Fort Bliss Research Articles

Blood and Treasure: Confederate Empire in the Southwest

For decades before the Civil War, Southern writers and warriors had been urging the occupation and development of the American Southwest. When the rift between North and South had been finalized in secession, the Confederacy moved to extend their traditions to the west-a long-sought goal that had been frustrated by northern states. It was a common sentiment among Southerners and especially Texans that Mexico must be rescued from indolent inhabitants and granted the benefits of American civilization. Blood and Treasure , written in a readable narrative style that belies the rigorous research behind it, tells the story of the Confederacy's ambitious plan to extend a Confederate empire across the continent. Led by Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, later a governor of Arizona, and General H. H. Sibley, Texan soldiers trekked from San Antonio to Fort Bliss in El Paso, then north along the Rio Grande to Santa Fe. Fighting both Apaches and Federal troops, the half-trained, undisciplined army met success at the Battle of Val Verde and defeat at the Battle of Apache Canyon. Finally, the Texans won the Battle of Glorieta Pass, only to lose their supply train--and eventually the campaign. Pursued and dispirited, the Confederates abandoned their dream of empire and retreated to El Paso and San Antonio. Frazier has made use of previously untapped primary sources, allowing him to present new interpretations of the famous Civil War battles in the Southwest. Using narratives of veterans of the campaign and official Confederate and Union documents, the author explains how this seemingly far-fetched fantasy of building a Confederate empire was an essential part of the Confederate strategy. Military historians will be challenged to modify traditional views of Confederate imperial ambitions. Generalists will be drawn into the fascinating saga of the soldiers' fears, despair, and struggles to survive.

Interspecific Cooperative Nesting between Barn Swallows and Say's Phoebes in South-Central New Mexico

Intraspecific cooperative nesting is not a common event in the avian world, although it is well documented in species like the Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus; Koenig et al. 1984) and Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus; Gibbons 1986). Intraspecific cooperative nesting occurs when more than two birds of the same species take part in providing parental care to rear the young (Emlen and Vehrencamp 1983). Our purpose is to document an observation of interspecific cooperative nesting between a pair of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and a Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya). We have found no published records that document interspecific cooperative nesting in birds. This event is even more unusual in that Say's Phoebes often usurp Barn Swallow nests (Bent 1942). In late March 1993, a pair of Say's Phoebes built a nest atop an old Barn Swallow nest at our housing facilities at the Orogrande base camp on the Fort Bliss Military Reservation. The nest was located at the juncture of two steel girders supporting the roof. Orogrande is located in south-central New Mexico, approximately 96 km north of El Paso, Texas. Adjacent habitat is Chihuahuan Desert scrub (Shreve 1942) and desert grassland (Budd et al. 1979). After fledging one of three young in late April, the phoebes left the general area and were observed occasionally foraging from surrounding poles and utility wires. A short time after the phoebe fledged, Barn Swallows began to occupy and restore other nearby swallow nests with no apparent interest in the phoebe nest. On 13 June, we observed Barn Swallows lining the phoebe nest with feathers. Barn Swallows commonly line their nests with feathers, but phoebes do not (Terres 1991). On 15 June, we discovered a Barn Swallow egg in the phoebe nest. Because nest reuse occasionally occurs in birds (Butler 1980, Butler and Campbell 1987, Shields et al. 1988), the fact that the Barn Swallows were using the phoebe nest did not appear odd. However, later that same day, a Say's Phoebe was observed on the nest. We checked the nest using a mirror and saw that a Barn Swallow egg

Effects of meteorological parameters on adequate evaluation of the thermal environment

1. 1.|Field measurements of the thermal environment were made during an outdoor study of eight subjects conducted at Fort Bliss, TX, U.S.A. 2. 2.|Meteorological parameters measured were temperatures, solar radiation, wind speed and humidity. 3. 3.|On two consecutive days, the rise in rectal temperatures for subjects wearing comparable chemical protective garments and carrying 22 kg loads averaged 0.5°Ch −1 vs 0.2°Ch −1. 4. 4.|The difference may be attributable to differences of 2.7°C in dewpoint temperature and 1.2 ms −1 in wind speed, indicating that a small difference in meterological parameters can have an impact on individuals' thermal responses.

