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Distant Bugles, Distant Drums: The Union Response to the Confederate Invasion of New Mexico
Although most accounts of the Civil War's New Mexico campaign have focused on the Confederate effort, Distant Bugles, Distant Drums brings to life the epic march of 1,000 men recruited from Colorado's towns, farms, and mining camps to fight 3,000 Confederate soldiers in New Mexico.Drawing on previously overlooked diaries, letters, and contemporary newspaper accounts, military historian Flint Whitlock brings the Civil War in the West to life. Distant Bugles, Distant Drums details the battles of 1,000 Coloradans against 3,000 Confederate soldiers in New Mexico and offers vivid portraits of the leaders and soldiers involved - men whose strengths and flaws would shape the fate of the nation.
On their way to Colorado in search of gold and silver for the Confederacy's dwindling coffers, Texan Confederates won a series of engagements along the Rio Grande. Hastily assembled troops that had marched to meet them from Colorado finally turned them back in an epic conflict at Gloriéta Pass.
Miners, farmers, and peacetime officers turned themselves overnight into soldiers to keep the Confederacy from capturing the West's mines, shaping the outcome of the Civil War. Distant Bugles, Distant Drums tells their story. Southwest Book Award Winner from the Border Regional Library Association
On their way to Colorado in search of gold and silver for the Confederacy's dwindling coffers, Texan Confederates won a series of engagements along the Rio Grande. Hastily assembled troops that had marched to meet them from Colorado finally turned them back in an epic conflict at Gloriéta Pass.
Miners, farmers, and peacetime officers turned themselves overnight into soldiers to keep the Confederacy from capturing the West's mines, shaping the outcome of the Civil War. Distant Bugles, Distant Drums tells their story. Southwest Book Award Winner from the Border Regional Library Association
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First published May 1, 2006
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About the author
Flint Whitlock
34 books17 followersAs an art major, Flint Whitlock graduated from the University of Illinois in 1964 with a degree in Advertising Design, but has always been as much a writer as an artist. His love for military history began at an early age—fueled by his father, James, who served with the famed 10th Mountain Division in World War II. Flint also had an uncle who was a military policeman with the 1st Infantry Division and another uncle who served with the Navy in the Pacific.
Wanting to serve his country, Flint was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Commission Training Program and entered active duty in December 1964. After attending the basic Air Defense Artillery officers' course at Fort Bliss, Texas, Flint earned his jump wings at Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then posted to a Nike Hercules battery in Baumholder, Germany. After two years in ADA, he received a branch transfer to the Quartermaster Corps and spent an additional year with the Supply and Maintenance Agency in Zweibruecken, Germany, where he was promoted to captain.
In 1968, Flint was transferred to South Vietnam, arriving one day before the Tet Offensive in January, 1968. He served for six months as a supply specialist at 1st Logistical Command Headquarters at Long Binh, northeast of Saigon, before being transferred to the 14th Inventory Control Center at the same post. He returned to the States in 1969 and spent a year with the 5th Infantry Division Supply and Maintenance Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, before resigning his commission and returning to civilian life.
After a stint as the Public Relations Director for the Denver Dynamos of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, he served as a copywriter, art director, and creative director for several major Colorado advertising agencies. While holding down these positions, he also continued to paint and write, becoming a locally prominent artist of the “photo-realist” genre. His attention to visual detail also translated to the written word, as he sought to convey the emotional and physical aspects of the soldier's experience.
To heighten his understanding of, and appreciation for, what the World War II combat soldier went through, he became involved in World War II re-enactment groups, in which he has been active for over 20 years. As a tribute to his father, he founded the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group in 1983 (www.tenthmountain.org). He is also a member of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation Board of Directors and the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center Advisory Committee.
Flint Whitlock lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Dr. Mary Ann Watson, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Metropolitan State College of Denver. They have three grown children: Gillian Lee Whitlock, an actress and make-up artist in Hollywood; Suki Montgomery, a psychologist and member of the counseling staff at Ithaca (NY) College; and Matthew Montgomery, an anesthesiologist in Denver. To keep in shape, Flint skis, referees soccer, and plays tennis.
Wanting to serve his country, Flint was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Commission Training Program and entered active duty in December 1964. After attending the basic Air Defense Artillery officers' course at Fort Bliss, Texas, Flint earned his jump wings at Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then posted to a Nike Hercules battery in Baumholder, Germany. After two years in ADA, he received a branch transfer to the Quartermaster Corps and spent an additional year with the Supply and Maintenance Agency in Zweibruecken, Germany, where he was promoted to captain.
