Anthony bm. "Edward Richard Sprigg Canby was born in Kentucky in 1817. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1839, he saw action in both the Seminole War and the Mexican War. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Canby was appointed commander of the Department of New Mexico where he successfully prevented Confederate forces from occupying the New Mexico Territory by defeating them at the Battle of Glorieta Pass on March 28, 1862.As a result of this important victory, Canby was promoted to brigadier general and sent to