The following notes are published substantially as they were written
soon after the close of the campaign.[1] The remoteness of New Mexico
from the scenes of vastly more important conflicts prevented historians
of the war from writing of that campaign, which, though insignificant by
comparison, was one of the knightliest and most romantic in history. I
have here aimed to do justice to the brave men, of both armies, who
marched and countermarched, and fought and fled and fought again along
the banks of the Rio Grande forty years ago.
In 1858, when still a youth, accident and adventure brought me to El
Paso. * * * Determining to make my home in this valley, and being
without money or friends or a profession, I commenced life as a
merchant’s clerk. I had spent about three years in that capacity when
the news of the firing on Fort Sumter and the inglorious surrender by
General Twiggs, of all the United States troops in Texas, startled us as
much, though ten days old, as though the lightning had brought it. We
had heard a great deal of street corner talk about secession, and a
packed convention had passed a resolution declaring Texas out of the
Union, which resolution had been submitted to a vote of the people; my
brother (now Col. Anson Mills), myself and only two or three others
voting against it in El Paso County. The Mexican voters, of course, knew
but little about the questions involved in secession and were influenced
by the Americans, most of whom favored secession, those of Northern
birth being loudest in their protestations of devotion to the South and
loudest in denunciation of “abolitionists,” which meant all who did not
favor rebellion.
There was at that time a garrison of United States troops at Fort Bliss,
within a mile of El Paso; another at Fort Quitman, ninety miles below,
on the river, and several other posts in striking distance, all of which
were included in the surrender of General Twiggs to the “Texas
commissioners” at San Antonio, 700 miles away! There was not a
Confederate soldier within 500 miles of Fort Bliss, but such is the
power of military discipline that the post commander, Colonel Reives,
though urged by my brother and myself and others to disregard Twiggs’
order of surrender, turned over his arms and valuable stores to
Commissioner McGoffin and marched with his command, as prisoners, to San
Antonio.
Then we determined that my brother should go to Washington city and
report the condition of affairs here, and try to get the Secretary of
War to order these officers not to respect Twiggs’ surrender, but he
arrived too late.
I and a younger brother, Emmet Mills, remained at El Paso. The feeling
against Union men grew still more bitter. I could see no good in
rebellion. I was willing to make some sacrifices and incur some dangers
for my flag and country.
Colonel Loring at that time commanded the United States troops in the
adjoining territory of New Mexico. There was a garrison at Fort
Fillmore, fifty miles north of El Paso, but United States officers who
had resigned (?) and passed through El Paso going south, gave out that
Loring was “with the South.”
By this time a small force of Texas troops were en route to El Paso and
New Mexico and it was claimed that Fort Fillmore would be surrendered
without a fight.
I then went to Fort Fillmore and en route was given a letter, with the
request that I was to hand it to Captain Lane, then commanding that
post. Being introduced to Captain Lane, in conversation about secession
he complained that we El Paso people had taken advantage of his position
to treat him badly. He said we knew his feelings were with the South,
and that we had presumed upon the fact in taking his horses and placing
him in an embarrassing position. He said he could recapture the horses
and destroy our town, but he would not. This satisfied me that nothing
could be hoped for from him. Of course, Lane supposed that I was in
sympathy with rebellion, and for good reasons I did not undeceive him. I
told him in a jocular way that he might as well turn over his saddles as
they were useless to him without horses, at which he became angry and I
left him. I then proceeded to the town of La Messilla, five miles from
the fort, and found a secession flag flying in the street and the
secession leaders notifying Union men to leave. They had held a
convention and organized a Confederate territorial government for what
they called Arizona.
By this time Colonel Loring had passed south to join the Confederates.
Gen. E. R. S. Canby was now in command of the Department of New Mexico,
with headquarters at Santa Fe. From Messilla I wrote to Hon. John S.
Watts at Santa Fe as follows:
“La Messilla, N. M., June 23, 1861.
“Hon. John S. Watts: Sir—I came up here from El Paso two days ago hoping
to meet you. I assure you that I found matters here in a deplorable
condition. A disunion flag is now flying from the house in which I
write, and this country is now as much in the possession of the enemy as
Charleston is. All the officers at Fort Fillmore except two, are
devotedly with the South, and are only holding on to their commissions
in order to embarrass our Government and at the proper time to turn over
everything to the South, after the manner of General Twiggs. The
Messilla Times is bitterly disunion and threatens with death any one who
refuses to acknowledge this usurpation. There is, however, a latent
Union sentiment, especially among the Mexicans, but they are effectually
overawed. * * * The regular soldiers, in defiance of the teachings of
their officers and the offer of gold from Hart, are yet faithful, and if
a second lieutenant were to ask them to follow him they would tear down
the secession flag and throw the Times office into the river in an hour.
