Men of Valor Traditional Geocache
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Use extreme stealth here - this has been muggled twice. If a vehicle comes, get away from the cache and act like you are bird-watching or taking pictures, which you could actually be doing, etc.
From I-25, take Exit 125 San Marcial & head east toward San Marcial. At .2 mile there will be a cattle guard and the pavement ends. For the next .8 mile it is a well-maintained county road and you will once again come to pavement at NM State Road 1. Go east across the intersection through the Armendaris Ranch portal and turn left into a little gravel parking lot with a monument of pink granite. Beware - surprisingly many muggles come by this location. Listen for their approaching vehicles and act like you're taking a photograph of the landscape, etc. This important monument pertains to a vicious Civil War battle on February 21, 1862, a couple miles east of the cache. The cache is a butternut ammo can with white stars. This is an excellent cache for anything you have pertaining to the Confederate States of America, especially Texas. Pinery Road cache is for the Union. All the land around this monument is private land of Ted Turner's approx. 350,000-acre Armendaris Ranch. But the monument, parking lot and area just around it is owned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Texas, and is for public visitation.
From this vantage point look to your right front about 45 degrees - that is Mesa del Contadero (aka Black Mesa or Table Mountain). It is a volcanic shield flow of the Rio Grande Rift. Just left of the mesa left end is where the battle happened. This significant and vicious far-west Battle of Valverde got lost from public knowledge at the time because of significant actions on eastern battlefields and naval engagements. The Texan Rebel New Mexico Campaign, 2,500 miles from central & east Texas, and return, was the longest march by any unit, both sides, in the entire Civil War, the significance, again, overlooked. After you finish here, you can go south on State Road 1 for 6.2 miles to the Fort Craig turnoff, then go down to the fort (open year around) and learn much more about the battle. Fort Craig is the reason why for this battle. It is managed by the BLM and has toilets, picnic shelters, interpretive trail (visit link)
As you stand at the monument and read about these Men of Valor, here is why they are so (Confederate commander's report, followed by two short ones by Union soldiers, a private and a militia officer):
CONFEDERATE TEXAN COMMANDER -
Friday, February 21, 1862
Report of Col. Thomas Green, 5th Texas Cavalry.
Camp Valverde, N. Mex., February 22, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor of submitting to you the following report of the battle of Valverde, fought on yesterday a part of the brigade of General Sibley, under my command.
While in the act of turning Fort Craig, on the east side of the Rio Grande, Major Pyron, with 200 men, was sent to reconnoiter, early on the morning of the 21st, the route around the mesa, north of the fort, and secure a footing on the river above. While Major Pyron was approaching the river with his command the enemy appeared in considerable numbers between his command and the river on the north of the mesa, and opened on him, about 8 o'clock, a heavy fire of artillery and small-arms. The gallant Pyron, with his brave little force, kept up the unequal contest for an hour or two, until the arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry with a part of his regiment, and Lieutenant Riley's howitzer battery. Scurry took position on the right of Pyron, and both kept up the contest and maintained their position behind a low line of sand hills. About this time one section of Captain Teel's battery came up and took position and replied to the fire of the enemy.
At 12 o'clock, while the orders of the general, I was threatening the fort on the south side of the mesa, I received his orders to move up, with all my disposable force, to the support of Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry and Major Pyron, after leaving a sufficient force to protect the train which was then moving from our late camp around the mesa to the battle ground, and which was stretched out for several miles. Our train was threatened by a considerable body of troops of the enemy, who made their appearance on the mesa. Detaching Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton's command and a detachment from my own regiment to protect the train, I moved up, with as much speed as practicable, with eight companies of my regiment, sending forward Major Lockridge, with the two companies of lancers, under Captains Lang and [Jerome B.] McCown. My companies were placed in the line of battle, between Pyron on the left and Scurry on the right, except three, which were sent by me, under Lieutenant-Colonel [H.C.] McNeill, to drive the enemy from the north point of the mesa, where they were annoying our left and threatening our train.
