Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 98 of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As y'all recall from the end of the last show, the Confederate Army of New Mexico had

driven the enemy from the field at the Battle of Valverde on February 21, 1862.

But it turned out to be a hollow victory because the fedeers were able to save the retreat

back behind the walls of Fort Craig.

As we pointed out at the close of the last episode, the Confederate commander, Henry Hopkins

Sibli, was caught on the horns of a real dilemma after his victory at Valverde.

After the battle was over, the federal commander, Edward Canby, had his still strong force back

behind the walls of Fort Craig, and the day after Valverde can be angrily refused Sibli's

demand that the fort and its supplies be surrendered.

Can be's defiance put Sibli in a precarious position since the Confederates weren't

strong enough to attack Fort Craig, and since the Texans only had five days worth of

provisions left after the battle, they couldn't afford to settle in and subject the fort

to a prolonged siege.

Many factors must have weighed on Sibli's mind as he sought a way out of the dilemma he

faced after the battle of Valverde.

Since his army wasn't strong enough to directly attack Fort Craig, and since he didn't have

the supplies he needed to settle in and besiege the place, Sibli really only had two options

...