Archeological Survey and Monitoring of JTF-6 Road Improvements, Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, Texas

This report presents the results of cultural resource survey and monitoring activities performed in conjunction with a Department of Defense Joint Task Force Six (JTF-6) project near Sierra Blanca in Hudspeth County, Texas. These cultural resource investigations were initiated by a request from the U.S. Border Patrol of Sierra Blanca, Texas for planned improvements to 50.3 km (31.25 miles) of existing roads. The goal was to improve the U.S. Border Patrol's effectiveness in monitoring and controlling the ongoing drug trafficking activities along the U.S.-Mexico International Border. The road repair and historic preservation efforts were coordinated by JTF-6, based at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District. Cultural resource survey and monitoring were tailored to focus on the areas to be disturbed by road repair activities and to identify cultural resource sites which were to be avoided during these activities. The survey and monitoring resulted in the recording of two prehistoric sites and 19 localities. The two sites, 41HZ499 and 41HZ500, exhibited a low density surface lithic scatter. Until the potential for subsurface deposits at these two sites is evaluated, both must be considered to be of "unknown" eligibility for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, it is recommended that these sites continue to be avoided until a formal determination of their eligibility can be made through test excavations.

Field Assessment of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature: Present and Future

Abstract : Existing doctrinal guidance for preventing heat injury in military settings is based on measurements of the Wet Bult Globe Temperature (WGBT) index.. An existing military WGBT measurement device (NSN 6665-00-159-2218) was employed by a U.S. Army Reserve unit during field training exercises at Fort Bliss, TX in 1986, Tinker AFB, OK in 1987, and Fort Hood, TX in 1988. The majority of heat casualties seen in these three exercises (31 out of 35) occurred when the daily maximum WBGT index exceeded 85 F. Experiences of this unit suggest that a strictly enforced, WBGT-based, heat injury prevention program was effective in minimizing both the number and severity of heat injury prevention program was effective in minimizing both the number and severity of heat-related injuries. During the exercises at Fort Hood in 1988, a preliminary evaluation of methods to obtain WGBT information from polar orbiting weather satellites was conducted. Data from 11 satellite passes were obtained and the average error, or bias, of the satellite-derived WGBT values was found to be -1. 8 F (too low) with a variation (standard deviation) of + or - 3.7 F around that bias. Work is in progress to improve this future heat stress assessment technology. Heat stress, WGBT index, Heat injury prevention, RA III.

Metazoan Parasites of Himantopus mexicanus Muller (Aves) from Southwestern Texas, with a Checklist of Helminth Parasites from North America

Nineteen species of helminths were recovered from 34 of 35 black-necked stilts, Himantopus mexicanus Muller, collected from the Fort Bliss ponds, El Paso County, Texas. New host records are marked with an. The species identified were: Acoleus vaginatus, Davainea himantopodis, Diplophallus polymorphus, Eurycestus avoceti, Hymenolepis himantopodis, Hymenolepis sp. 1, Infula macrophallus, Coacitrema michiganensis, Cyclocoelum lanceolatum, Notocotylus sp., Parastrigea mexicanus, Tanaisia fedtschenkoi, Capillaria sp., C. anatis, C. contorta, C. mergi, Chevreuxia americana, Eustronglydes mergorum, and Splendidofilaria sp. Six species of mallophagan lice and 1 species of nasal mite, Rhinonyssus himantopus, were recovered. Helminths showed little concentration for dominance (0.09), were not very evenly distributed (0.49 +/- 0.08) nor very diverse (0.73 +/- 0.14), and most species were highly aggregated. The helminth community consisted of an unusually large number of core species (10). Three large species of tapeworms exhibited mostly paired infections, were mutually exclusive, and were negatively associated (-1).

Evolution of U.S. Strategic Bombing of Urban Areas

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsConrad C. CraneThe author holds the rank of Major in the US. Army and is the Military Historian for the Combined Arms and Tactics Department of the US. Army Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Bliss, Texas. He just completed a tour as an Assistant Professor of History at the US. Military Academy at West Point.