After these dispositions I moved up to the line of battle myself, and by the orders of the general took command of the forces present. The enemy during the day, and, with little intermission, kept up a brisk cannonade upon us, to which our 6-pounders, under Captain Teel, replied with effect. The enemy repeatedly advanced with their skirmishers to near our lines, killing many of our horses tied in the rear.
About 3 p.m. a most galling fire was opened upon Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry's command, on our right, by 300 or 400 of the enemy's rifle-men. Captain Lang, of the Fifth Regiment, with about 40 of his lancers, made at this time one of the most gallant and furious charges on these light troops of the enemy ever witnessed in the annals of battles. His little troop was decimated, and the gallant captain and Lieutenant Bass severely wounded, the latter in seven places. The enemy were repulsed by this gallant charge, and our right was for some time unmolested.
Large bodies of the enemy's infantry having crossed the river about 3:30 p.m., bringing over with them six pieces of splendid artillery, took position in front of us, on the bank of the river, at a distance of 600 yards. In addition to this body of troops two 24-pounder howitzers were placed on our left flank by the enemy. These were supported by a regiment of infantry and a regiment of cavalry. The heaviest fire of the whole day was opened about this time on our left, which was under the command of the gallant Lockridge. Our brave men on that part of the line maintained the unequal fight with desperate courage, though overwhelmingly outnumbered. Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton, now coming up with part of his battalion, took position on our left.
The enemy, now being on our side of the river, opened upon us a tremendous fire of round shot, grape, and shell. Their force in numbers was vastly superior to ours, but, having the most unbounded confidence in the courage of our troops, I ordered a charge on their battery and infantry of regulars in front, and at the same time Major Raguet, of the Fourth, with four companies of the same, and Captain Ragsdale company, of the Fifth, were directed by me to charge as cavalry upon the infantry and Mexican cavalry and the two 24-pounder howitzers on our left flank.
Our dismounted troops in front were composed of parts of the Fourth and Fifth Regiments Texas Mounted Volunteers and parts of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton's and most of Pyron's battalions, and Teel's, Riley's, and Wood's batteries of artillery, numbering about 750 on the ground. Major Raguet's cavalry numbered about 250, making about 1,000 men in the charge.
At the command to charge, our men leaped over the sand bank, which had served as a good covering to them, and dashed over the open plain, thinly interspersed with cottonwood trees, upon the battery and infantry of the enemy in front, composed of United States Regulars and Denver City Volunteers, and in a most desperate charge and hand-to-hand conflict completely overwhelmed them, killing most of their gunners around their cannon and driving the infantry into the river. Never were double-barreled shot-guns and rifles used to better effect. A large number of the enemy were killed in the river with shot-guns and six-shooters in their flight.
While we were occupied with the enemy in front Major Raguet made a gallant and most timely charge upon the iinfantry and cavalry of the enemy on our left flank. This charge was made against ten times the number of Raguet's force, and although we suffered severely and were compelled to fall back, he effected the object of his mission, and occupied the attention of our powerful enemy on the left, while our dismounted men were advancing upon those in front and running them into the river.
So soon as the enemy had fled in disorder from our terrible fire in front we turned upon his infantry and cavalry and 24-pounders on our left flank, just engaged by Major Raguet. We charged them as we had those in front, but they were not made of as good stuff as the regulars, and a few fires upon them with their own artillery and Teel's guns, a few volleys of small-arms, and the old Texas war-shout completely dispersed them. They fled from the field, both cavalry and infantry, in the utmost disorder, many of them dropping their guns to lighten their heels, and stopping only under the walls of the fort. Our victory was complete. The enemy must have been 3,000 strong, while our three actually engaged did not exceed 600. Six splendid pieces of artillery and their entire equipage fell into our hands, also many fine small-arms. This splendid victory was not achieved without severe loss to us.
Major Lockridge, of the Fifth, fell at the mouth of the enemy's guns, gallantly leading our brave troops to the assault.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton, of the Seventh, fell mortally wounded at the head of his battalion while assaulting the enemy's battery.
Several of our officers were desperately wounded, some of them no doubt mortally. Among them are the gallant Captain Lang, of the Lancers, and Lieutenant Bass, both of Company B, Lieut. D.A. Hubbard, of Company A, Fifth Regiment.
Captain Heuvel, of the Fourth, Fell in the gallant cavalry charge of Major Raguet. He was one of the most distinguished of the heroes of the day. Like the gallant Lang, of the Fifth, he could not appreciate odds in a battle.
I cannot say enough in praise of the gallantry of our surviving officers and men. It would be invidious to mention names. Were I to do so, the rolls of captains, lieutenants, and men would have to be inserted. I will only mention the principal field and staff in the engagement. The cheering voice of Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry was heard where the bullets fell thickest on the field. Lieutenant-Colonel McNeill, and the gallant Major Pyron, who has been mentioned, displayed the most undaunted courage. Major Raguet, of the Fourth, though wounded, remained at his post, and retired not until the field was won. These were the field officers present, as I have just stated. The captains, Lieutenants, and men in the action displayed so much gallantry that it would be invidious to make distinctions. They fought with equal valor and are entitled to equal credit with the field and staff here mentioned.
I will not close this report without a just need of praise to the general staff, who served me as aides-de-camp during the day. Col. W.L. Robards was in the dashing charge of the gallant Lang, and wounded in several places.
Capt. Tom P. Ochiltree, aide-de-camp to General Sibley, was exceedingly useful to me on the field and active during the whole engagement. He assisted me in the most critical moment to cheer our men to the assault. He deserves the highest praise for his undaunted chivalry and coolness, and I recommend him to the general for promotion.
Captain Dwyer was also very useful, gallant, and active during the whole action.
I cannot close without the mention of Captain Frazier, of the Arizona Volunteers. To him, more than others, we are indebted for the successful turning of Fort Craig. He led us over high ground around the mesa to the east of the fort, where we at all times had the advantage of the enemy in case he had attacked us in the act of turning the fort.
I will only personalize further by the mention of my own regimental staff.
Sergeant Maj. C.B. Sheppard shouldered his gun and fought gallantly in the ranks of Captain McPhaill's company in the charge. Lieut. Joseph D. Sayers, adjutant of the Fifth, during the whole day, reminded me of a hero of the days of chivalry. He is a gallant, daring, and dashing soldier, and is as cool in a storm of grape, shell, canister, and musketry as a veteran. I recommend him, through the general, to the President for promotion.
Since which time Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton, of the Seventh, and 2 privates of the Fifth, and 2 of Teel's battery, have died from wounds received in battle.
The enemy's loss was far greater than ours. The precise number cannot be ascertain by us, as many were killed in the river, and as the enemy's white flag, asking permission to gather up their dead and wounded, came almost before the sound of the last cannon had ceased to reverberate in the hills. It is confidently asserted by many of our officers and men that the enemy, under the flag of truce, picked up many small-arms and carried them off with the dead-wagons, that they also carried off their two 24-pounder howitzers which were left by them in the river. It is certain that during the cessation of hostilities they picked up a company flag and guidon of my regiment, left on the field during our charge, while they were gathering up their wounded and dead, and it is said these are considered by them as trophies. I do not believe that the commanding officer of the enemy is aware of these facts, as he would have spoken of stolen flags as trophies.
I think, from the best information in my possession, that the enemy's loss must have been in killed and wounded at least 350 or 400. Among their killed were several gallant officers. The gallant McRae fell at his guns. Several other captains and lieutenants were killed. Captain Rossell, of the Tenth U.S. Infantry, and several privates of the Fifth and Tenth Infantry and Denver City Volunteers, were taken prisoners.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS GREEN, Colonel
Fifth Regiment
Texas Mounted Volunteers.
