeles on 29 December. Kearny's troops routed Mexicans under Governor Flores at the crossing of the Rio San Gabriel 8 January 1847, and on the plains of the Mesa on the 9th. With the capture of Los Angeles the following day, all Mexican resistance to the American occupation of Southern California ceased.

Kearny had left Companies G and I at Albuquerque under Capt. J. H. K. Burgwin. When Col. Sterling Price (then in command at Santa Fé) learned of the seizure and murder of New Mexico Governor Charles Bent and five others by the Mexicans (20 January), he moved out against them with a force of about 350 dismounted men and easily defeated them, 24 January, at Canada. Captain Burgwin defeated another Mexican force shortly thereafter and rejoined Price's column for a series of further battles.

During 1847, regimental headquarters were still at Leavenworth and Companies A and E were with Zachary Taylor in Mexico. Early in the year, Company B was reorganized at Jefferson Barracks before being sent to Santa Fe in June. On 26 June, while enroute, the company was engaged by Comanches at Grand Prairie, Arkansas, losing five men killed and six wounded. Upon reaching Santa Fe, Company B was retrained as a field artillery battery.

Companies D and K, as well as F, saw service on Scott's line in Mexico. Company F escorted General Scott from Veracruz to Mexico City and was present at the battles near that city. From 1 November to 20 December, it was engaged on escort duty between the city and Vera Cruz. In 1848, the three companies returned to the United States and were stationed at various points on the northwestern frontier. Companies B, G, and I served with General Sterling Price in February - March 1848 in his campaign down into the State of Chihuahua and participated in the attack upon Santa Cruz de Rosales.

Further frontier duty:
During 1849, the regiment lost three men killed and two wounded (one mortally) in various Indian skirmishes.
Brevet Brigadier General Mason, Colonel of the 1st Dragoons, died at Jefferson Barracks, 25 July 1850, and was succeeded by Col. Thomas L. Fauntleroy, promoted from the Second Dragoons.

On 30 March 1854, Lieutenant J. W. Davidson, with Company I and 16 men of Company F, disobeyed his orders and boldly attacked a Jicarilla Apache camp about 16 miles south of Taos at Cieneguilla. The Indian camp was surprised and captured, while securing the camp the troops were surprised by the Indians, who attacked the Dragoon horseholders and took Davidson at such disadvantage that the command narrowly escaped annihilation. 14 men of Company I and 8 of E were killed, and Lieutenant Davidson and 14 men were wounded.

Regimental headquarters was transferred to Fort Union, New Mexico Territory, in July 1854, and throughout the following year the companies in New Mexico were almost constantly on the move. Colonel Fauntleroy made three expeditions against the Utahs and Apaches, and Companies I and K fought the Mescalero Apaches. Meantime, out West, Companies C and E took part in the Rogue River War in Oregon Territory, in which, at the Battle of Hungry Hill, the troops were compelled to retire with a loss of 26 killed and wounded, after fighting a day and a half.

Headquarters were moved to Fort Tejon, California, in December 1856, with the various companies scattered throughout the West. For the next 5 years, the regiment engaged in a variety of Indian fights, seeing action at various times against the Navajos and Apaches in the Southwest and several tribes in the Northwest.

Civil War
1861 – 1862
Colonel Fauntleroy resigned 13 May 1861, and was succeeded by Col. Benjamin Lloyd Beall. On 3 August, the designation of the regiment was changed to "First Regiment of Cavalry." During November and December, the regiment, except Companies D and G which were still stationed in New Mexico Territory, was transferred by steamship from the Pacific Coast through Panama and then to Washington, D.C., arriving by the end of January 1862. Colonel Beall retired 1 February, and was succeeded by Col. George A. H. Blake. The regiment was attached to the 2d Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Army of the Potomac.

In the meantime, the two companies left in Confederate Arizona had abandoned and destroyed Forts Breckinridge and Buchanan and retreated to Fort Craig. Company D was engaged in a skirmish with Confederates near Fort Craig, 19 February, and the two companies took part in the Battle of Valverde on 21 February. Company D took part in the engagements at Pigeon's Ranch, 30 March; Albuquerque, 25 April; and Peralta, 27 April.

The bulk of the 1st U.S. Cavalry, meanwhile, fought in the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia. At Williamsburg, 4 May, a squadron under Capt. Benjamin F. "Grimes" Davis charged and repulsed Confederate cavalry, capturing a flag but losing 13 men. At Gaines' Mill, 27 June, the regiment lost 26 more men. The regiment participated in fighting at Malvern Hill, Kelly's Ford, and during Stoneman's Raid in April and May.

