The First Battle of Mesilla
Date: July 25, 1861
Location: Mesilla, Confederate-occupied New Mexico Territory
Following the beginning of the American Civil War on April 12, 1861, Confederate forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor marched from the recently seceded state of Texas into the New Mexico Territory (comprising the modern day states of Arizona and New Mexico) with the goal of capturing and occupying the Union forts located along the Rio Grande River, the first of which was to be Fort Fillmore. This fort, located just a few miles southeast of the nearby town of Mesilla, was an important stronghold guarding the town, the Rio Grande, and surrounding trading routes. Before attempting to take the fort, the Confederates occupied Mesilla and began to make preparations to attack the next day.
Union Major Isaac Lynde & Confederate Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor
Having been notified of the fall of Mesilla, Major Isaac Lynde, the commander of the Union forces inside Fort Fillmore, gathered a force of 380 soldiers, left the fort, and proceeded towards Mesilla leaving behind a small crew to guard the fort.
Approaching the outskirts of the town, Lynde demanded that Baylor and his men surrender, to which Baylor refused.
The battle began with Union infantry advancing through a soft, sandy cornfield with artillery support bombarding the Confederates. However, the difficult terrain slowed and severely impeded their momentum, and after suffering casualties, the Union forces retreated back to Fort Fillmore, skirmishing with Confederates as they fell back.
Fort Fillmore, c. 1854
With the Union forces now defending Fort Fillmore, the Confederates began digging artillery emplacements and moving into offensive positions around the fort as Baylor prepared to attack the following day.
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