015-620221-[H]Valverde.20 - WDS Forgotten Campaigns

(Historical 20 minute turns) A Confederate brigade of 4000 men under BG H H Sibley invades New Mexico to claim a vast territory reaching all the way to California. Starting from El Paso, their first objective is Santa Fe. Standing in their way, occupying Fort Craig, is a scratch force of US Regulars, volunteers and New Mexico militia u nder Col E R S Canby. After threatening Fort Craig, Sibley bypasses the formidable position and regains the road north of the Mesa DeLa Contedera, as Canby dispatches troops to hold the critical Rio Grande crossings. A meeting engagement quickly builds into an all out battle involving nearly equal numbers. Reference: "Bloody Valverde" by John Taylor.