Diego Archuleta

Diego Archuleta
Born 1814
Alcalde, New Mexico
Died 1884
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Allegiance Mexico
United States
Service/branch Mexican Army
New Mexico Militia
Years of service 1846–1848 (Mexico)
1862–1865 (USA)
Rank Colonel (Mexico)
Brigadier General (Militia)
Unit 1st Infantry Regiment, New Mexico Militia
Commands held 1st Division, New Mexico Militia
Battles/wars

Mexican American War

American Civil War

  • Battle of Valverde
Other work New Mexico Territorial Legislative Assembly, Indian Agent

Brigadier General Diego Archuleta (March 27, 1814 – 1884), was a member of the Mexican Congress. He joined the Mexican Army to fight against the United States in the Mexican American War. Later, he was appointed an Indian (Native Americans) Agent by President Abraham Lincoln, and joined the Union Army (US Army) during the American Civil War. Archuleta became the first Hispanic to reach the military rank of Brigadier General.

Early years

Archuleta was born in Alcalde, New Mexico, then a province of New Spain. He was the son of a prominent citizen, Juan Andres Archuleta.[1] His family were wealthy ranchers and, as such, they had the economic means to send him to Durango, Mexico where he received his primary and secondary education.[2] His education was intended to prepare him for the priesthood, toward which he attained the four minor orders, but he decided not to follow that vocation before leaving Durango.

Pre-war Mexican service and life

Archuleta returned home in 1840 and was commissioned as captain of the militia. In this capacity, he commanded a body of troops and assisted in the capture of Texans during the Texan Santa Fe Expedition of 1841. In that year he also married Jesuita Trujillo, who later gave him seven children. In 1843 he was elected as a Deputy from New Mexico to the National Mexican Congress, serving there for two years. In recognition of his distinguished service as an officer of the Mexican army he was awarded the golden Cross of Honor for preserving the integrity of the Mexican territory.[1]

Mexican-American War

Archuleta supported Mexico upon the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.[3] The Mexican-American War was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas, which Mexico considered part of its territory despite the 1836 Texas Revolution. In 1846 and 1847, Archuleta participated and led two unsuccessful rebellions against the U.S.[2]

On August 9, 1846, Archuleta, who was appointed to the rank of Colonel in the Mexican Army, wanted to fight the invading American forces headed towards Santa Fe. He was joined by other militia officers was joined by other militia officers Manuel Chaves and Miguel Pino, who wanted Governor Manuel Armijo to muster a defense. Armijo set up a position in Apache Canyon, a narrow pass about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the city.[4] On August 14, before the arrival of the American Army, Armijo decided not to fight and dismissed Archuleta.[5] No shots were fired in the Capture of Santa Fe and the New Mexican Militia retreated from Santa Fe while Armijo fled to Chihuahua.

An account by Senator Thomas H. Benton states that at least twenty-four hours before Kearny reached Apache Canyon, James Magoffin had convinced (possibly with a bribe) Manuel Armijo to make no defense, but Colonel Archuleta, second in command, was determined to fight. In order to dissuade Archuleta, Magoffin argued that Kearny was only interested in lands east of the Rio Grande which were previously claimed by Texas, and recommended that Archuleta issue a pronunciamento to seize territory west of the river for his own governance. Whereby, Archuleta agreed not to resist.[1]

Following the Capture of Santa Fe and the discovery that U.S. military orders were to take possession of the whole territory and that General Kearny was marching toward California, Archuleta was determined to revolt. He organized the first conspiracy to overthrow General Sterling Price's government administration in Santa Fe, but the plot was discovered and stopped. Within another thirty days he had organized another conspiracy, which resulted in the death of Governor Charles Bent and others.[1] This was the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the American occupation of New Mexico by Mexicans and Pueblo Indians. Archuleta also participated in the January 24, 1847 Battle of Cañada, which was part of that revolt.[6]

New Mexico Territorial Government

The U.S. won the Mexican-American War and forced Mexico into the cession of its northern territories, which included New Mexico.[7][8] After the war, Archuleta returned to New Mexico and swore allegiance to the American government. He became involved in the territorial politics and was elected to the New Mexico Territorial Legislative Assembly in a total of thirteen yearly sessions, over a period of 31 years. He represented Rio Arriba county, serving as House member each year in sessions (1853) 3rd through (1856) 6th, and also in the (1862) 12th; as President of the Council in the (1863) 13th and (1864) 14th sessions; as Council member in sessions (1867) 17th through (1871) 20th, and in the (1878) 23rd; and was finally elected to the (1884) 26th session as House member,[9] during which, he died.

