Civil War In The Southwest

Picacho means “peak” in Spanish, so the name given to Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona is redundant. Picacho Peak is a huge, 1,500-foot-high rock, a leftover from volcanic flow. It has served as a landmark for travelers for hundreds of years. The Spanish explored it and noted it in the 1700s, and the Mormon Battalion passed by in 1848, as did miners headed for the California gold fields in 1849.

Located across Interstate 10 from the original battle site, the park is about midway between Tucson to the south and Mesa to the north.

In 1861 the Confederacy claimed the New Mexico Territory (which included what would become the states of New Mexico, Arizona, and the southern part of Nevada) for itself and set up headquarters in Tucson. Union forces arrived in the territory to search for Confederate soldiers said to be in the area.

On April 15, 1862, Union troops from the 1st California Infantry Battalion were about 35 miles northwest of Tucson, in New Mexico Territory (now Arizona). In the preceding days, the battalion, under the command of Capt. William Calloway, had swept north from Yuma and headed east across the desert. They were at the Pima Indian village (near present-day Casa Grande). They would head south toward Tucson, then turn west and make their way back to Yuma.

Based on information from Indians at the village, the Confederates positioned a picket guard at Picacho Pass. Picacho Peak was a natural place from which to defend an area. The Union leaders decided to encircle the defenders so they had no choice but to surrender.

With the battalion located about 15 miles north of Picacho Pass, Union Lt. James Barrett planned to lead 12 soldiers plus a scout south and east around the Picacho Mountains and then come back west and north toward Picacho Pass. At the same time, Lt. Ephraim Baldwin was to take 12 soldiers south and west around the base of Picacho Peak and then meet with Barrett’s troops. Their orders were to locate and observe the enemy and cut off their escape route if they decided to run. The main part of the Union battalion would engage the Confederates from the north.

Ten Confederate soldiers were hiding in the foothills of the Picacho Mountains, watching the stagecoach road to the north. They were to give warning to the Confederates if Union soldiers marched toward Tucson.

Lt. Barrett’s troops somehow ended up eight miles ahead of Baldwin’s. Barrett’s scout crawled within close proximity of the Confederates and found them in a relaxed position, not expecting any Union soldiers. He advised the Union troops to dismount and engage the enemy from the rear. Instead, Barrett led a single-file, mounted cavalry charge directly toward the pickets.

The Confederates, having the advantage of higher ground and concealment, fired and hit two of Barrett’s men. Barrett was later struck by a ball in the neck and instantly died. The two sides exchanged sporadic gunfire for about 90 minutes until the Union men retreated north back toward the rest of their group. As for the Confederates, three of them were captured. The remaining seven escaped south to Tucson.

Lt. Baldwin arrived after the fighting was over to find the plan had not gone as ordered.

A later inquiry determined that Lt. Barrett exceeded orders and acted in a rash manner, making him responsible for the loss.

One interesting fact from this battle is that no one is sure where Barrett is buried, although the battleground has been swept several times with modern detection equipment.

One weekend each year in March, more than 200 costumed and equipped re-enactors bring the battle to life in Picacho Peak State Park. This year, the event takes place Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20.

The battle is re-enacted once each day during the weekend, along with two Civil War battles that occurred in today’s state of New Mexico: Glorieta Pass and Val Verde. The re-enacted battles include several firings of Mountain Howitzers and other artillery pieces, as well as mounted cavalry charges.

Between battles, visitors are free to walk around and talk with the re-enactors in both the Confederate and Union encampments. It is not hard to be taken back to an earlier and simpler time of soldiering in the Southwest.

For more information about the re-enactment, visit www.azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/events.html or call (520) 466-3183.

During the event, gates open each day at 9:00 a.m. and close right before the last battle at 3:00 p.m. The fee in 2015 was $10 per vehicle (four persons per vehicle) and $2 for each additional person.

Because of its history and natural importance, the area was opened and dedicated as a state park in 1968. As a results of various adjoining land acquisitions up through the 1990s, the park expanded to its current size of 3,747 acres.

Even if you don’t visit during the re-enactment weekend, you will find plenty to see and do. A visitors center contains exhibits and a gift store. Outside are hiking trails, a playground, battle historical markers, and an interpretive center, along with the usual park amenities, such as a campground, day-use picnic areas with grills, a dump station, rest rooms, and showers.

The campground has 85 back-in and pull-through sites with electrical hookups. No water or sewer hookups are available at the sites, but potable water is located in each campground area.

Picacho Peak has five hiking trails of varying difficulty. The most difficult is a four-mile round-trip excursion to the top of Picacho Peak and back. Called Hunter Trail, it’s been named the Best Winter Hike by a Phoenix visitors guide. Wear gloves if you intend to take this trek, for in some places it is so steep that you must grasp a chain “handrail” anchored to the side of the peak to make it to the top.

Sunset Vista is a more moderate hike of 6 miles round-trip. Calloway is approximately 1.5 miles round-trip and moderate. The Nature Trail (1 mile round-trip) and the Children’s Cave (.4 mile round-trip) are short and easy.

Weather in the desert can be unpredictable. Wear hiking boots and have at least two liters of water with you for the longer hikes.

The park’s wildlife list includes typical Sonoran Desert animals such as bobcats, mule deer, javelinas, and kit foxes. Three types of rattlesnakes, along with various lizards and geckos, crawl the desert floor. Vultures, hawks, hummingbirds, Gambel’s Quail, and cactus wrens are among the bird species.

Be sure to add Picacho Peak to your travel stops, whether you arrive for the re-enactment of the westernmost skirmish of the Civil War, or just come off the interstate for a break while traveling between Tucson and Phoenix.

Picacho Peak State Park

P.O. Box 907

Eloy, AZ 85131

(520) 466-3183

Camping reservations: (520) 586-2283 (between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mountain time)

Online camping reservations: https://azstateparks.itinio.com/picachopeak/.

Located just one mile from the park, Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch has been called one of the best roadside attractions in America. Kids can pet or feed animals such as miniature Sicilian donkeys, dwarf goats, fallow deer, prairie dogs, ducks, rainbow lorikeets, and ostriches. Monster truck rides are offered on weekends.

The ranch is at exit 219 off of I-10 and is open daily from mid-November through April 30, and on Fridays through Mondays the rest of the year.

For more details, contact:

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch

17599 E. Peak Lane

Picacho, AZ 85141

(520) 466-3658

In addition to the campground at the park, which has electrical hookups (only), within five miles of the park are two privately owned campgrounds with more amenities:

18428 S. Picacho Highway

Picacho, AZ 85141

(800) 562-4186

17065 E. Park Lane (Interstate 10, Exit 219)

Red Rock, AZ 85145

(520) 466-7841

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