Colorado in the Civil War

The Territory of Colorado was formally organized on February 28, 1861 from pieces of the existing Territories of Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah. It remained pro-Union throughout the war despite activities of Confederate agents and partisans. Colorado sent several infantry units (some later reorganized as cavalry units) and an Independent Artillery Battalion into northwestern Oklahoma Territory and New Mexico during the New Mexico Campaign. When the main threat from Confederate forces had diminished in 1862, Colorado troops were also used to counter activities of hostile Indian Nations living in the area, sparking a short sub-conflict known as The Colorado War. Throughout these conflicts and for many years after, several attempts at gaining statehood were thwarted by Confederate sympathizers and a presidential veto in 1865 by Andrew Johnson. Colorado was finally granted statehood on August 1, 1876 after much pressure on President Grant's administration against a reluctant Reconstruction-era Congress.
== Antebellum Colorado == 
Several Spanish explorers scouted parts of Colorado, including Francisco Vázquez de Coronado in 1540 and the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition of 1776. These expeditions generally only reached into southern portions of the future state boundaries. Several small Mexican and American trading posts and mining camps were established in the years leading up to Colorado's territorial ambitions.
The discovery of gold in 1858 spurred a sudden influx of over 50,000 settlers in what later became known as the Pike's Peak or Colorado Gold Rush in far-west Kansas Territory. This population boom required a more local and responsive territorial government, as the official territorial Kansan government based in Topeka (and its pro-slavery counterpart in Lecompton) were embroiled in the bitter border struggles known as "Bleeding Kansas". Delegates from various gold field camps met in 1859 and established an unofficial "Territory of Jefferson" to encompass as much of the potential mining and agricultural area as possible. This territorial claim included the modern Eastern and Western borders of the state, but extended farther north into modern Wyoming and Nebraska and farther south into modern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. When Congress approved Colorado's statehood in 1861, it approved the East-West boundaries of the unofficial territory but shortened the North-South boundaries in favor of the creation of Washington, the Dakotas, Wyoming, and the previously established borders of Oregon.
=== Population and Demographics ===
Several American Indian Nations were present in Colorado during the Civil War:
* The Apache Nation
* The Arapaho Nation
* The Cheyenne Nation
* The Pueblo Tribes
* The Shoshone Tribe
* The Ute Nation 
Several Nations also lived in territory that included very small portions of modern Colorado:
* The Comanche Tribe
* The Kiowa Tribe
* The Navajo Tribe
Many of the white settlers that came to Colorado in the 1850's were Southerners in search of new opportunity. At the outbreak of the war, many returned to the South to defend their homes. Those who stayed began to form militia groups in Fairplay, Leadville, Denver, and Mace's Hole (present-day Beulah).
== Conflict ==
 
 
 In Summary
 
 
 1861
* No engagements or operations recorded during this year
 
 
 1862
* No engagements or operations recorded during this year
 
 
 1863
* April 11, 1863 - Skirmish near Squirrel River Crossing, Colorado Territory (Dyer 650, 981, 984)
** (Also Squirrel Crossing, Squirrel Creek Crossing) COLORADO--3d Infantry (Detachment).
* October 12-16, 1863 - Union Scout from Fort Garland, Colorado Territory (Dyer 618, 981, 984)
** McLane's Battery Light Arty. (Detachment).
 
 
 1864
* April 14-18, 1864 - Expedition from Camp Sanborn, Colorado Territory to Beaver Creek, Kansas
* May 3, 1864 - Skirmish at Cedar Bluff, Colorado Territory (Dyer 605, 981, 984)
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Cos. "C" and "H"). Union loss, 1 killed, 1 wounded. Total, 2.
* May 9-May 10, 1864 - Union Scout to Cedar Bluff, Colorado Territory (Dyer 605, 981, 984)
** COLORADO---1st Cavalry.
* May 9-May 10, 1864 - Union Scout from American Ranch, Colorado Territory to Pine Bluff, Colorado Territory 
* April 8-23, 1864 - Expedition from Denver, Colorado Territory to Republican River, Kansas (Dyer 611, 644, 724, 981, 984) - Dyer 611 lists April 8-24
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Co. "D"); McLane's Battery Light Arty.
* April 12, 1864 - Skirmish at Fremont's Orchard, Colorado Territory (Dyer 617, 981, 984)
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Cos. "C" and "H"). Union loss, 2 killed, 4 wounded. Total, 6.
* July 17-28, 1864 - Union Scout on South Platte River, Colorado Territory (Dyer 649, 981, 984) - Dyer lists July 17-23
** COLORADO--2d Cavalry.
* August 3, 1864 - Skirmish at Julesburg, Colorado Territory - No other entries
* August 7, 1864 - Skirmish near Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory (Dyer 616, 630, 981, 984)
** (also Affair near Fort Lyon) COLORADO---1st Cavalry (Cos. "D," "G" and "K").
* August 11, 1864 - Skirmish near Sand Creek, Colorado Territory (Dyer 646, 981, 984)
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Cos. "D," "G" and "K").
* August 12-16, 1864 - Union Scout on Fort Union Road near Fort Garland, Colorado Territory (Dyer 618, 617, 653, 981, 984)
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Detachment).
* August 22, 1864 - Skirmish at Atkin's Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 596, 981, 984)
** COLORADO---1st Cavalry.
* October 10, 1864 - Skirmish at Valley Station, Colorado Territory (Dyer 654, 981, 984)
** COLORADO---3d Cavalry (Detachment).
* November 6-16, 1864 -	Affairs near Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory (Dyer 616, 630, 981, 984)
** COLORADO---1st Cavalry.
* November 29, 1864 - Engagement on Sand Creek, Colorado Territory (Dyer 600, 607, 646, 981, 984)
** (Also Engagement at Big Sandy, Skirmish near Sand Creek, Chivington Massacre at Sand Creek) COLORADO---1st and 3d Cavalry. Union loss, 3 killed, 21 wounded. Total, 24.
 
