Battle of Embudo Pass
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Embudo Pass was part of the Taos Revolt
, a popular insurrection against the American
army's occupation of northern New Mexico. It took place on January 29, 1847, during the Mexican-American War, in what now is New Mexico.
, the local Pueblo
Indians and New Mexicans retreated to Embudo, near present-day Dixon, New Mexico
, where they made another stand in the narrow canyon south of the town.
Finding the road by Embudo impractical for artillery or wagons, Colonel Sterling Price
detached three companies under Captain John H.K. Burgwin
, Captain Ceran St. Vrain
and Lieutenant B.F. White to engage the insurgents and their native warrior allies. The result was a total rout and slaughter of the locals. The battle resulted in one American killed and one wounded. Among the defenders, about 20 killed, 60 wounded. Local tradition states that a series of crosses were chipped into several large rocks marking the spots where defenders were killed. These can still be seen today.
Sterling Price's official report of the battle describes it as follows: "The rapid slopes of the mountains rendered the enemy’s position very strong, and its strength was increased by the dense masses of cedar and large fragments of rock which everywhere offered shelter. The action was commenced by Capt. St. Vrain, who, dismounting his men, ascended the mountain on the left doing much execution. Flanking parties were thrown out on either side, commanded respectively by Lieut. White, 2d regiment Missouri mounted volunteers, and by Lieutenants Mellvaine and Taylor, 1st dragoons. These parties ascended the hill rapidly, and the enemy soon began to retire in the direction of Embudo, bounding along the steep and rugged sides of the mountains with a speed that defied pursuit. The firing at the pass of Embudo had been heard at La Joya, [now called "Velarde"] and Captain Slack, with twenty-five mounted men had been immediately dispatched thither. He now arrived, and rendered excellent service by relieving Lieutenant White whose men were much fatigued. Lieutenants Mellvaine and Taylor were also recalled; and Lieutenant Ingalls was directed to lead a flanking party on the right slope, while Captain Slack performed the same duty on the left. The enemy having by this time retreated beyond our reach, Captain Burgwin marched through the defile
and debouch
ed into the open valley in which Embudo is situated, recalled the flanking parties, and entered that town without opposition, several persons meeting him with a white flag." Price's forces then marched on to Taos where they engaged in the Siege of Pueblo de Taos
.
Taos Revolt
The Taos Revolt was a popular insurrection in January 1847 by Mexicans and Pueblo allies against the United States' occupation of present-day northern New Mexico during the Mexican–American War. In two short campaigns, United States troops and militia crushed the rebellion of the Mexicans and...
, a popular insurrection against the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
army's occupation of northern New Mexico. It took place on January 29, 1847, during the Mexican-American War, in what now is New Mexico.
Battle
Following the Battle of CañadaBattle of Cañada
The Battle of Cañada was part of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the American occupation of New Mexico by Mexicans and Pueblo Indians...
, the local Pueblo
Pueblo
Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...
Indians and New Mexicans retreated to Embudo, near present-day Dixon, New Mexico
Dixon, New Mexico
Dixon is an unincorporated village located in Rio Arriba County in the U.S. state of New Mexico, on NM Highway 75, just east of NM Highway 68 in the north-central part of the state, at Latitude 36.20 & Longitude -105.89. The elevation of Dixon is 6028 feet above sea level...
, where they made another stand in the narrow canyon south of the town.
Finding the road by Embudo impractical for artillery or wagons, Colonel Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
detached three companies under Captain John H.K. Burgwin
John Burgwin
John Henry K. Burgwin, American soldier, was a Second Lieutenant in 1833 when the US 1st Dragoons were established. He then served at Fort Gibson, in what is now Oklahoma. In 1847 he was a Captain in the 1st Dragoons, serving under Colonel Sterling Price...
, Captain Ceran St. Vrain
Ceran St. Vrain
Ceran St. Vrain , also known as Ceran de Hault de Lassus de St. Vrain, was a major fur trader near Taos, New Mexico, where he and his partner William Bent established the trading post of Bent's Fort. St...
and Lieutenant B.F. White to engage the insurgents and their native warrior allies. The result was a total rout and slaughter of the locals. The battle resulted in one American killed and one wounded. Among the defenders, about 20 killed, 60 wounded. Local tradition states that a series of crosses were chipped into several large rocks marking the spots where defenders were killed. These can still be seen today.
Sterling Price's official report of the battle describes it as follows: "The rapid slopes of the mountains rendered the enemy’s position very strong, and its strength was increased by the dense masses of cedar and large fragments of rock which everywhere offered shelter. The action was commenced by Capt. St. Vrain, who, dismounting his men, ascended the mountain on the left doing much execution. Flanking parties were thrown out on either side, commanded respectively by Lieut. White, 2d regiment Missouri mounted volunteers, and by Lieutenants Mellvaine and Taylor, 1st dragoons. These parties ascended the hill rapidly, and the enemy soon began to retire in the direction of Embudo, bounding along the steep and rugged sides of the mountains with a speed that defied pursuit. The firing at the pass of Embudo had been heard at La Joya, [now called "Velarde"] and Captain Slack, with twenty-five mounted men had been immediately dispatched thither. He now arrived, and rendered excellent service by relieving Lieutenant White whose men were much fatigued. Lieutenants Mellvaine and Taylor were also recalled; and Lieutenant Ingalls was directed to lead a flanking party on the right slope, while Captain Slack performed the same duty on the left. The enemy having by this time retreated beyond our reach, Captain Burgwin marched through the defile
Defile (geography)
Defile is a geographic term for a narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills. It has its origins as a military description of a pass through which troops can march only in a narrow column or with a narrow front...
and debouch
Debouch
Debouch is a term used in river and stream geography, and the military.-Geography:In fluvial geography, a debouch is a place where a body of water pours forth from a narrow opening...
ed into the open valley in which Embudo is situated, recalled the flanking parties, and entered that town without opposition, several persons meeting him with a white flag." Price's forces then marched on to Taos where they engaged in the Siege of Pueblo de Taos
Siege of Pueblo de Taos
The Siege of Pueblo de Taos was the final battle during the main phase of the Taos Revolt, an insurrection against the United States during the Mexican-American War. It was also the final major engagement between American forces and insurgent forces in New Mexico during the war...
.