April 15, 1862

April 15, 1862: New Mexico Campaign: THE BATTLE OF PERALTA, New Mexico. As the Rebel army begins their retreat south to El Paso, Gen. Sibley has divided his army, with a column marching along each side of the Rio Grande. About 550 men, under Col. Tom Green, are moving down the east bank of the river, have stopped in the town of Peralta, waiting for assistance from Gen. Sibley on the west bank. The night before, Green’s supply train is lagging behind, when the last of the Confederate supplies are ambushed and taken by Canby’s Union cavalry. Green sends across the river to Gen. Sibley for reinforcements. The Federal commander, Col. Canby, orders an attack, hoping to squeeze his 2,500 Federal troops in between the two columns of Confederates in order to divide and conquer. However, the Federals are hindered by accurate artillery fire from the Rebels. Although Green is outnumbered by the 2,500 Federals attacking the town, the attackers find to their dismay that Peralta is an unplanned fortress, the ground being criss-crossed by irrigation canals and low adobe walls, denying the Yankees any easy way in. The fighting devolves into isolated skirmishes with no advantage gained. Meanwhile, Gen. Sibley appears at the ford, on the western bank of the river, and plows across the stream and forms up on the eastern bank. Almost immediately, Union fire is directed on Sibley’s force, which is isolated on the river bank. Sibley loses his nerve and immediately calls a retreat back across the river. Unaccountably, Canby calls a time out for his troops to rest and eat. As the Federals once again form up to try Peralta again, a fierce dust storm arises, driving into the Federals’ faces, and by dark Canby finally calls off the attack. Under cover of darkness, Green fords his men across the river and reunites with Sibley, as they continue their retreat south.

—An artist named John Henry Brown writes in his journal: "Petitions have been sent to congress praying that the same mail facilities may be extended to Democratic papers which are enjoyed by Republican papers. This looks strange in this land of liberty, the Constitution of which declares, that the freedom of speech and of the press shall not be abridged. The truth is, to be a Democrat now is to be a Traitor, in the estimation of the Administration."

—The New York Times publishes this eulogy for Albert Sidney Johnston, the Southern commander at Shiloh:
The death of the rebel General, SIDNEY JOHNSTON, at the battle of Pittsburgh, is now definitely settled; and the rebels grievously mourn the loss of their distinguished commander. He had previously been under a cloud on account of his want of success in Kentucky and Tennessee; but he vindicated both his courage and skill, as well as the sincerity of his treason, on the fatal Sunday upon which he fell; and though that affair, like all his previous efforts in this war, was a failure, yet rebel criticism is silent in presence of his death. It was undoubtedly he, and not BEAUREGARD, who conceived and managed the brilliant rebel maunoeuvering of Sunday, by which the rebel columns were shifted with such rapidity, and hurled now upon one of our wings, then upon the other, then upon the centre, then upon some apparently weak point, and everywhere with a spirit and dash that could not be excelled. The tactics were all characteristic of JOHNSTON. He exposed his person, too, with recklessness. It is probable indeed that he had been driven to desperation by the assaults that have recently been made upon him, and that in despondency and misery, he courted death upon the field. It is a sad ending to a career which had for so long time been eminent and honorable.—Mary Boykin Chestnut notes in her diary, after a list of losses and ills that the South is suffering: "I would rather live in Siberia, worse still, in Sahara, than live in a country surrendered to Yankees."