Battle at Picacho Peak

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The battle was fought near this mound.

Picacho Peak

(From the Civil War website) “In February 1862, a band of Confederate Rangers under Capt. Sherod Hunter raised the Stars and Bars of Tucson, Arizona, and part of an effort to create an ocean-to-ocean Confederacy.  In order to thwart this move, a Union “Column from California” under Col. James H. Carleton set out across the lonely desert toward Tucson.  On April 15, Union cavalry under Lt. James Barrett met with Confederate Rangers near Picacho Peak, a rocky spire 50 miles northwest of Tucson.  Barrett was killed almost immediately and fierce combat continued for more than an hour before the Federals retreated.  Although the Rangers’ victory at Picacho Pass delayed the Union force, the following month Carleton’s Californian’s eventually took Tucson without firing a shot.”

Check out these websites for more details about this battle:
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/picachopeak.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Picacho_Pass
http://www.wtj.com/articles/picacho/

Facilities found at Picacho Peak State Park are hiking trails, a visitor center with exhibits and gift shop, historical markers, a campground, picnic areas, ramadas, grills, dump station, restrooms, and showers.  The group use areas, for day and overnight use, are available by reservation.
Park phone: (520) 466-3183
Reservations: (520) 586-2283

Visitor Center

Battle marker (from Wikipedia)

Comments

  1. A Beer for the ShowerJanuary 26, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    Wow, brutal battle aside, this looks like a beautiful place to camp and hike. So long as the ghosts of the fallen aren't lurking around.

    ReplyDelete

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