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Critical Reasoning And Battle Analysis: The Battle Of Picacho Peak

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Critical Reasoning & Battle Analysis:
The Battle of Picacho Peak
Cheryl Schaffer
Senior Leader Course-Class #18-003-02 Critical Reasoning & Battle Analysis: The Battle of Picacho Peak
The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the events that transpired during the brief engagement in Arizona territory known as the Battle of Picacho Peak. The Confederate States of America (CSA) was expanding westward to reach the shipping ports of California and acquire precious ore found in Arizona to sustain their war effort and livelihood. This battle was a result of two warfighting blunders: a Union officer who disobeyed orders and complacency on the part of the Confederate pickets. Neither side truly won at Picacho Peak but had the …show more content…

It saw a westward expansion into the Arizona and New Mexico territories as having strong potential for solving those issues. The opportunity for expansion was discovered after a “Confederate commissioner had been surveying the region and reported back to his government that the Arizona population was excited "to join Texas and the South for a Confederacy."[1] The CSA quickly seized New Mexico and Arizona territories and dispatched CPT Hunter to Tucson with a small Confederate force. He placed a picket line of 10 troops at Picacho Pass to watch for Union advancement. At the same time, the Union formed the California Column with a mission from Washington to quell the Confederacy’s expansion. “A small force of roughly 1,400 troops […] was sent to march on Tucson.”[2] On April 15, 1862, the westernmost battle of the American Civil War was fought when a small detachment of 12 Union Soldiers stumbled upon and consequently attacked the 10 Confederate pickets. Direct fire ensued from both sides for 60-90 minutes. The Union captured three Arizona Rangers, but seven of them retreated to warn Captain Hunter. With the element of surprise gone and the loss of their leader, the Union soldiers withdrew and regrouped with their battalion to the north. No one seemed to have really won at Picacho Peak as “both sides withdrew, …show more content…

L. (2006). The Civil War 100: The stories behind the most influential battles, people and events in the war between the states. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.milibrary.idm.oclc.org/ehost
Sheridan, T. E. (2012). Arizona: A history. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press.
The Battle of Picacho Pass. (2013). Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://www.americancivilwar101.com/battles/620415-picacho-pass.html
The Battle of Picacho Pass, Visiting the Battlefield and Historic Site. (2003). Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://wtj.com/articles/picacho/
Wagoner, J. J. (1970). Arizona territory, 1863-1912 a political history. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. Notes
[1] For citation, see “Costello, C. (2016, December 5)” in reference list.
[2] For citation, see “The Battle of Picacho Pass. (n.d.) In The ...” in reference list.
[3] For citation, see “Lanning, M., (2006) The Civil War 100…” in reference list.
[4] For citation, see “Franks, A. (2000) The Civil War …” in reference list.
[5] For citation, see “The Battle of Picacho Pass, Visiting …” in reference list.
[6] For citation, see “History of American Intelligence…” in reference

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