Fifty of them could go to Fort Bliss and capture all the Government
stores at that place, but instead of this a few thieves came up from El
Paso and stole forty of the horses belonging to a mounted company at
Fort Fillmore. No effort was made to recapture these horses, although
the soldiers plead with their officers to allow them to do so. * * *
About 300 Texans are expected at Fort Bliss in about two weeks, and if
something is not done before that time Fort Fillmore will be
surrendered. Very respectfully,
W. W. Mills.”
(The above letter is copied from the Records of the Rebellion.)
In contrast with this letter, and to show the plots and counterplots of
those days, I copy from the same page of the Rebellion Records the
following:
“Hart’s Mills, Tex., June 12, 1861.
“Col. W. W. Loring: We are at last under the glorious banner of the
Confederate States of America. * * * We shall have no trouble in
reaching San Antonio. Four companies of Texas troops have been ordered
to garrison this post (Fort Bliss). Meanwhile Colonel Magoffin, Judge
Hart and Crosby are very much exercised and concerned on account of the
public stores here in their present unguarded condition. Meanwhile, you
may, by delaying your departure (from New Mexico) a week or two, add
much to the security of this property.
“I regret now, more than ever, the sickly sentimentality by which I was
overruled in my desire of bringing my whole command with me from New
Mexico. I wish I had my part to play over again.[2]
“Should you be relieved of your command too soon to prevent an attempt
on the part of your successor to recapture the property here send a
notice by extraordinary express to Judge Hart. Your seat in the stage to
San Antonio may be engaged. * * * Faithfully yours,
H. H. Sibley.”
(Note.—Sibley, who afterward commanded the Texas expedition, was a major
of United States cavalry and Colonel Loring was then commanding, and
betraying, the United States troops in New Mexico.)
Judge Watts indorsed my letter to General Canby, who sent a young
officer, Lieutenant Hall, to Fort Fillmore with a copy of it, to
investigate and report.
General Canby read Major Sibley’s letter of June 12th and mine of June
23d on June 29th, and Major Lynde having assumed command of Fort
Fillmore he (Canby) wrote that officer as follows:
“Headquarters Department of New Mexico,
“Santa Fe, N. M., June 30, 1861.
“Maj. I. Lynde, Seventh Inf., Comdg. Fort Fillmore, N. M.: Sir—I had
occasion on the 24th inst. to put you on your guard against the alleged
complicity of Colonel Loring in the treasonable designs of the Texas
authorities at Fort Bliss and El Paso. I now send a copy of one and
extracts from another letter sent to me after the arrival of the mail
yesterday, which fully confirm all the information I had previously
received. Although Colonel Loring was still in the department, I have
not hesitated, since this information was communicated to me, to
exercise the command and to give any orders or to take any measures that
I considered necessary to protect the honor or the interests of the
Government.
“Sibley’s letter shows the Texas authorities at Fort Bliss and El Paso
count upon Colonel Loring’s aid in furthering their plans and indicates
the manner (by delaying his departure) in which this aid is to be
rendered. Colonel Loring’s resignation was tendered on the 13th of last
month, and has doubtless long since been accepted; but this is not
material, for any failure to act at once, or any hesitancy in acting,
may be in the highest degree disastrous. In this case, then, as in all
similar cases which may occur, you will at once arrest the implicated
parties and hold them securely until their guilt or innocence can be
determined by the proper tribunals. No considerations of delicacy or of
regard must be permitted to interfere when the honor of the country and
the safety of your command are involved. I send these communications by
Lieutenant Hall, Tenth Infantry. Very respectfully, sir, your obedient
servant,
“Ed. R. S. Canby,
“Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army, Comdg. Dept.”
I then returned to El Paso and settled my affairs preparatory to going
to Santa Fe to take part with the Union people. There was then residing
at El Paso a Col. Phil Herbert, who had been a member of Congress from
California, but who, on account of bad conduct or misfortune, had left
the State under a cloud. Having never seen anything in the conduct of
this gentleman that was not honorable, generous and brave, it is not for
me to speak of his supposed faults. He was an enthusiastic rebel, but my
personal friend. When the stage coach was ready to start I took this man
aside and confided to him where I was going, and why I was going. He
approved of my determination and wished me personal success. I passed
Fort Fillmore again en route to Santa Fe, July 1, 1861, and met Dr.
