Today in New Mexico History:
August 1, 1861 — Confederate Army Lt. Col. John R. Baylor and a force of Texas Mounted Volunteers proclaimed all of New Mexico south of the 34th parallel as the Territory of Arizona, with La Mesilla, near Las Cruces, as their capital.
Today in New Mexico History:
August 2, 1948 -- Native Americans in New Mexico won the right to vote in the case Trujillo v. Garley (No. 1350, U.S. District Court N.M.).
Today in New Mexico:
August 3, 1837 — Many northern New Mexicans staged a full-fledged revolt, mainly in the Chimayo area, against the Mexican government in protest of unfair taxation and poor military protection.
Today in New Mexico:
Ernie Pyle Day — New Mexico honors Ernie Pyle every August 3rd by law,
NMSA 12-5-4
Today in New Mexico:
August 4, 1854 — The U.S. Congress officially annexed lands of the Gadsden Purchase and added 29 million acres to the southern frontier of New Mexico. A total of $10 million was paid to Mexico according to the treaty signed the previous December in order to avoid another armed conflict between the two countries over the disputed southern boundary of New Mexico after the Mexican War. The United States saw the area as lucrative because of the verdant Mesilla Valley, the ore-rich mines at Santa Rita and prime routes for possible southern transcontinental railway lines.
Today in New Mexico:
August 8, 1837 — Santo Domingo revolutionaries in Santa Fe on Agua Fria Road decapitated Governor Albino Perez. Perez's attempt to impose taxes ordered by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, had sparked the Revolt of 1837.
Today in New Mexico:
August 9, 1916 — Capulin Volcano National Monument was established. Geologists believe the volcano's last eruption occurred between 56,000 and 63,000 years ago.
Today in New Mexico:
August 10, 1680 — The Pueblo Revolt in which Pueblo Indians killed and drove domineering Catholic missionaries, Spanish colonistas and Christianized Indians out of New Mexico began.
Today in New Mexico:
August 11, 1955 — Heavy flash floods hit Albuquerque for the fourth time that summer, flooding downtown and spurring demands for new flood control, which projects were quickly funded. It was the last big flood in Albuquerque.
Today in New Mexico:
August 12, 1955 — The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that a mild earthquake hit the area in the early morning. Moderate damage to some buildings was reported.
Today in New Mexico:
August 13, 1680 — Pope and other Pueblo Indian leaders had established this date to begin the united revolt against Spanish rule in New Mexico. Hostilities began three days early, however, because some messengers were captured. The revolt forced a 12-year Spanish exile from the area.
Today in New Mexico:
August 14, 1937 — The Jicarilla Apache Tribe was issued its charter as a Federal Corporation under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act (Wheeler-Howard Act).
Today in New Mexico:
August 15, 1846 — Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny and his U.S. Army of the American West rode into Las Vegas. Standing atop a building on the Plaza, he announced the American takeover of the New Mexico territory. He required allegiance from local officials if they wished to remain in office.
Today in New Mexico:
August 17, 1773 — Spanish Viceroy Antonio Bucareli allowed northern governors to issue common lands to any who will settle in dangerous areas to act a buffer from hostile Indian tribes. Many New Mexicans took advantage by settling in lands beyond the Rio Grande corridor.
Today in New Mexico:
August 17, 1780 — Jose de Galvez sent a royal dispatch to Teodoro de Croix, commander of the Internal Provinces, including New Mexico, asking all subjects to donate money to help the American Revolution. Millions of pesos were given.
Today in New Mexico:
August 17, 1978 — The first transatlantic balloon trip was completed by three New Mexicans, Max Anderson, Ben Abruzzo, and Larry Newman, all from Albuquerque. Starting from Maine on August 11, they traveled in Double Eagle II over 3,000 miles in 137 hours, landing about 60 miles west of Paris.
Today in New Mexico:
August 18, 1846 — General Stephen W. Kearny and the Army of the West entered Santa Fe, relatively peacefully, and officially conquered New Mexico. A month later the Army departed to take control of California from Mexico.
Today in New Mexico:
August 19, 1941 — New Mexico newspapers announced that the 200th Coast Artillery of the National Guard was leaving Fort Bliss towards a secret destination. Within months and after valiant defense, the 200th would be captured by Japanese forces in the Philippines and begin years of brutal POW captivity.
Today in New Mexico:
August 21, 1680 — Led by wounded Governor Antonio Otermin, some 1,000 Spanish survivors of the Pueblo Revolt abandoned Santa Fe and the casas reales (now the Palace of the Governors), which was under siege by the Indians. The next day the survivors began a long dangerous trek to friendly Isleta Pueblo and then to El Paso.
Today in New Mexico:
August 22, 1776 — Spain reorganized its American territories. New Mexico and the northern areas were now called the Internal Provinces and were taken from the command of the viceroy in Mexico City and placed under the commandant-general in Durango, Mexico.
Today in New Mexico:
August 22, 1846 — General Stephen Kearny established an American-style government with the famous Kearny Code. He guaranteed freedom of religion and protection for private property. His proclamation also sought to reduce the claims of Texas upon much of New Mexico's eastern lands.
Today in New Mexico:
August 23, 1846 — Work started on Fort Marcy, on a promontory 700 yards north of the Santa Fe Plaza. From the fort the entire city was within cannon range.
Today in New Mexico:
August 24, 1821 — The Treaty of Cordoba established Mexican independence from Spain. New Mexicans became official citizens of the Mexican republic rather than subjects of the Spanish monarchy.
Today in New Mexico:
August 27, 1871 — Election Day violence erupted between Republicans and Democrats in La Mesilla, leaving seven dead and 30 wounded, some mortally. U.S. Army troops from nearby Fort Selden were dispatched to restore order.
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