Red River Canyon affair

Battle of Red River Canyon
	Part of the Taos Revolt, Mexican-American War
	; The Red River.
Date	May 26–27, 1847
Location	On the Canadian River, West of Wagon Mound, New Mexico
Result	United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico; Apache; Kiowa; Comanche
Commanders and leaders
Major Edmondson	Unknown
Strength
200	500
Casualties and losses
1 killed; "several slightly" wounded	17 killed

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. Although the Americans mistakenly called this river by the name "Red", it was actually then and now more correctly called the Canadian River.^[2] On 26 May 1847, a detachment of American troops, traveling through northern New Mexico, were attacked by a combined force of Mexican militia with their Apache, Kiowa, and Comanche allies.^[1]^:142

Background[]

On May 26, 1847, United States Army Major Edmondson, with a company of two hundred infantry and cavalry under Captains Holaway and Robinson, were marching at almost sunset along the Red (Canadian)River.^[1]^:142 They had just entered Red River Canyon when ambushed by an estimated 500 Mexicans and natives, according to reports given to Colonel Alexander Doniphan, a commander during the New Mexican Campaign.^[1]^:142

Battle[]

Red River Canyon being very narrow and full of thick, deep mud, Major Edmundson was forced to dismount his cavalry and proceed in the attack on foot with the infantry.^[1]^:142 Now all on foot, the Americans pushed forward and began to break up the ambush.^[1]^:142 The Mexicans and natives were repulsed but soon regrouped and assaulted the American position.^[1]^:142 The Americans slowly made an organized retreat, the withdrawal being covered by a Lieutenant Elliot and his Laclede rangers.^[1]^:142 At sunrise, the Americans reformed and reentered the canyon, where they discovered that the Mexicans and natives had retreated just before their arrival.^[1]^:142

Aftermath[]

A later skirmish occurred – Battle of Cienega Creek.

References[]

↑ ^1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 ^1.10 ^1.11 Hughes, J.T., 1847, Doniphan's Expedition, Cincinnati: U.P. James
↑ Magoon, Charles E. "Reports on the law of civil government in territory subject to military occupation by the military forces of the United States". War Department, 1903, pg.708.

Additional Reading[]

Twitchell, R. E. Old Santa Fe (Santa Fe: R. E. Twitchell, 1925), p. 146.

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The original article can be found at Red River Canyon affair and the edit history here.

[Hughes-1] 1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 ^1.10 ^1.11 Hughes, J.T., 1847, Doniphan's Expedition, Cincinnati: U.P. James

[2] Magoon, Charles E. "Reports on the law of civil government in territory subject to military occupation by the military forces of the United States". War Department, 1903, pg.708.

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