Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

The Battle of Puebla

Although Cinco de Mayo is often just a good day for tacos y cervezas for many of us, I was surprised to learn recently that the holiday has a tie to the Civil War that I hadn't heard about before.

The holiday was first celebrated in Los Angeles in 1862 to commemorate the victory by Mexico over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The celebrations carried as far north as the mining town of Columbia, where Mexican miners made speeches, shot off fireworks and and sang patriotic songs.

By defeating the French forces, the Mexican army helped keep France from providing supplies and assistance to the Confederacy. Although much of southern California leaned toward the southern point of view before the war, Los Angeles was pro-Union, which gave the residents a reason to celebrate 150 years ago.

Despite its widespread popularity in the western U.S., Cinco de Mayo is, at best, a regional holiday in Mexico. It does not commemorate Mexican Independence Day: that holiday is observed nationally in Mexico on September 16.

An Amazing Site Dedicated to the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry

Since the next few posts will focus on photos of Californians who served with the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, it seemed only fitting to point my readers to a remarkable resource: Reunion Civil War Antiques' site for the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry.

Reunion founder Earl Robinson has compiled photos of about 12 percent of the regiment, and he's assembled biographies for some members of the unit, including Henry Fillebrown, the first man to enlist, and Andersonville survivor Abraham Loane.

Gilbert Merritt of the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry

Sergeant Gilbert R. Merritt, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, recuperates at Camp Meigs from a broken leg he received while breaking horses. The leg did not heal properly and left Sgt. Merritt with a lifelong disability. He received a medical discharge and later filed for a invalid pension in August 1868. Photo from the Richard K. Tibbals Collection at the United States Army Military History Institute.

Folsom History Museum Showcases California, Civil War Exhibit

Until May 13, the Folsom History Museum is featuring a "California and the Civil War" exhibit that combines photographs, artifacts and interpretive panels to provide a comprehensive look at life in the Golden State during this pivotal time in American history.

Click here for a preview of the exhibit.

July 4, 1862

San Francisco's Washington Square was the gathering place for infantry regiments on Independence Day, 1862. Photo from the Barrett Collection at the United States Army Military History Institute.

At Rest, At Last

Peter Jones Knapp was laid to rest on Friday, April 13, 2012, at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. He may well be the final Civil War soldier to be buried, and he's the first to be buried in this particular national cemetery.

This story caught my attention while I was being carpool mom for my two oldest sons' first middle school dance and in following it up last night online, it ties together my home state (California), my adopted state (Iowa) and one of my other passions (family history).

Knapp enlisted in the 5th Iowa Cavalry in 1861 and fought at Iuka and Shiloh. He was taken prisoner at Missionary Ridge and was held for 17 months in various camps, including Andersonville. Knapp escaped and later served in the Indian wars.

Knapp died in 1924 and, although he received a front-page obituary in the Kelso, Washington, Kelsonian newspaper, his ashes remained at the crematorium until a relative located them while researching family history. She enlisted the help of the California Medal of Honor Project and Knapp and his wife received a burial service along the lines of a veteran's memorial from 1873 that was attended by family members, Civil War re-enactors and representatives of the Oregon National Guard.

The Battle of Picacho Pass

My title selection sounds like it should go with an Audie Murphy western rather than a blog post (guess I spent too many Saturdays watching "40 Guns to Apache Pass" when I could have been doing something else, eh?). It is, however, the location of the western-most, or at least one of the western-most, cavalry engagements of the Civil War.

On April 15, 1862, 12 members of Company A, 1st California Cavalry, under the command of Lt. James Barrett, attacked a force of 10 Arizona Confederates. Barrett and George Johnson were killed during the fight, and another soldier, William S. Leonard, died a day later from wounds suffered in the battle.Three other Californians--James Botsford, Peter Glenn and William C. Tobin--were wounded in the fight. Botsford was able to return to duty, but Glenn and Tobin were discharged for disability on Jan. 6, 1863.

The Californians retreated 40 miles to the Pima villages, where they constructed Fort Barrett, which was named for the late lieutenant. Col. James Carleton, commander of the California forces, ordered that until the end of the war, Johnson's and Leonard's names should be answered with "He died for his country!" at morning roll call.

Each March, Picacho Peak State Park hosts a re-enactment of the battle. I had an opportunity to stop and see the park for myself during a Christmas driving trip I took in 1996.

Confederate heritage organizations and the Southern Pacific Railroad are responsible for most of the historic markers at Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona.

Thanks for Your Patience!

I'm sorry I've been away from this blog for the past few weeks, but school conferences, Spring Break, two sons' birthdays and the upcoming Easter holiday, along with a broken modem, have taken my attention elsewhere of late.

Next week, I'll once again have time to post, and I'll give you the details on the western-most battles in the Civil War.