In 1968, Flint was transferred to South Vietnam, arriving one day before the Tet Offensive in January, 1968. He served for six months as a supply specialist at 1st Logistical Command Headquarters at Long Binh, northeast of Saigon, before being transferred to the 14th Inventory Control Center at the same post. He returned to the States in 1969 and spent a year with the 5th Infantry Division Supply and Maintenance Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, before resigning his commission and returning to civilian life.
After a stint as the Public Relations Director for the Denver Dynamos of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, he served as a copywriter, art director, and creative director for several major Colorado advertising agencies. While holding down these positions, he also continued to paint and write, becoming a locally prominent artist of the “photo-realist” genre. His attention to visual detail also translated to the written word, as he sought to convey the emotional and physical aspects of the soldier's experience.
To heighten his understanding of, and appreciation for, what the World War II combat soldier went through, he became involved in World War II re-enactment groups, in which he has been active for over 20 years. As a tribute to his father, he founded the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group in 1983 (www.tenthmountain.org). He is also a member of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation Board of Directors and the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center Advisory Committee.
Flint Whitlock lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Dr. Mary Ann Watson, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Metropolitan State College of Denver. They have three grown children: Gillian Lee Whitlock, an actress and make-up artist in Hollywood; Suki Montgomery, a psychologist and member of the counseling staff at Ithaca (NY) College; and Matthew Montgomery, an anesthesiologist in Denver. To keep in shape, Flint skis, referees soccer, and plays tennis.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 16, 2024
The Civil War Fought in the American Southwest
I enjoyed this book, which told the story of a forgotten part of the American Civil War, the Confederacy's venture into and attempt to control the American territories of New Mexico and Arizona. The pages are filled with famous names of people and places from American history, filling in gaps in their histories and backstories in an interesting way. Fighting and surviving in the southwestern desert was detailed, battle by battle and march by march, and was nothing like what was going on elsewhere, and Flint Whitlock capably shares the ordeal experienced though both freezing winters and burning summer.
I enjoyed the book. I got confused, though, by all the names and had trouble keeping them straight - who was Union and who was Union and who was Confederate. Maybe something could have been done to help readers out on this, and maybe not. I came away from the book knowing much more than I did.
I enjoyed this book, which told the story of a forgotten part of the American Civil War, the Confederacy's venture into and attempt to control the American territories of New Mexico and Arizona. The pages are filled with famous names of people and places from American history, filling in gaps in their histories and backstories in an interesting way. Fighting and surviving in the southwestern desert was detailed, battle by battle and march by march, and was nothing like what was going on elsewhere, and Flint Whitlock capably shares the ordeal experienced though both freezing winters and burning summer.
I enjoyed the book. I got confused, though, by all the names and had trouble keeping them straight - who was Union and who was Union and who was Confederate. Maybe something could have been done to help readers out on this, and maybe not. I came away from the book knowing much more than I did.
October 15, 2020
A well done account of the campaign. Coverage is from a more strategic level than I'd expected but the battles of Valverde, Glorieta Pass, and several minor skirmishes are covered with many well done maps. Spends a bit too much time setting the groundwork in the first 50 pages. with enough background on Gilpin to feel like his biography.
Though often referencing other secondary sources, this book does tap some recent scholarship / unearthed accounts.
I'd suggest this for the library of anyone interested in the campaign. For a more casual reader, I'd recommend this as an introduction to the campaign with the caveat of giving it 50 pages or more to really hit its stride.
Though often referencing other secondary sources, this book does tap some recent scholarship / unearthed accounts.
I'd suggest this for the library of anyone interested in the campaign. For a more casual reader, I'd recommend this as an introduction to the campaign with the caveat of giving it 50 pages or more to really hit its stride.
December 29, 2018
I read this for a staff ride for Officer Candidate School and really appreciated the story of the largest Civil War battle of the West and the contribution of the Colorado militia. Covering the major characters that lead or influenced the battle, Flint Whitlock was able to paint history in a way that is both digestible and enjoyable. But, what is better than just reading the book? Having the author travel with you during your staff ride to the battle site in New Mexico. That was a treat that topped off the whole story.
June 28, 2017
Pretty good account of the New Mexico Campaign from the Union perspective. The author did seem to spend an inordinate amount of space on the formation and training of the 1st Colorado Infantry; some information on the formation of the New Mexico regiments would have been nice.
Also, the author omitted discussing the California Column. While it might not have had a direct impact on the campaign, it was still organized and sent into New Mexico due to the Confederate invasion.
Also, the author omitted discussing the California Column. While it might not have had a direct impact on the campaign, it was still organized and sent into New Mexico due to the Confederate invasion.
May 4, 2015
I re-read the story of the 1st Colorado who traveled from Colorado and fought in the Battle at Glorietta Pass in New Mexico. One of the few battles in the Civil War fought in the west. If you are related to me on the Warman side then know that we had a distant relative, Thomas Warman, who served with Company H attached to this unit.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews