Battle of Glorieta Pass Facts

March 26–28, 1862

Glorieta Pass Battle facts, including dates, location, casualties, leaders, who won, and more interesting facts you might not know. This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the battle and is for kids doing research and students preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam.

Portrait of John M. Chivington

Many historians refer to Major John M. Chivington’s victory at the Battle of Glorieta Pass as the Gettysburg of the West. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date:

  • March 26 – 28, 1862

Location:

  • Santa Fe County and San Miguel County, near the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Campaign:

  • Sibley’s New Mexico Campaign

Principal Union commander(s):

  • Colonel John P. Slough
  • Major John M. Chivington

Principal Confederate commander(s):

  • Major Charles L. Pyron
  • Lieutenant Colonel William R. Scurry
  • Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley

Union forces engaged:

  • an assortment of Union regulars and volunteers, including the 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers

Confederate forces engaged:

  • Army of Army of New Mexico, also known as Sibley’s Brigade

Number of Union soldiers engaged:

  • Roughly 1,300

Number of Confederate soldiers engaged:

  • Roughly 1,100

Estimated Union casualties:

  • 122 casualties (38 killed, 64 wounded, and 20 captured)

Estimated Confederate casualties:

  • 121 (36 dead, 60 wounded, and 25 captured)

Result:

  • Union victory

Significance:

  • Fought on March 25, 1862, the Battle of Apache Canyon was the first engagement of the Battle of Glorieta Pass.
  • Because it was the decisive turning-point of the Civil War in the Far Western Theater, many historians refer to the Battle of Glorieta Pass as the Gettysburg of the West.