Desert Empire: The 1862 New Mexico Campaign

In "Desert Empire," historians Patrick Kelly-Fischer and Phillip Greenwalt delve into the overlooked New Mexico Campaign of 1862, beginning with Lieutenant Colonel John Baylor's victory in Mesilla. This small but significant skirmish marked the start of a broader struggle involving Texas cavalry and U.S. Regulars, as competing forces fought over control of the Southwest, its resources, and strategic routes to the Pacific. The narrative captures the challenges of harsh terrain, internal conflicts, and interactions with local tribes, all while the fate of the region and the Confederate ambitions for expansion hung in the balance.