Apache War in New Mexico
The vast landscapes of northern New Mexico, characterized by rolling plains, rugged mountains, and winding rivers, were once the domain of the Jicarilla Apache. These nomadic people, skilled hunters and resourceful survivors, traditionally traversed this land freely, their lives intertwined with the rhythm of the seasons and the abundance of the natural world. During the early 1850s, a fragile peace existed between the Jicarilla and the burgeoning American settlements, a coexistence that was, however, increasingly strained.
While officially at peace, the Jicarilla harbored growing resentment towards the encroachment of settlers and the disruption of their traditional way of life. This unease manifested in sporadic raids on isolated homesteads and vulnerable caravans traversing the Santa Fe Trail, the vital artery of commerce that stretched northeast from Fort Union. These were not large-scale military operations but rather small, opportunistic forays intended to acquire provisions and livestock, and perhaps more importantly, to assert their presence and challenge the expanding influence of the newcomers. By 1854, these isolated incidents were escalating, threatening to erupt into a full-blown conflict. The whispers of impending war grew louder with each passing month. The Apache War in New Mexico was simmering just below the surface.
The spark that ignited the flames of war came in late February 1854. Lieutenant Colonel Philip St. George Cooke, the commanding officer of Fort Union, received reports of Jicarilla warriors plundering the cattle herd belonging to Samuel Watrous, a crucial supplier of beef to the fort. Watrous’s ranch was a significant economic asset for the region, and the loss of his cattle represented a serious threat to the stability of Fort Union’s food supply. In response, Colonel Cooke dispatched Lieutenant David Bell and a company of twenty-four dragoons from the 2nd Dragoons eastward towards the Canadian River to investigate the alleged Jicarilla depredations. This marked a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the Apache War in New Mexico.
On March 2nd, Lieutenant Bell’s detachment encountered a similarly sized force of Apache warriors led by the chief Lobo Blanco. A fierce skirmish ensued, the clash of steel and the crack of gunfire echoing across the plains. In the brief but intense encounter, Bell’s dragoons managed to inflict significant casualties on the Apache, killing five warriors, including Lobo Blanco, and wounding several others. The remaining Apache, outmatched and overwhelmed, were forced to retreat, leaving behind their fallen leader and comrades. Although a tactical victory for the dragoons, this encounter served only to escalate the tensions and further solidify the resolve of the Jicarilla to resist the encroaching American presence, a key event in the Apache War in New Mexico.
The simmering conflict boiled over a month later, when a larger contingent of Apache warriors ambushed a company of sixty-two dragoons led by Lieutenant John W. Davidson. The ambush occurred on the road between Taos and Santa Fe, a strategic location that allowed the Apache to exploit the terrain to their advantage. The dragoons, caught off guard and unprepared for the sudden assault, suffered heavy losses. When the smoke cleared, twenty-two soldiers lay dead, and thirty-six were wounded, a devastating blow to the U.S. military presence in the region. The scale of the Davidson ambush underscored the growing strength and determination of the Jicarilla Apache, further fueling the Apache War in New Mexico.
The Davidson disaster galvanized the department commander, Brigadier General John Garland, to launch a full-scale offensive against the Jicarilla Apache. The attack demonstrated a clear need for decisive action. Within three hours of receiving news of the ambush, Colonel Cooke mobilized the garrison at Fort Union and marched towards Taos. There, he assembled a formidable force of two hundred dragoons and infantry soldiers, supplemented by thirty Pueblo Indian scouts, renowned for their knowledge of the terrain and their tracking abilities. To further enhance the expedition’s chances of success, Cooke enlisted the services of the legendary frontiersman Kit Carson, who served as a guide, leveraging his extensive knowledge of the region and his understanding of Native American customs. Carson, an agent for the Ute tribe, knew the land intimately. The mobilization of this force marked a significant escalation of the Apache War in New Mexico.
Guided by Kit Carson, Colonel Cooke’s command crossed the Rio Grande and ventured into the rugged, snow-covered mountains, a formidable landscape that presented significant challenges to the pursuing soldiers. The mountains, still gripped by the remnants of winter, were shrouded in fog and buried under deep snowdrifts, making travel arduous and treacherous. The harsh conditions tested the endurance and resolve of the troops as they pressed onward in pursuit of the elusive Jicarilla warriors. The environment itself became an adversary in the Apache War in New Mexico.
On April 8th, Cooke’s forces finally caught up with a band of approximately one hundred and fifty Apache warriors led by Chief Chacon. The Apache had established a defensive position among the rocks and trees on a slope overlooking the Rio Caliente, a strategically advantageous location that allowed them to command the high ground. Undeterred by the challenging terrain, the troops waded through the icy waters of the river and ascended the mountainside, engaging the Apache in a fierce firefight. Lieutenant Bell’s company executed a flanking maneuver, swinging to the left and catching the Apache line in a vulnerable position. The Apache resistance crumbled under the pressure of the determined assault, and the warriors scattered into the surrounding timber, leaving behind five dead and six wounded. The attackers suffered minimal casualties, losing only one soldier killed and one wounded. Despite the victory, Cooke was unable to decisively defeat the Apache in the Apache War in New Mexico.
For the next month, Colonel Cooke led his troops on a relentless campaign, marching and countermarching in a futile attempt to overtake the remaining Apache warriors. However, the rugged terrain, the unpredictable weather, and the elusive nature of the Apache frustrated his efforts. Blizzards, fog, and deep snowdrifts hampered the movement of the troops, exhausting their supplies and weakening their morale. Sickness began to spread through the ranks, and even Cooke himself succumbed to illness. Ultimately, recognizing the futility of the pursuit and the deteriorating condition of his command, Cooke made the difficult decision to call off the chase. The harsh conditions and the Apache’s skill in evading pursuit brought the Apache War in New Mexico to a stalemate.
Although Cooke’s campaign had failed to deliver a decisive victory, it had taken a toll on the Jicarilla Apache. Many warriors, weary of the constant fighting and hardship, chose to surrender. However, a determined core of die-hards remained, continuing to harass settlements and terrorize the countryside. The Apache War in New Mexico was far from over.
In July, Captain George Sykes and fifty-eight dragoons from Fort Union picked up the trail of one such war party and pursued them into the mountains west of the fort. The pursuit led them into a narrow canyon, where they encountered a small group of ten to fifteen Apache warriors. The Apache, realizing they were outnumbered, spurred their ponies up the steep sides of the gorge, seeking to escape into the rugged terrain. Lieutenant Joseph Maxwell and twenty dragoons charged up the slope in pursuit. Maxwell and four of his men reached the top first, only to find themselves ambushed by eight Apache warriors concealed among the rocks. As Maxwell raised his saber, the Apache unleashed a volley of arrows, two of which struck him, killing him instantly. The Apache warriors made their escape, leaving the dragoons to mourn the loss of their brave young officer. The Apache War in New Mexico had claimed another life.
Captain Sykes, devastated by the loss of Lieutenant Maxwell, reported the incident to Colonel Cooke. "I have no words," he wrote, "to express my feelings in making this announcement, braver, gallant, or more high-toned gentlemen and soldiers never drew a sword." The death of Lieutenant Maxwell underscored the brutality and the human cost of the ongoing conflict. The Apache War in New Mexico continued to rage, fueled by resentment, fear, and the struggle for survival in a rapidly changing world.