TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - When most people picture the Civil War, they see rolling fields back East—not the Sonoran Desert. But at Picacho Peak, Union and Confederate troops faced off in what is referred to as the westernmost battle of the war.

The confrontation began with Confederate Captain Hunter, who was sent west to occupy Tucson with only 54 men. Ranger Noah Atterbury of Arizona State Parks said Hunter had to embellish his force’s size to maintain control.

“There was a man named Captain Hunter who was sent out west by the Confederates to occupy Tucson. He only had about fifty-four men, so he had to talk it up a little bit,” Atterbury said.

The rumor swelled Captain Hunter’s 54 troops into more than 800. Word reached California fast, and the Union wasn’t taking chances. They assemb

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