Historical Marker

Glorieta Pass Battlefield National Historic Landmark, 1961


The Civil War battle fought in this pass is often referred to as the “Gettysburg of the West.” Union forces dashed Confederate strategy to seize the Southwest’s major supply base at Fort Union; Colorado and California were to be next. The Texas vanguard captured Santa Fe, March 10, 1862, but after two days of battle here U.S. troops and Colorado Volunteers burned a poorly guarded Confederate supply camp and slaughtered hundreds of their horses and mules on March 28. Rebel Troops retreated from New Mexico within two weeks.