The Second Battle of Mesilla was an engagement of the American Civil War. It was fought on July 1, 1862, and was the last engagement between Union and Confederate forces in the Arizona Territory.

The battle took place outside of Confederate Arizona's capital of Mesilla between a confederate party and local pro-Union New Mexican guerrillas and pueblo Indians. The battle start when Texans under the command of Colonel. Steel starting stealing crops and Cattle from local famers and ransacked the country for supplies annoying the local Mexican population who started skirmishing with the rebels. With the guerrillas successfully capturing 2 pieces of artillery and running the rebels out of the area. Various accounts that seven to twelve Confederates were killed, including their commander Capt. Cleaver of the 7th Texas Infantry and as many as 20 to 40 of the local guerrillas.

The arrival of the advance party of the California Column on the west bank of the Rio Grande on July 4, 1862, prompted the rebel army to begin withdrawal to Franklin and then San Antonio three days later, covered by Herbert's Battalion of Arizona Cavalry acting as rearguard.

• First Battle of Mesilla

Notes

Bibliography

• Finch, L. Boyd (1996) Confederate Pathway to the Pacific: Major Sherod Hunter and Arizona Territory, C.S.A., Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Historical Society. pp. 164–66
• Hall, Martin Hardwick (1978)The Confederate Army of New Mexico, Austin, Texas: Presidial Press. pp. 363
• Kiser, William S. (2011)Turmoil on the Rio Grande: History of the Mesilla Valley, 1846–1865, College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. pp. 187–88

• The Confederate Arizona Campaign of 1862, Col. Sherrod Hunter Camp 1525, SCV, Phoenix, Arizona.

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