Ozone Concentrations in El Paso, Texas

El Paso, Texas may have a problem in meeting ambient air standards due to influx of pollutants from foreign sources. Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, and Fort Bliss abut the city and are areas over which the Texas Air Control Board (TACB) has little or no jurisdiction. The Board maintains two Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CAM) in El Paso. Ozone, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide data were obtained from these stations. If the EPA Empirical Kinetic Model is used for El Paso, reducing NMHC concentrations may increase rather than decrease O/sub 3/ concentrations. The Texas State Implementation Plan, while not based on Empirical Kinetic Modeling, calls for a reduction of 18% in NMHC. However, 31% of all NMHC in El Paso arise from sources over which Texas had little (a federal military reservation) or no (Cd. Juarez) jurisdiction. It appears the TACB is correct in believing the SIP for O/sub 3/ may not bring El Paso into compliance. (JMT)

Fort Bliss: An Illustrated History

Journal Article Fort Bliss: An Illustrated History Get access Fort Bliss: An Illustrated History. By Metz Leon C.. (El Paso: Mangan Books, 1981. 180 pp. Illustrations, maps, appendix, bibliography, index. $34.95.) J'Nell L. Pate J'Nell L. Pate Tarrant County Junior College, Fort Worth, Texas Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Western Historical Quarterly, Volume 13, Issue 4, October 1982, Page 439, https://doi.org/10.2307/968701 Published: 01 October 1982

PI under a feedback schedule

NSPI JournalVolume 5, Issue 2 p. 14-15 Article PI under a feedback schedule William H. Melching, William H. Melching Human Resources Research Office, Fort Bliss, TexasSearch for more papers by this author William H. Melching, William H. Melching Human Resources Research Office, Fort Bliss, TexasSearch for more papers by this author First published: February 1966 https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.4180050209Citations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume5, Issue2February 1966Pages 14-15 RelatedInformation

Albuminuria and hematuria in boxers.

The literature contains only a few reports concerning albuminuria and hematuria in boxers. The first article, reporting on 103 boxers, appeared in 1954. 1 Since then, only one further study has been made, on a larger series of 764 fighters. 2 A recent Army boxing tournament at Fort Bliss, Texas, afforded the opportunity to study the problem further; the present study is the first report concerning amateur boxers. Materials and Method Forty-three paired specimens of urine were obtained from 35 boxers, one before and one immediately after each bout. Five boxers fought two bouts and one participated in three bouts. The urine specimens were tested for blood with the benzidine test and screened for albumin with use of Uristix strips. We used the criteria of Hepler 3 who stated that results of the benzidine test for blood are considered positive only if the urine contains 12 or more erythrocytes per

