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7 26 1838 The Honorable Thomas Smith, one of the most illustrious citizens of the Territory of New Mexico, now serving in the exalted position of its Chief Justice, is a man whom to know is to honor. In all the relations of life, whether as lawyer, as Judge,…
Upon returning to Spain in 1493 after his first voyage, Christopher Columbus contacted Pope Alexander VI (a Spaniard by birth) to report his discoveries. Acting as the great European arbiter of the day, the pope then issued a bull (decree) that divided the New World lands between Spain and…
By Gregg Gonzales From 1760 to 1859, La Castrense Church (the Military Chapel), stood on the south side of the Santa Fe Plaza across from the Palace of the Governors. The church’s official name was Nuesta Señora de la Luz (Our Lady of the Light), however, most of the…
Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley led his force of 2,500 men across the Rio Grande River and up the east side of the river to the ford at Valverde, north of Fort Craig, New Mexico, hoping to cut Federal communications between the fort and military headquarters in Santa Fe….
Glorieta Pass was a strategic location, situated at the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, southeast of Santa Fe, and on the Santa Fe Trail. In March 1862, a Confederate force of 200-300 Texans under the command of Maj. Charles L. Pyron encamped at Johnson’s Ranch, at…
By Lansing B. Bloom A recent review of a book relating to Mexico stated, "It is universally admitted that the Mexican people as such have never exercised a voice in their governmental affairs." Many will doubtless assent to this sweeping assertion, but there are others who have studied back…
4 22 1891 by Michael Ann Sullivan Laura Gilpin grew up in the West and always considered herself a Westerner. She said of herself, “I am definitely a westerner and I just have to be in the mountain country. It’s where I belong.” She was born on 22 April…
1 10 1888 First Lady of American Letters By Michael Ann Sullivan Erna Fergusson was born on 10 January 1888 to a prominent Albuquerque family. Her mother was Clara Mary Huning, the daughter of the successful merchant Franz Huning. Franz had emigrated to New Mexico from Germany in 1849….
On December 14, 1868, New Mexico Supreme Court Justice John P. Slough responds to Legislative Council censure from Col. William L. Rynerson, who was a member of the legislative assembly from Doña Ana County. Among the slurring remarks made, he noted that Rynerson was "a thief of the army,…
12 14 1668 Juan Páez Hurtado was born on December 14, 1668 in Los Palacios y Villafranca, Spain. He was the son of Domingo Hurtado Vizcaino and Ana Josefa Rubio y Vasquez. In 1716, after the viceroy of Mexico had received complaints concerning the conduct of Governor Martinez, he…
