Red River Canyon Affair
Encyclopedia
The Red River Canyon Affair, or the Battle of Red River Canyon, was a military action fought during the Taos Revolt
of the Mexican-American War. In May 1847, American
troops, traveling through northern New Mexico
, were attacked by a combined force of New Mexican militia
with their Pueblo
, Apache
, Kiowa
, and Comanche
allies.
, the American army had thought the rebel New Mexicans were defeated. This was true until the Taos rebels regrouped for another campaign.
On the May 26, 1847, United States Army
Major
Edmondson, with a company
of two hundred infantry
and cavalry
under two captains named Holaway and Robinson, were marching at almost sunset along the Red River
. They just entered Red River Canyon
when ambushed by an estimated 500 New Mexicans and natives. This according to reports given to Colonel
Alexander Doniphan, a commander during the New Mexican Campaign.
The New Mexicans and natives were repulsed but would soon come back. The New Mexicans and their native friends returned and launched an assault on the American position. The Americans slowly made an organized retreat, the withdrawal was covered by a Lieutenant Elliot and his force of Rangers. Being completely dark, the United States Army fell back a few hundred paces and occupied a hill with good defenses.
Ammunition was redistributed and the Americans were ordered to rest until the sun came up. When the sun arose the Americans reformed for entering the canyon. Once entering, the United States men discovered that the New Mexican and natives had retreated just before their arrival.
.
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...
of the Mexican-American War. In May 1847, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops, traveling through northern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, were attacked by a combined force of New Mexican militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
with their 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...
, Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
, Kiowa
Kiowa
The Kiowa are a nation of American Indians and indigenous people of the Great Plains. They migrated from the northern plains to the southern plains in the late 17th century. In 1867, the Kiowa moved to a reservation in southwestern Oklahoma...
, and Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
allies.
Background
After the Siege of Pueblo de TaosSiege 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...
, the American army had thought the rebel New Mexicans were defeated. This was true until the Taos rebels regrouped for another campaign.
On the May 26, 1847, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Edmondson, with a company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
of two hundred infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
under two captains named Holaway and Robinson, were marching at almost sunset along the Red River
Red River (New Mexico)
The Red River of New Mexico, USA, is a short, perennial river that flows down the north slope of Mount Wheeler in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, flows west past the towns of Red River and Questa and then south into the Rio Grande just south of the La Junta Campground.The Red River is noted for its...
. They just entered Red River Canyon
Red River (New Mexico)
The Red River of New Mexico, USA, is a short, perennial river that flows down the north slope of Mount Wheeler in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, flows west past the towns of Red River and Questa and then south into the Rio Grande just south of the La Junta Campground.The Red River is noted for its...
when ambushed by an estimated 500 New Mexicans and natives. This according to reports given to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Alexander Doniphan, a commander during the New Mexican Campaign.
Battle
The natives and New Mexicans opened fire and the Americans advanced on them, the cavalry at first was on horseback, the infantry on the ground. Red River Canyon being very narrow and full of thick, deep mud, forced Major Edmundson to dismount his cavalry and proceeded in the attack on foot with the infantry. Now all advancing by means of feet, the Americans pushed forward and began to break up the ambush.The New Mexicans and natives were repulsed but would soon come back. The New Mexicans and their native friends returned and launched an assault on the American position. The Americans slowly made an organized retreat, the withdrawal was covered by a Lieutenant Elliot and his force of Rangers. Being completely dark, the United States Army fell back a few hundred paces and occupied a hill with good defenses.
Ammunition was redistributed and the Americans were ordered to rest until the sun came up. When the sun arose the Americans reformed for entering the canyon. Once entering, the United States men discovered that the New Mexican and natives had retreated just before their arrival.
Aftermath
Seventeen New Mexicans and native Americans were left on the battlefield and counted dead by the Americans, they also reported that several of their enemies had been wounded by musketry but survived. Only one American died in the combat and several others had minor injuries. Smaller battles between Major Edmondson's men and New Mexicans with their native allies would continue to occur for at least a few weeks more, ending with the Battle of Cienega CreekCienega Affair
The Cienega Affair, or the Battle of Cienega Creek, was the last engagement of the Taos Revolt during the Mexican-American War. The battle occurred in July, 1847 and was fought between New Mexican insurgents, Pueblo natives and United States Army troops.-Battle:On July 9, 1847 a detachment of...
.