The Skirmish of Picacho

The author, a recent doctoral graduate of Louisiana State University, is working on a study of the Confederacy in the Southwest. He ? Assistant Professor of Social Science at Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College. The Skirmish of Picacho MARTIN HARDWICK HALL at the outbreak of the civil war New Mexico was a vast territory which consisted roughly of the present-day states of Arizona and New Mexico. For several years the people living in the Gadsden Purchase area, commonly called Arizona, had been unsuccessfully agitating for separate territorial status.1 Within a few weeks after the formation of the Confederate States of America, the Anglo-Saxon element of Arizona, largely Southern in origin,* held "secession" conventions in Mesilla and Tucson. Both bodies voted in favor of separation from New Mexico and attachment to the newly created Confederacy.8 During the first week of July, 1861, Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, commanding a detachment of about 375 mounted men, occupied Fort Bliss, Texas, for the Confederacy. Forty miles to the north, in New Mexico, lay Fort Fillmore, which was held by a much larger force of Union troops. In a brief campaign, Baylor succeeded in capturing the whole enemy garrison , thereby bringing practically all of southern New Mexico under Confederate military control.* Shortly, Baylor gave expression to the desires of the populace by creating the Confederate Territory of Arizona. In anticipation of approval from Richmond, Baylor assumed the office of governor and designated Mesilla the territorial capital.5 1 Hubert H. Bancroft, History of Arizona and New Mexico, /530-/888 (San Francisco: The Hickory Co, 1889), pp. 504-8. 2 Loomis M. Ganaway, New Mexico and the Sectional Controversy, 1846-1861 (Albuquerque : University of New Mexico Press, 1944), pp. 107-8. s Bancroft, op. cit., p. 511; Mailla [N. Mex.] Times, March 30, 1861. * Baylor to Washington, September 21, 1861, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901), Ser. I, Vol. 4, pp. 16ff.; hereinafter cited as O.R., followed by the series number in roman numerals, the volume number In arable, the part number (¡f any), and the page, as O.R., I, 4, pp. 16ff. 8 Proclamation to the People of the Territory of Arizona, August 1, 1861, OJJ., Ì, 4, pp. 20-21. 27 28MARTINHARDWICKHALL Baylor's campaign proved to be only a preliminary, for Confederate plans soon called for far more than just the annexation of Arizona. During the month of December, 1861, General Henry Hopkins Sibley arrived with a brigade of mounted troops.6 His immediate objective was to defeat the remaining Union armies in northern New Mexico and to bring all the territory under Southern authority. But he did not intend to stop here, for his ultimate aim was the conquest of California. Sibley knew that there were many in southern California who espoused Confederate sympathies. He believed that once he secured New Mexico (and possibly Colorado), his army could easily penetrate southern California. With his brigade augmented by volunteers from that quarter, he felt that he would be able to overcome the Federal forces in the northern part of the state.7 It is true that Sibley's plan was largely visionary, but the importance of conquering California for the Confederacy goes without saying. * * * General Edwin V. Sumner, the Union commander of the Department of the Pacific,8 was concerned about internal dissension in California, for apparently a large portion of the population of the southern part of that state was pro-Confederate. As a security measure Sumner saw to it that many of the volunteer military units which were being raised in the north were stationed in that "disaffected" area.9 Meanwhile, the Union high command in Washington instructed Sumner to raise an expeditionary force in California which would embark from San Francisco, proceed by water to Mexico, and then march overland "to regain the public property in . . . [Texas] and draw off insurgent troops from Arkansas, Missouri," and elsewhere .10 Permission to cross Mexican soil was obtained from the national Mexican government and from the governors of the states involved.11 As Sumner was in the midst of carrying out...

Cameras in the Courtroom

Gilbert Geis is an Assistant Professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma. Lt. Talley, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, is presently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. Both writers are former newspapermen. Dr. Geis was a reporter on the New Brunswick (N. J.) DAILY HOME NEWS in 1947-48, and the Provo (Utah) HERALD during 1948-49. Lt. Talley was a reporter on the Hollywood (Calif.) CITIZEN-NEWS from 1949 to 1952.-EDITOR

Two treatment failures using diethylstibestrol in treatment of coccidioidomycosis.

Diethylstilbestrol has been used successfully by Curtis and Harrell1in the treatment of two cases of blastomycoses. The rationale for using female hormones for the treatment of deep mycoses is (a) the low incidence of deep mycoses in females, and (b) the in vitro fungistatic activity of these hormones. Bocobo, Curtis, and Harrell2reported excellent results on the in vitro fungistatic activity of diethylstilbestrol on Coccidioides immitis. These two cases of coccidioidomycosis which were treated with large doses of diethylstilbestrol are reported because of the effects from administering 100 mg. per day for relatively long periods and the failure of this hormone in altering the disease. REPORT OF CASES Case1.—A 25-year-old Negro (Fig. 1) was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, for one year. During that time he was on maneuvers in desert-like areas. In July, 1951, he was transferred to Germany. In August, 1951, he

Infectious mononucleosis in the Negro: A review of the literature with a report of nine cases

Summary 1. Nine cases of infectious mononucleosis in Negroes are reported. Eight of these were serologically confirmed. 2. These cases bring the total of sporadic cases reported to twenty-nine. Including the epidemic of forty-nine cases in 1945 at Fort Bliss, Texas, the total of cases in the Negro reaches seventy-eight reported throughout the literature. 3. Infectious mononucleosis at this hospital is at least as common in Negro children as in white children. 4. The majority of these patients were admitted because of suspected diphtheria. 5. This series further substantiates the conclusions made in 1945, that infectious mononucleosis is relatively as common in the Negro as in the white.