Sherod Hunter (1824 – 1883) was an American soldier who served as a Confederate States Army officer during the American Civil War. He is best known for his command of Confederate forces in the Arizona Territory, where he led a small but active campaign to secure the region for the Confederacy and engaged in skirmishes with Union forces, most notably at the Battle of Picacho Pass.
Early Life and Background
Sherod Hunter was born in Tennessee in 1824. By the 1850s, he had migrated to Texas, where he was involved in various activities, including ranching and serving in local militias. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was living in the western part of Texas, an area with strong Confederate sympathies and strategic importance due to its proximity to the New Mexico and Arizona Territories.
American Civil War
Hunter's military career began in earnest with the secession of Texas and the formation of the Confederate States of America. He joined the Confederate Army and quickly rose through the ranks.
Arizona Campaign
In 1862, Hunter, then a Captain, was given command of a company of Arizona Confederates, known as the "Arizona Rangers" or "Sherod Hunter's Arizona Volunteers." His mission was to secure the Arizona Territory, which had been declared a Confederate territory, and to disrupt Union movements.
- Occupation of Tucson: In February 1862, Hunter led his forces into Tucson, Arizona, which he occupied and declared the capital of Confederate Arizona. From Tucson, he established a military presence, levied taxes, and attempted to raise additional troops.
- Expansion and Skirmishes: Hunter's forces pushed westward, establishing outposts and patrolling the crucial overland routes. He aimed to control the Gila River and prevent Union forces from California (the California Column) from advancing eastward.
- Battle of Picacho Pass: On April 15, 1862, a detachment of Hunter's men engaged a Union patrol from the California Column at Picacho Pass, approximately 50 miles northwest of Tucson. This skirmish, though small in scale, is notable as the westernmost battle of the American Civil War. The Confederates, despite being outnumbered, managed to inflict casualties and capture some Union soldiers before withdrawing.
- Withdrawal: Despite initial successes and the symbolic occupation of Tucson, Hunter's forces were ultimately too small to hold the territory against the advancing California Column, which significantly outnumbered them. By May 1862, Hunter was compelled to evacuate Tucson and withdraw his command eastward into Confederate Texas and New Mexico.
Later Service
After the Arizona Campaign, Hunter continued to serve in the Confederate Army. He participated in various engagements in the Trans-Mississippi Department, including actions related to the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, where he commanded troops under General Richard Taylor. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by the end of the war.
Post-War Life
Following the Confederacy's surrender in 1865, Sherod Hunter returned to civilian life. He settled in Texas, where he lived a relatively quiet life. He died in 1883.
Legacy
Sherod Hunter's command in the Arizona Territory represents a brief but significant chapter in the Confederate effort to expand its control into the American Southwest. His actions, particularly the occupation of Tucson and the skirmish at Picacho Pass, remain a notable part of Arizona's Civil War history.