Citizens at Mesilla and Tucson in the southern part of New Mexico Territory formed a secession convention, which voted to join the Confederacy on March 16, 1861, and appointed Lewis Owings as the new territorial governor.
Os cidadáns de La Mesilla e Tucson na parte sur do Territorio de Novo México formaron unha convención para a secesión, votaron a integración na Confederación o 16 de marzo de 1861 e designaron a Lewis Owings como novo gobernador territorial.