1863
At the battle of Beverly Ford in June 1863, the gallant Davis was killed while in command of the 8th New York Cavalry. At Upperville, the 1st U.S. Cavalry met the Jeff Davis Legion and the 1st and 2d North Carolina regiments in a mounted charge. The regiment suffered severely, losing 53 men (most to saber cuts). At Gettysburg, its loss was 16 men. Several more men were lost in a series of skirmishes during the Confederate retreat to Virginia.

In June 1863, the two companies left in New Mexico were broken up. The officers and noncommissioned officers were transferred to Carlisle Barracks, where the companies were reorganized, joining the regiment at Camp Buford, Maryland, in October 1863. After a period of rest and re-equipping near Washington D.C., the 1st Cavalry rejoined the Army of the Potomac and was engaged at Manassas Junction and at Catlett's Station, 5 November; Culpeper, 8 November; Stephensburg, 26 November, and Mine River. The regiment was employed during the winter doing picket duty along the Rapidan River.

1866 – 1871
1866 picture of Model showing correct uniform of a Company "A" 1st US Cavalry Sgt wearing Hardee hat
From 1866-1870, various companies from the 1st Cavalry Regiment were involved in numerous skirmishes involving Indians during the American Indian Wars throughout the west. From 1866 to 1868 they operated in Oregon, Idaho Territory Nevada and California fighting the Snake War. These skirmishes included an expedition from Fort Bidwell, CA, 22–29 October 1866 when Company A killed 14 Indians, three women, four children, and captured an entire camp. On 5 April 1868 Company F killed 32 Indians killed and captured two near Malheur River, Oregon.

They also were fighting in the Apache Wars in Arizona Territory from 1866 to 1872. On 29 January 1867, Company M encountered a band of 90 warriors at Stein's Mountain in New Mexico Territory; sixty Indians were killed and 27 captured. From 26–31 May 1868 eight men of Company M killed 34 Indians. At Fort McDowell in Arizona on 9–11 December 1869, twenty men from Company E killed an entire band of 11 Mojave Apaches.

On 15 December 1870, Colonel Blake was retired from active service on his own application, and Colonel A. C. Gillem of the 11th Infantry was transferred to the First Cavalry in his stead. Colonel Gillem died at his residence in Nashville, Tenn., 2 December 1875, and was succeeded by Colonel Cuvier Grover, promoted from the 3rd Cavalry.

1889 – 1892
Colonel Dudley was retired from active service 20 August 1889, and was succeeded by Colonel J. S. Brisbin, promoted from the 9th Cavalry. On 31 December of that year Headquarters and Troops B, D, E, G and M, were at Fort Custer; A and L at Fort Maginnis; C, F and H at Fort Assinniboine; I at Fort Leavenworth; and K at Camp Sheridan, Wyoming.

In April, 1890, the Cheyennes assumed a threatening attitude and their agent called upon the commanding officer of Fort Custer for protection, who sent Major Carrol with Troops B, D and M to the Tongue River Agency where they established Camp Crook[disambiguation needed]. In September a white boy was murdered by "Head Chief" and "Young Mule," and every attempt to arrest the murderers failed. On the 11th they sent word that they would attack the agency and on the 12th made their appearance on a hill commanding the agency buildings where they opened fire upon them. They were soon dislodged and killed. The regiment took part in the operations against the hostile Sioux in the winter of 1890-91, but was not brought into actual contact with them.

In December 1890, word having been received that a troop of cavalry was surrounded by hostile Indians at or near Cave Hills, Montana, Troop A made one of the most remarkable marches on record in going to its relief. It marched 186 miles, 95 of which were made in 25 hours, and 170 in 53½ hours. The report which caused such tremendous exertion proved to be without foundation.

On 22 April 1891, Colonel Brisbin was transferred to the 8th Cavalry with Colonel A. K. Arnold who had been the lieutenant colonel and now became the colonel of the First. In 1892, the regiment was transferred to the Department of Arizona, relieving the 10th Cavalry. Headquarters and Troops C, E, F, H and K, going to Fort Grant, Arizona.; B and I to Fort Bayard, New Mexico; D to Fort Apache, Arizona; and G to San Carlos. Troop A was at Fort Meyer, Virginia, and was not moved. Since its arrival in Arizona the regiment has not been engaged in any serious Indian difficulties, although the several troops have been kept in practice in field work by that ever active and elusive "Kid," who has been responsible, for more movements of troops than any Indian ever known.

From wikipedia.org, fair use. For details and history see wilipedia.org.