The Battle of Valverde was an American Civil War battle fought from February 20 to February 21, 1862. It was fought near the present day town of Valverde, New Mexico. This town was at a ford across the Rio Grande river in what was at the time Confederate Arizona. The battle was a major success in the New Mexico campaign of the Southern states. The Confederate cavalry from Texas and several companies of Arizona militia fought Union Army regulars and Union volunteers from northern New Mexico and Colorado. Colonel Kit Carson commanded the 1st New Mexico (Union) Infantry.