Cooper McKee, the post surgeon, whom I knew well, and appealed to him to
do something to prevent the surrender of the post. He appeared
displeased at my remarks about his brother officers, and said that their
sympathies or intentions were not his business, nor mine.
I met at the post another young army surgeon, Dr. Alden, who had lately
arrived from Santa Fe. I found him as enthusiastic and as distrustful of
the officers as myself. He told me he had thought of sending a private
express to General Canby, advising him of the danger, but as I was going
he would intrust it to me. He promised to meet me next day in Mesilla,
and did so, but such was the feeling against Union men that this United
States officer, almost under the guns of his post, did not dare to speak
to me on the street, but beckoned me to an outhouse, where he privately
handed me a letter to Lieutenant Anderson, Canby’s adjutant.
I then called upon Dr. M. Steck, a loyal man, who was Indian agent, and
received from him some encouragement and a letter to some friends of the
government at Santa Fe. We started the next morning to Santa Fe by stage
coach. There were nine passengers, all Union men, I believe, and well
armed. When about ten miles out we were overtaken by a Mexican courier
with a note for Don Lorena Labide, a loyal Mexican passenger, informing
him that a force of rebel horsemen had left Mesilla that morning,
intending to capture the stage at the Point of Rocks that night. We held
a consultation and determined to proceed and fight if attacked. When
near the Point of Rocks eight of us got off the coach, with arms, and
followed it at a distance, instructing the driver that if halted he
should get them into a parley and give us the first fire. We, however,
passed the point unmolested, probably because a company of United States
troops camped near there. I went into this camp and found Lieutenant
McNally, with his company, en route to Fort Fillmore, and informed him
of the condition of affairs there. At my request he gave us an escort. I
found him loyal and ready for any duty. Arriving at Santa Fe I was
introduced to General Canby, and delivered Dr. Alden’s letter to his
adjutant, Captain Anderson, who read it and handed it to Canby.
I made a verbal report of all I had seen and heard. General Canby
informed me that he would order Captain Lane away from Fort Fillmore,
and he did. The general also stated that he had ordered Maj. Isaac Lynde
to leave his station in Arizona and take command of Fillmore. He had
confidence in Lynde, and, telling me something of his plans, requested
me to return to Fort Fillmore with dispatches for that officer.
I arrived at Las Cruces, six miles from Fillmore, with these dispatches
at sunset about the 15th of July, and met Dr. Steck, who avoided
recognizing me. I took a room in the hotel, locked the door and tried to
sleep. About 10 o’clock Dr. Steck came by stealth to my room to advise
me of danger. The contents of my letter to Canby had been unwisely made
known, and even United States officers were threatening vengeance.
Before reaching the fort next morning I met two loyal friends, Dr.
Knour, now of Las Vegas, and Mr. Brady, who also informed me that I had
been threatened. I rode into the post and met Captain Lane, who angrily
asked me if I had reported him to General Canby as a traitor. I replied
that I had stated facts and left General Canby to draw his own
conclusions. A strange officer then asked if I had said or written
anything about him. He said whoever called him a traitor was a liar.
That night he ran away from the post and joined the rebels at Bliss.
This was one Captain Garland.
I called on Major Lynde and delivered my dispatches. He sent for his
adjutant, Lieutenant Brooks, who opened and read them with some remarks,
which satisfied me that he was not anxious to lose much blood in defense
of his country. I believe, though I cannot know, that a message went
that night to Colonel Baylor, who had arrived at Fort Bliss with his
command, informing him of the contents of these dispatches. There was an
order from Canby to Lynde to recapture Fort Bliss and the stores there,
which he could easily have done.
After Brooks withdrew Lynde spoke to me of the feeling among his
officers against me. He said he believed I had acted honestly, but
unwisely. Many of his officers, he said, sympathized with the South, but
they had pledged their honors that, as long as they remained in the
service they would stand by him. I pleaded, entreated and tried to
reason with him for half an hour. I told him treachery and ruin were all
around him. “He had six hundred regular troops, well armed and eager for
the fray.” I advised him to arrest a few officers and send them under
guard to Canby! To march on Fort Bliss and capture the three hundred
half-armed Texans and the military stores which had been surrendered
there. Poor old man! It was useless. I have never seen Lynde since that
day, but ten years later I received a letter, from which I extract the
following:
“St. Paul, October 22, 1871.
“W. W. Mills: Dear Sir—Well do I remember the interview you refer to,
but I did not believe then that my junior officers would act toward me
as they did. Sincerely yours,