Hey everyone, thanks for downloading episode 97 of our Civil War podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the podcast.

With the last episode, we set the stage for Cipley's New Mexico campaign by giving

y'all some background information about Texas's secession and about Baylor's Buffalo

Hunt.

As y'all recall from last week, Earl Van Dorn, the commander of the Confederate Department

of Texas, ordered John Baylor's battalion of the second Texas mounted rifles to ride

westward and occupy the abandoned Fort Bliss at present day El Paso.

Significantly, Van Dorn gave Baylor authority to take the offensive once he reached Fort

Bliss.

If Baylor thought it practicable, he could invade the territory of New Mexico and attack

Fort Fillmore, 40 miles north of El Paso and the likely staging point for any federal

counter-move into Texas.

But although in the summer of 1861, both Van Dorn and Baylor were worried about a federal

invasion of West Texas from New Mexico, there was, in reality, little danger of any such

thing.

That's because the federal commander in New Mexico, Lieutenant Colonel Edward RS can

be, was too busy reorganizing and strengthening his forces to contemplate any offensive move.

Last week we talked about how major General David E Twig's surrendered all of the federal

...