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Las Golondrinas Civil War Weekend
May 2-3, 2009
El Rancho de las Golondrinas is a living history museum located south of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Original colonial buildings on the site date from the early 18th century. Villagers clothed in the styles of the times show how life was lived in early New Mexico when this part of the United States was ruled by Spain and Mexico.
Over the annual Civil War weekend, the New Mexico Company participated with members of the 1st New Mexico Volunteer Infantry and members from other groups from Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and California in interpreting for visitors the extent of Civil War action in New Mexico.
(Click a photo for a larger view - All photographs by Blaine Bachman, Albuquerque)
The 1st NM Vol. Inf. holds the field after a mid-morning skirmish.
A detachment of somewhat ragtag "Reb" infantry marches in.
The 1st NM Vol. Inf. forms up prior to marching back to their camp.
Rebel troops stand silently as the Union formation passes by.
Back at the union camp, Corporal Bilbo distributes the day's rations of sausage, cheese, tinned milk, apples and potatoes - mmmm, yum!
First Lieutanant Garrett handles pay call with Sergeant Campisi standing guard. Musician Dave Poulin has just stepped up to receive his pay.
A senior officer intervenes to head off a dispute over how much pay musicians are to receive. Seems Congress hasn't approved that long-awaited pay increase that all the papers back East were crowing about.
Problem resolved - for the moment - Musician Poulin signs for his pay. A few minutes later one of the Colorado troops had to be taken away in restraints following a dispute over his pay.
Native New Mexicans, most of whom have little love for Tejano "Rebs," also fought on the Union side. Chaplain Thompson is having little luck talking them out of their Catholic views.