I think I've mentioned this before. There was a minor battle in the Civil War that has the distinction of being the farthest-west battle in that conflict. It took place at Picacho Pass, Arizona in April, 1862. Picacho Pass is along present-day Interstate 10, northeast of Tucson. I-10 along this stretch fairly closely follows the old Butterfield Overland Express stagecoach route.
Early in the Civil War, the Confederacy declared the southerly half of the Arizona Territory (which at the time included both present-day Arizona and New Mexico) to be within the Confederate realm. Confederate forces were based in Tucson. Jefferson Davis had the idea that the Confederacy should have a Pacific Ocean port in southern California. To this end, they needed access to and control over the stagecoach route. When Confederate soldiers started attacking stage line way stations along the Butterfield Overland route, Union soldiers were sent from California to establish control. This mini-conflict came to a head one day at Picacho Pass, with casualties taken.
Early this month, my friend Mark and I visited this battlefield site on our way to Fort Huachuca. The following photos were taken during this visit.
View over the battlefield where musket balls once flew.
Plaque on battlefield enumerating casualties.
Mark standing next to Confederate memorial marker.
Another battlefield marker.
Lots of saguaro and other varieties of cactus all over the battlefield area; must have introduced another source of trouble into the fight.
Another view across the battlefield area, Picacho Peak in the background.
