Across The Fence: Victory at Valverde and on to Glorieta

In the aftermath of the gallant charge and subsequent defeat of the Texas Lancers at the Battle of Valverde, Col. Canby ordered his New Mexico brigade of volunteers to attack the Confederate left flank. Col. Christopher "Kit" Carson, in command of the newly formed and untested New Mexico brigade, moved his men to an advance position across the Rio Grande where they were supported by an artillery battery under the command of one Capt. McRae. As Col. Carson's Union troops were assembling, two companies of Confederate troops under Major Raguet launched an attack against Col. Carson's command b...