DESERT EMPIRE: The 1862 New Mexico Campaign

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Tackles the overlooked New Mexico Campaign of 1862 by exploring the men, battles, and politics that shaped the course of the war in the Southwest and the future of the region. Details how the fighting at Mesilla was the opening act of one of the least-studied campaigns of the Civil War. For the next year, troops from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California would fight for control of the Southwest, its gold, and a route to the Pacific. The campaign would comprise hard miles of marching, much of it through scorching desert and mountainous terrain, struggles within the Southern ranks, confrontations with local tribes, and important battles and skirmishes while the fate of the region hung in the balance. Contains 141 images and 5 maps.