What role did Colorado have during the civil war?
I think they were union and they had some skirmishes in New Mexico. But I could be wrong.
Fighting in New Mexico
Lots of secessionists there during the war. Confederate agents were also stirring up the Indian tribes to attack the Union which they did.
The entire Hungate family was murdered mutilated and scalped about that time and caused Chivington to swear vengeance.
From Canada to Mexico the tribes were attacking the Union.
Years later, Chivington returned to Colorado for an Old Timer’s Convention. As the guest speaker he told of all that had led up to and Creek, the scalps found in the camp, the Confederate agents captured there. He then ended with the works...”I STAND BY SAND CREEK!”
The crowd went wild with cheering and applause. They remembered those bad old days.
The only reason San Creek is remembered is some Bostonians took up the weeping and wailing for the tribe. It made people forget about their own Pequot Massacre 230 years before.
The Confederate under Sibley were moving north to take the Denver gold fields supposedly for the rebs but actually Sublet wanted it to start a country in AZ NM and Chihuahua. Union forces included 1st Colorado volunteers whose F co. Was actually a mounted unit (I was in a reenactment unit in the 80s). They stopped the rebs at Glorieta Pass in northern Nm.
Hideout for scoundrels, hoodlums, malcontents and lollygaggers.