Duk da yake da alama suna zaune a gefen fagen yaƙi, sojojin Colorado sun sami kansu cikin matsayi mai mahimmanci a cikin 1862 bayan mamayewar Confederate na New Mexico Territory da Janar Henry Sibley da rundunar Texans. An yi niyyar yakin New Mexico na Sibley a matsayin farkon mamayewa na Yankin Colorado zuwa arewa zuwa Fort Laramie, yanke hanyoyin samar da kayayyaki tsakanin California da sauran Union.
California da sauran Tarayyar