 
 1865
* January 7, 1865 - Skirmish at Julesburg, Colorado Territory (Dyer 981, 984)
** IOWA--7th Cavalry (1 Co.). Union loss, 14 killed, 2 wounded. Total, 16.
* January 7, 1865 - Skirmish at Valley Station, Colorado Territory (Dyer 654, 981, 984) - Dyer 654 lists 1864
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry.
* January 14, 1865 - Skirmish at American Ranch, Colorado Territory 
* January 14, 1865 - Skirmish at Godfrey's Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 619, 981, 984)
** COLORADO--2d Cavalry (Detachment).
* January 14, 1865 - Skirmish at Morrison's Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 981) - no other entries
* January 14, 1865 - Skirmish at Valley Station, Colorado Territory (Dyer 654, 981, 984) - Dyer 654 lists 1864
** COLORADO--1st Cavalry (Co. "C").
* January 14-25, 1865 - Operations between Julesburg and Denver, Colorado Territory (Dyer 611, 625, 638, 981, 984) - Dyer 638 lists january 14-29
** (Operations on Overland Stage Route between Denver and Julesburg) COLORADO--1st and 2d (Detachment)Cavalry. NEBRASKA--1st Cavalry. OHIO--11th Cavalry.
* January 15, 1865 - Skirmish at Wisconsin Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 658, 981, 984)
** COLORADO---1st Cavalry (Co. "C").
* January 25, 1865 - Skirmish at Gittrell's Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 618, 981, 984)
** Ranchmen.
* January 26, 1865 - Skirmish at Moore's Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 634, 981, 984)
** Ranchmen.
* January 27, 1865 - Skirmish at Lillian Springs Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 628, 981, 984) - Dyer 984 lists January 26
** Ranchmen.
* January 28, 1865 - Skirmish at Valley Station, Colorado Territory (Dyer 654, 981, 984) - Dyer 654 lists 1864
** Ranchmen.
* February 2, 1865 - Attack near Julesburg, Colorado Territory (Dyer 625, 638, 981, 984)
** (Also Affair at Julesburg, Affair at Overland Stage Station) IOWA--7th Cavalry (1 Co.). Attack on Overland Stage Station.
* February 2-18, 1865 - Operations on North Platte River, Colorado Territory (638, 984)
** NEBRASKA--1st Cavalry. OHIO--11th Cavalry.
* April 1, 1865 - Affair near Fort Garland, Colorado Territory (Dyer 618, 981, 984)
** Indian attack.
* May 13, 1865 - Skirmish at Dan Smith's Ranch, Colorado Territory (Dyer 610, 625, 648, 981, 984)
** (also Skirmish near Julesburg, "Smith's Dan, Ranch") Indian attack.
* June 4-10, 1865 - Operations near Fort Collins, Colorado Territory (Dyer 608, 615, 984)
** ("Collins' Fort") COLORADO--1st Cavalry.
* June 8, 1865 - Skirmish at Sage Creek, Colorado Territory (Dyer 646, 981, 984)
** OHIO--11th Cavalry (Detachment).
== Units from Colorado ==
 
 
 Artillery
* McLain's (Independent) Light Artillery BatteryUnit is also listed as McLane's Independent Battery in multiple sources. - This unit was organized at Camp Weld, near Denver on December 15, 1862. It saw action in Colorado Territory and Kansas, and was disbanded after the war on August 31, 1865
 
 
 Cavalry
* 1st Colorado Cavalry - This unit was re-organized from the 1st Colorado Infantry on November 1, 1862. It saw action in Idaho Territory, Colorado Territory, Kansas, and the Dakota Territory. It was mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas on November 18, 1865
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* 2nd Colorado Cavalry This unit was organized by consolidation of the 2nd Colorado Infantry and 3rd Colorado Infantry in October 1863. It saw action in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado Territory, and the Indian Territory in modern Oklahoma. It was mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas on September 23, 1865
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* 3rd Colorado Cavalry - This unit was organized for 100 days' service at Denver between August 20, 1864 and September 31, 1864. It saw limited action in Colorado Territory but mainly performed garrison duty at Forts and Stations. It was mustered out of service at Denver on December 31, 1864
 
 
 Infantry
* 1st Colorado Infantry - This unit was organized at Camp Weld, near Denver between August 26, 1861 and December 14, 1861. It saw action in Colorado Territory and New Mexico Territory. It was re-organized as the 1st Colorado Cavalry on November 1, 1862
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* 2nd Colorado Infantry - This unit was organized at Fort Garland, Cañon City, Fort Lyon and Denver in December 1861. It saw action in New Mexico Territory and Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. It was consolidated with the 3rd Colorado Infantry to form the 2nd Colorado Cavalry in October 1863
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* 3rd Colorado Infantry - This unit was organized at Camp Weld and Denver between September 1862 and January 1863. It saw limited action in Colorado Territory before being consolidated with the 2nd Colorado Infantry to form the 2nd Colorado Cavalry in October 1863
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* Denver City Home Guard Infantry - This unit was organized in Denver from August-October 1861. It saw limited action in New Mexico before being disbanded on April 1, 1862
== Casualties from Colorado == 
== Recordkeeping in Colorado ==
=== Army Official Records Series ===
== Notes ==
== Sources ==
* (Pages 981, 984, 1004-1006)
* Stein, Mark. How the States Got Their Shapes. New York, NY: Smithsonian Books/HarperCollins Publications, 2008. (Pages 39-43)