Skirmish at Apache Canyon, New Mexico Territory (1)
Skirmish at Apache Canyon, New Mexico Territory
- Multiple units skirmish at Apache Canyon in present day Santa Fe and San Miguel counties in New Mexico on March 26, 1862
- Dates also listed as intermittently between March 26-28, 1862
- Also referred to as the Skirmish near Santa Fe, Actions at Apache Canyon
- There is an Apache Pass in Northern New Mexico and Southern Arizona, difficult to tell which is which
Pyron's force of 300 camped at Apache Canyon, at one end of Glorieta Pass, leaving a picket post of 50 men at the summit of the pass. Chivington led 418 soldiers to the pass and, on the morning of March 26, moved out to attack. After noon Chivington's men captured the picket post and found the main force behind them. Chivington advanced on them, but their artillery fire threw him back. He regrouped, split his force to the two sides of the pass, caught the Confederates in a crossfire, and soon forced them to retire. Pyron retired about a mile and a half (about 2=1/2 kilometers) to a narrow section of the pass and formed a defensive line before Chivington's men appeared. The Union forces flanked Pyron's men again and punished them with enfilade fire. Pyron ordered another retreat, but the withdrawal of the artillery caused the Confederates to become disorganized and start fighting in separate clusters of men. Chivington ordered a mounted Colorado company to make a frontal charge against the artillery; this succeeded in capturing several Confederates and scattering the rest. Not knowing if Confederate reinforcements were nearby, Chivington then retired and went into camp at Kozlowski's Ranch to await Slough with the main body. His small victory was a morale boost for Slough's army.
No fighting occurred the next day, as reinforcements arrived for both sides. Scurry's troops arrived at 3:00 am on March 27, swelling the Confederate force to about 1,100 men and five cannons; as senior officer present, he took command of the entire Confederate force. Thinking that Slough would attack again and expecting Green to arrive in the Union rear at any time, Scurry chose to remain in place for the day, digging rifle pits. Slough arrived early in the morning of March 28 with about 900 more men, bringing the Union strength to 1,300.
Sub-Operations
- This engagement is part of the
The New Mexico Campaign
from December 20, 1861-July 1, 1862
Union Troops
- 1st Colorado Cavalry / Company C
- 1st Colorado Infantry / Companies A/D/E
- 2nd Colorado Infantry (Not referenced on Dyer, but listed on unit homepage)
- 1st United States Cavalry / Companies D/G
- 3rd United States Cavalry / Companies C/D/E/K
Confederate Troops
- This feature is not yet available. Check back soon for updates!
Casualties
- Union loss: 32 killed, 75 wounded, 35 missing = Total 142 (Includes losses from
Engagement at Glorietta Pass, New Mexico Territory
on March 28, 1862)
Sources
- Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Pages 595, 647, 615, 983)
- Engagements in the War of the Rebellion
- Engagements in New Mexico
- Engagements in Santa Fe County, New Mexico
- Engagements in San Miguel County, New Mexico
- Skirmishes in New Mexico
- Skirmishes in Santa Fe County, New Mexico
- Skirmishes in San Miguel County, New Mexico
- Engagements in 1862
- Engagements on March 26, 1862
- Source: ACWR 595
- Source: ACWR 647
- Source: ACWR 615
- Source: ACWR 983