I believe the first Peralta in North America was Don Pedro de Peralta, governor of New Mexico and founder of Santa Fe in 1610. Peraltas were not that common in New Mexico's early days. The only Miguel I've found was a soldier who, along with his brother Andres and their father Pedro, was killed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. In 1850, it was thought that only one man named Peralta lived in New Mexico at the time.
History of the Town of Peralta, NM
The Peralta that I am writing about was a fanatically loyal Spanish solider who was stationed in Havana and there married Maria de los Dolores y Formayer in 1787. After the marriage, he and his wife are transferred to Spanish New Orleans where they remained and had three children. These three would be generation one (born in North America).
As far as Peraltas in New Mexico circa 1850, it may surprise you learn that there were 17 soldiers named Peralta who fought for the North during the War of 1861-65. Look at where they served.
Peralta , Cacimiro
Battle Unit Name:
1st Battalion, Arizona Infantry
Side:Union
Peralta , Jose
Battle Unit Name:
1st Regiment, New Mexico Infantry (New)
Side:Union
Alternate Name:Jose/Peralto
1st Regiment, New Mexico Infantry (New)
Overview:
Organized at October 1, 1863. Attached to Department of New Mexico and on garrison duty by detachments at Forts Union, Solden, Craig, Bowie, Cummings, McRae, Goodwin and other points in that Department during entire term of service. (Co. "K" at Fort Lyon, Colo., September, 1864, to February, 1865.) Expedition from Fort Craig, N.M., to Fort Goodwin, Ariz., May 16 to August 2, 1864 (Co. "I"). Expedition to Pinal Mountains July 18-August 17, 1864 (Detachment Co. "I"). Expedition to Pinal Creek August 1-5, 1864. Expedition from Fort Craig to Fort Goodwin, Ariz., October 1-November 27, 1864. Mustered out November 7, 1866.
Peralta , Juan
Battle Unit Name:
1st Regiment, New Mexico Infantry (New)
Side:Union
Peralta , Pedro
Battle Unit Name:
1st Regiment, New Mexico Infantry (New)
Side:Union
Alternate Name:Pedro/Peralto
Peralta , Juan
Battle Unit Name:
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Side:Union
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Overview: Ordered at Santa Fe, N.M., July and August, 1861. Attached to Dept. of Mexico. Duty at Fort Craig, N.M., till February, 1862. Action at
Valverde, N.M., February 21, 1862
. Pursuit of Confederate forces April 13-22. Action at Peralta April 15, and at Socorro April 25. Duty in Central, Northern and Santa Fe Districts till May. Consolidated with 1st New Mexico Infantry to form 1st New Mexico Cavalry May 31, 1862.
Peralta , Juan Augustin
Battle Unit Name:
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Side:Union
Peralta , Jose Ygnacio
Battle Unit Name:
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Side:Union
Alternate Name:Ignacio/Peralta
Peralta , Tomas
Battle Unit Name:
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Side:Union
Alternate Name:Tomas/Peralto
Peralta , Crispin
Battle Unit Name:
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Side:Union
Peralta , Felipe
Battle Unit Name:
2nd Regiment, New Mexico Infantry
Side:Union
Peralta , Jose
Battle Unit Name:
3rd Regiment, New Mexico Mounted Infantry
Side:Union
3rd Regiment, New Mexico Mounted Infantry
Overview: Organized at Fort Union and Albuquerque, N.M., August 30-October 10, 1861. Duty at Fort Union till February, 1862. Action at
Valverde, N.M., February 21.
Pursuit of Confederate forces April 13-22. Duty in Central, Northern and Santa Fe Districts till May. Mustered out May 31, 1862.
Peralta , Fernando
Battle Unit Name:
Gonzales' Independent Company, New Mexico Militia
Side:Union
Gonzales' Independent Company, New Mexico Militia
Overview: Organized at Fort Craig, N.M., November 23, 1861, for the defense of New Mexico. Mustered out February 28, 1862.
Peralta , Jose Miguel
Battle Unit Name:
Perea's Battalion, New Mexico Militia Infantry
Side:Union
Perea's Battalion, New Mexico Militia Infantry
Overview: Organized at large November and December, 1861, for the defense of New Mexico. Mustered out February 28, 1862.
Peralta , Juan
Battle Unit Name:
Perea's Battalion, New Mexico Militia Infantry
Side:Union
Peralta , Cornelio
Battle Unit Name:
Tafolla's Independent Company, New Mexico Militia (3 months, 1861-62)
Side:Union
Tafolla's Independent Company, New Mexico Militia (3 months, 1861-62)
Overview: Organized at Fort Craig, N.M., November 20, 1861, for the defense of New Mexico. Mustered out February 28, 1862.
Peralta , Juan Jose
Battle Unit Name:
Tafolla's Independent Company, New Mexico Militia (3 months, 1861-62)
Side:Union
Peralta , Rumalda
Battle Unit Name:
Tafolla's Independent Company, New Mexico Militia (3 months, 1861-62)
Side:Union
And fighting for the South:
Peralta , John
Battle Unit Name:
7th Battalion, Louisiana Infantry
Side:Confederacy
"Peralta, John,Sergt. Co. A, 7th Battn. La. Inf. En. April 22, 1861, New Orleans, La. Present on Rolls to Dec., 1861"
http://www.youngsanders.org/pnames.pdf
7th Battalion, Louisiana Infantry
Overview: 7th Infantry Battalion [also called St.Paul's Foot Rifles] was organized before the war and entered Confederate service during the summer of 1861. The men were from New Orleans and Iberville and Jefferson parishes. Originally a six-company battalion, Companies C and D were sent to Virginia and the other four served in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The two companies in Virginia fought at
Williamsburg and
Seven Pines, then merged into the 15th Louisiana Infantry Regiment.
The four serving in the West disbanded during August, 1862. It was commanded by acting Majors McGavock Goodwyn and Henry St. Paul.
Peralta , A. T.
Battle Unit Name:
Pointe Coupee Artillery, Louisiana
Side:Confederacy
Alternate Name:Francis E./Peralta
Peralta , Francis E.
Battle Unit Name:
Pointe Coupee Artillery, Louisiana
Side:Confederacy
"Peralta, Francis E.,Pvt. Pointe Coupee Arty. La. En. Sept. 9, 1861, Columbus, Ky. Present on Rolls to Dec., 1861. Roll March and April, 1864, Present. Roll dated Aug. 31, 1864, Absent, wounded at Resaca, now in Hospl. since May 14, 1864. On Roll of Prisoners of War, Paroled at Merldian, Miss., May 11, 1865. Res. Baton Rouge, La"
http://www.youngsanders.org/pnames.pdf
Pointe Coupee Artillery, Louisiana
Overview: Pointe Coupee Artillery Battalion was organized in November, 1861 with three companies. Its members were recruited in Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and Concordia parishes. Captain R.A. Stewart's Company fought at
Belmont, then the battalion was captured at
Island No. 10 in April, 1862. Exchanged at Grenada, Mississippi, it contained 165 officers and men in June. Later it was assigned to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and during the siege of
Vicksburg it lost 4 killed and 5 wounded. After it was exchanged again, the battalion was consolidated into one company. It then joined the Army of Tennessee and was active in the Atlanta, Tennessee, and North Carolina Campaigns. With less than 25 men it surrendered on April 26, 1865. Captains Alcide Bouanchaud, W.A. Davidson, and Alexander Chust were in command.
Conclusions:
Up to 17 Peralta men from New Mexico and perhaps one from Arizona, joined Union forces in their effort to stop Sibley from taking the territory.