Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-23
TWITCHELL GETS
CIVIL WAR DATA
LONG UNKNOWN
Mystery Regarding Battery
Captured by Contederates
in SocoHO County Fighting
Is Cleared Up

tsstctsk COMMENCEMENT 10 NosSNS 5oueNk4A
Santa Fe, Aprii 20 Tho mystery ~
the disposition of the MvRav battery
captured on the eonfcderates n the
battle Of Naleerde. Sacorro county. iu
1852, was solved today in n letter re-
ceived by Cot Ralph +, rwitehel, the
historian. from 4, II Jetlon, ~ Oak
wood. Tex. Next "a Glorieta, the bat
tie ~ Nalverde was the hieodiest fight
in the civil war in New Mexico and
among those who took part in the
hattie on the federal side was col.
Jose D. Sena. father OF the present
clerk OF the supreme court, while on
the confederate side. A. Mennett OF
this city was a participant
Mr.. Jetton writes among other
things; II viii first. Offer my con-
gratulations 90 you on the successful
compilation of your two large and eN-
haustive volumes of New Mexican his
tory. ! nave not yet had time TO pc
ruse them critically, and have exam
ined only that portion that more d.
rectly relates 10 the Information
needed in writing my little romance.
founded on incidents OF the civil
war. especially the New Mexico CAM
paign But aside rum this particular
epoch. ] prize the TWO volumes very
highly. and would not take several
times the value Of them and he With
out them.
Texas Troops Victorious.
"while I deem the Invasion Of New
Mexico by the southern troops as a
very unfortunate affair. Vet the hat
tie OF Valverde was signal victory
for the Texas troops, and ! am some
what hound to II hy personal ties
having lost an uncle IN the battle
who was wounded aud died--also
have several very warm friends who
were in the campaign. and who live
IN this country now
1T may he some interest TO you 10
know that the battery captured AT
Nalverde became famous I'M tile SER
vice of the confederate army after
wards. and was universally known as
"The Valverde Battery" ! win fur
Their state that capt T. y. Nettles
(who married cousin OF my wife)
was. ut the close OF the war captain
of the Valverde battery. and brought
some, IL not all the guns, back with
him after the surrender | am one
of the few who knows what became
OF this famous battery.
tnreconcllcd Rebel.
Captain Ncttles was at the time Of
the battle Of VaiveTde. a private IN
Captain Shropshire'sNompany A. ,ie
is an educated man hnd one Of the
hest historians IN the atatc--ye,. he Is
a crank and lives almost the life of a
hermit. He never took the oath OF
allegiance at the close OF the war ana
lived as a DISTINGUISHED rebel
NV. T. Silman of this town was In
the famous charge at Nalvefde eve
write the name with two syllablesl
and his statement corroborates that
of<your friend at Las Vegas, who says
General Sibley of the confederates
was drunk at the time Of the battle,
and Cen Tom Green was in COM
mand.n
The story of the battle of Valvcrde
over which there is almost ~ much
controversy az over the battle OF
shiloh, is described very fuzzy In text
land footnhtes In Colonel Twitchells
history and the story reads Ike that
Of a thrilling romance. Colonel
sena's company seems 60 have been
the only volunteer company IN the
/ fight on the federal side, that de-
meaned itself in q creditable manner,
ithe other volunteers being charged
with cowardiee BY other historians