Anastacio Duran (1838 - 1906)

Born Apr 1838 in Chaperito, San Miguel County, New Mexico

Died 20 May 1906 at age 68 in Chaperito, San Miguel County, New Mexico

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Biography

Anastacio Duran was born, raised and lived out his life in the area of Chaperito, San Miguel County, New Mexico, located about 32 miles southeast of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Anastacio was known as an expert tracker and hunter from the time he was a boy. He had ranged throughout northern New Mexico so it wasn't a surprise that he became a scout when he volunteered to serve in the New Mexico Union Army during the Civil War.

Colonel Manuel Chaves, known as New Mexico's "Little Lion" for his exploits fighting Navajo, Comanche and Apache Indians over the years, was a commander in New Mexico's Union Army and knew of Anastacio's prowess as a scout. The colonel made him lead scout of his unit. When a large mounted force from Texas invaded New Mexico, Anastacio played a key role in the Battle of Glorieta Pass, southeast of Santa Fe. A plan was devised to take about a third of the Union force and, by crossing a mesa to the south of the pass, attack the rear of the Confederate forces. The Union command turned to Duran to lead the flanking force to get around the main Texas army. The flankers ran right into a golden opportunity when they came upon and were able to attack the Confederate's lightly protected supply train located lower on the pass, destroying the Texan's food, ammunition and gun powder. The battle itself on top of the pass was a standoff, but the victory was the Union's when the Texans realized they would have to retreat back into Texas.

After all the accolades had been handed out concerning who should get the credit for the ultimate Union victory on Glorieta Pass, Anastacio Duran's name was nowhere to be found. There was a lot of animosity between the Caucasian and the Hispanic participants in New Mexico's two Civil War battles. The Union's Caucasian leaders did not give credit where it was due. It was so bad that all of the Union's Hispanic commanders wrote a letter of complaint to the upper leadership in the Union Army, to no avail. These slights are finally being rectified.

Anastacio would marry Petra Crespin in around 1859. The 1870 U.S. Census lists four children (three sons and a daughter) in their household: Narciso, Felicita, Lucio and Luis Duran.

Anastacio Duran passed away in 1906.

Sources

• The Fourth Mesa: Return to Misty Valley, by R. James Roybal, Xlibris Corporation, June 17, 2011. Pages 59-69. [1]

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Glorieta_Pass

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4ZF-JLK : 13 December 2017), Anastacio Duran, 1860.

• "New Mexico Births and Christenings, 1726-1918," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDJ4-2MN : 11 February 2018), Anastasio Duran in entry for Narciso Duran, 29 Oct 1860; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 16,624.

• "New Mexico Births and Christenings, 1726-1918," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V241-YL3 : 11 February 2018), Anastasio Duran in entry for Luis Duran, 21 Jun 1868; citing SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC,ANTON CHICO,GUADALUPE,NEW MEXICO, reference ; FHL microfilm 16,624.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MML3-KB1 : accessed 25 February 2018), Anastacio Duran, Precincts 10, 38, 45 Chaparito, Los Torres, El Aguilar, San Miguel, New Mexico Territory, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 105, sheet 3A, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,002.

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4SS-DYR : 12 April 2016), Anastacio Duran, New Mexico, United States; citing p. 5, family 42, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,394.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MML3-KB1 : accessed 25 February 2018), Anastacio Duran, Precincts 10, 38, 45 Chaparito, Los Torres, El Aguilar, San Miguel, New Mexico Territory, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 105, sheet 3A, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,002.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154260494