Maj. A.M. JACKSON, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of New Mexico.
UNION SOLDIER - Private Ickis, Co. B, 2nd Colorado Cavalry Diary Excerpt:
This morning our picquets drove in 164 head of the enemies mules. the enemy has gone by and are going up on the E side of the Rio. We are going up on the W. they will have to pass on the E side of Table Mountain (Mesa Contadero). We pass up on the west side of the Rio to the upper side of the T M where the enemy will have to come to the Rio for water. they have not had any water for 24 hours. Plant our battery on the west bank just above the upper end of T Mountain. in a short time the enemy was seen coming to the River for water. our battery opened on them. they retreated then we were ordered over the Rio. We crossed. the water was cold but we soon got over. The enemy were reinforced and then the ball opened. our company was on the extreme left skirmishing. A & F of the 10th (Infantry) on the right of us. 5th Infty on the right of the Comd. The enemy knew by the dress and movements of our co that we were not regulars and they thought us Mexicans. they then thought they had a soft snap. three co's of Mounted Lancier Rangers made a charge on our co which was but 71 strong in the field. the boys waited until they got within 40 yds of us when they took deliberate aim and it was fun to see the Texans fall. they wavered for a few minutes and then on they came and fierce looking fellows they were with their long lances raised but when they got to us we were loaded again and then we gave them the "buck and ball." after the second volley there were but few of them left and but one of them got away. the others shot one bayoneted. G Simpson ran his bayonet through one and then shot the top of his head off. After we cleaned out the lancers we were drawn back to support one section of the battery which had got over the River. the other section is on the Right and supported by the 5th Infty and Carsons reg. with one co of Rifles. Left section was supported by our co, A & F cos 10th Infty and a few Mexicans. Both sections were brought to bear upon the enemy as well as the ground would permit and away went the Shot Shell Grape & Canister. soon silenced their battery which had been throwing round shot among us with but little effect and the ball kept rolling at this rate until 4 P.M. Our battery boys played the canister into the enemy and at every shot you could see their ranks open and pieces of men flying in the air, but on they came and we put in the variations for the guns with our small arms but it was no go. there were too many of them and we could not retreat with our battery for the Rio. but we did not leave it until the enemy was around and on it. There was to be seen cool bravery. when the battery was gone one of the battery boys sprang on a magazine which was near, cried "Victory or death" and then coolly fired his pistol into the ammunition. on(e) long loud crash and all was over with that brave boy. The explosion must have killed several of the enemy were as thick as they could stand. we were then ordered to retreat. we crossed the Rio under a shower of shot from the enemies shot guns and Navy pistols. men were falling on all sides after we crossed the Rio. again formed and retreated in good order to the Ft. Enemy did not cross the river. Saved the section of the battery which was on the right. the other consisting of 4 six pd guns 2 twelve pd howitzer went up soap. Our loss was 48 killed 350 wounded. Enemies loss supposed 400 killed 600 wounded. Dodds co lost 40 killed & wounded, & 8 prisoners in the charge of the Lancers. we lost two by wounds. P.H. Duphy had his leg shot off below the knee with a grape. Frank Kenton shot in the arm, flesh wound.
UNION OFFICER - Major Wesche, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, New Mexico Militia:
The regiment was ordered to cross the river again. We took our positions at the foot of La Mesa (Mesa Contadero). We had a little skirmish with the rearguard of the Rebels; they soon turning their backs on us and joining their main body. In the afternoon, Adj. Gen Clevor brought us orders from Col. Canby to cut off some wagons of the Texans, that were left on the heights opposite Ft. Craig. Marched in the given direction, found the wagons without a guard. Not being able to take the wagons with us, I set fire to the ammunition we found in two of the wagons. It was a beautiful explosion. Other property found was destroyed. At nightfall we returned to the Fort, where the sad result of the Battle fought by Regulars and Volunteers that day was communicated to us.
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