Edward Richard Sprigg Canby

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When the Civil War began in 1861, Canby was promoted to the rank of Colonel of the 19th U.S. Infantry and given the post of commander over the Department of New Mexico. Despite a defeat at the Battle of Valverde, Canby’s Union forces repelled the Confederate advance into New Mexico under Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley at the Battle of Glorieta Pass in February of 1862. Following his service in New Mexico, Canby was transferred to New York.