Answer:
At the beginning of the Civil War, New Mexico was a territory of the United States, not yet a state. In 1861, after the Confederate States of America had been established, the territory of New Mexico was in danger of being taken over by Confederate forces. Governor Abraham Rencher requested federal troops to protect the territory, but President James Buchanan refused, leaving the New Mexico government to fend for itself. In response, the New Mexico government formed a volunteer army to defend the territory against Confederate invasion. Later, in 1862, New Mexico was officially recognized as a state of the United States.