He also ran as a candidate for the 1861 Thirty-seventh Congress of the United States, but was defeated by John Sebrie Watts.[1] Watts had also advocated for Archuleta's appointment as the U.S. Indian agent. In 1857 Archuleta was named the U.S. Indian agent for the Ute tribe.[2][3] In one of his government reports he is listed as agent for the Utahs, Capotes, and Apache Jicarillas.[10] In March 1865, after the war's end, President Lincoln re-appointed Archuleta as an Indian agent in New Mexico.[3]

American Civil War

From 1861 to 1865, eleven Southern slave states of the United States of America declared their secession from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America. The U.S. government (The Union) rejected secession as illegal, and the Civil War ensued.[11]

Initially, Archuleta's sympathies lay with the Confederates. This led Watts and other pro-Union colleagues to lose faith in Archuleta. In 1861, Watts asked president Abraham Lincoln to replace Archuleta and to name Jose Antonio Mansinares to the position of Indian agent.[2]

Diego Archuleta's appointment to Brigadier General of the 1st Division of the Territory of New Mexico Militia by Governor Henry Connelly, Sep 9, 1861

Archuleta recanted from his secessionist views and joined the Union Army.[3] He was assigned to the "New Mexico Militia" (NMM) as Lt. Colonel with Colonel Manuel Armijo (son of the late governor Manuel Armijo), over the 1st regiment, consisting of six companies. The smaller 2nd regiment of the NMM consisted of four companies and was under the command of Colonel Nicolas Pino, Lt. Colonel J. M. Baca y Salazar and Major Charles E. Wesche.[12] On September 9, 1861 he was appointed as Bigadier General of the 1st division of the Militia of the Territory by Henry Connelly, governor and commander in chief of the territory.[1] The "New Mexico Volunteer Infantry" (NMVI) had the most Hispanic officers of any unit in the Union Army. The unit included Colonel Miguel E. Pino, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Maria Valdez, Colonel Jose G. Gallegos, and Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Perea. These units fought in the Battle of Valverde on February 21, 1862.[13] When Archuleta was promoted to Brigadier General, he became the first Hispanic in history, to reach that rank in the United States Military.[2][3]

Death

On March 20, 1884, during his last session of the Assembly, he was taken suddenly ill. The following day he was assisted to his seat, cast his vote, and was then taken to his apartments, and although every known medical treatment was brought to bear, he died of heart failure. On the day of the funeral native and American citizens alike assembled in vast numbers, performing the last honor to the distinguished statesman. The procession which followed the remains to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery was one of the largest ever seen in the City of Santa Fe. The 22d Infantry Band of the United States Army led the procession, which included the General commanding the District, Brigadier General David S. Stanley, his staff, and other officers of the U.S. Army stationed at Santa Fe, the members of the legislative assembly, the county commissioners, secret and patriotic societies. It was estimated that over 2,500 people marched in the procession.

His last speech in the House of Representatives was in favor of an amendment to a pending educational bill, which declared for non-sectarian administration of the schools of New Mexico. In making this speech, he said that he was then an old man, that he expected very soon to be called to his Maker, and when that time came, he would go with the satisfaction of knowing that his vote had been cast in behalf of freedom and in behalf of free, non-sectarian education of the youth of his country. His last vote cast in the House was in favor of the construction of the Capitol building at Santa Fe.[1] He died in Santa Fe, and was survived by seven children.[2]

Awards and decorations

Diego Archuleta's awards and decorations include the following:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ralph Emerson Twitchell, The History of the Military Occupation of the Territory of New Mexico from 1846 to 1851 (1909)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kanellos, Nicolas (1997). Hispanic Firsts: 500 Years of Extraordinary Achievement. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0-7876-0519-0.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Pratt McDermott, Stacey (July–September 2008). "Problemas In Nuevo Mexico" (PDF). Lincoln Editor. 8 (3): 5. ISSN 1537-226X. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  4. ↑ "New Mexico Historic Markers: Canoncito at Apache Canyon". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 15, 2007.
  5. ↑ "One Offense of the Pueblos". Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  6. ↑ Cooke, Philip St. George (1964). The Conquest of New Mexico and California, an Historical and Personal Narrative. Albuquerque, NM: Horn and Wallace. pp. 113–114.
  7. ↑ Christensen and Christensen, The U.S.–Mexican War, Bay Books, San Francisco, 1998
  8. ↑ Brian DeLay (2008). War of a thousand deserts: Indian raids and the U.S.–Mexican War. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-11932-9.
  9. ↑ State of New Mexico, Secretary's Office, Report of the Secretary of the Territory and Legislative Manual (1907) pp. 152-169
  10. ↑ United States Congress, House Documents, Otherwise Publ. as Executive Documents: 13th Congress, 2d Session-49th Congress, 1st Session (1858) p.31
  11. ↑ Frank L. Owsley, State Rights in the Confederacy (Chicago, 1925).
  12. ↑ The Union Army (1908) Vol. 4, p.462
  13. ↑ "MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES". Retrieved October 26, 2011.

Further reading

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