Battle of Mora
Encyclopedia
The First Battle of Mora was part of the Taos Revolt
and the Mexican-American War, between United States
Army troops and New Mexican
militia
. It took place in January 1847.
, New Mexico
, organized an armed front against the invading American Army
. The rebellion in Mora began with the capture and subsequent execution of a group of eight American merchants traveling to Missouri
. Word of the uprising reached Captain Israel R. Hendley outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico
. Hendley learned that the insurgents had gathered a force of about two hundred men in Mora.
On January 24, eighty U.S. troops commanded by Captain Hendley arrived in Mora to confront the insurgents. A general engagement ensued, they fired from windows of the houses in the village and skirmished in the streets. After a few minutes of fighting, the New Mexicans fell back to and entrenched themselves in an old fort and fired on the Americans from there also. Hendley led a charge on the fort but was shot and killed. The U.S. troops, having no artillery, retreated to the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico
, to reorganize. The three-hour battle claimed Hendley as the sole American fatality, while the insurgents lost twenty-five men, reportedly. Other casualties included three wounded Americans and seventeen rebels taken prisoner. The Americans would return, though, and defeat the New Mexicans at the Second Battle of Mora
.
Lieutenant Colonel Philip St. George Cooke
, a member of the Army of the West, reports the battle thus: “At the handsome village of Mora, eighteen miles west of the present [as of 1878] Fort Union, eight Americans were murdered. January 22d, Capt. Hendley, Second Missouri Volunteers, marched there from Vegas the 24th, with eighty men; he found it occupied by above one hundred and fifty men; he engaged with a number, attempting to enter the town, who were supported by a sally; he then assaulted the town; he penetrated from house to house, some of which were destroyed and into one end of their fort, where he was killed and several were wounded. Lieut. McKarney then – apprehending the return of from three hundred to five hundred men, who had left there that day for Pueblo – withdrew, and marched back to Las Vegas, with fifteen prisoners; he reported fifteen to twenty of the enemy slain.”
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...
and the Mexican-American War, between United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army troops and New Mexican
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...
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...
. It took place in January 1847.
Battle
On January 20, 1847, Manuel Cortez, a Spanish descendant of the village of MoraMora, New Mexico
Mora or Santa Gertrudis de lo de Mora is an unincorporated community in, and the county seat of, Mora County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about half way between Las Vegas, New Mexico and Taos on Highway 518 at an altitude of 7,180 feet...
, 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...
, organized an armed front against the invading American 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...
. The rebellion in Mora began with the capture and subsequent execution of a group of eight American merchants traveling to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Word of the uprising reached Captain Israel R. Hendley outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. Hendley learned that the insurgents had gathered a force of about two hundred men in Mora.
On January 24, eighty U.S. troops commanded by Captain Hendley arrived in Mora to confront the insurgents. A general engagement ensued, they fired from windows of the houses in the village and skirmished in the streets. After a few minutes of fighting, the New Mexicans fell back to and entrenched themselves in an old fort and fired on the Americans from there also. Hendley led a charge on the fort but was shot and killed. The U.S. troops, having no artillery, retreated to the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...
, to reorganize. The three-hour battle claimed Hendley as the sole American fatality, while the insurgents lost twenty-five men, reportedly. Other casualties included three wounded Americans and seventeen rebels taken prisoner. The Americans would return, though, and defeat the New Mexicans at the Second Battle of Mora
Second Battle of Mora
The Second Battle of Mora was a military engagement during the Taos Revolt of the Mexican-American War. After being defeated in the First Battle of Mora on January 24, 1847, American forces attacked Mora again about a week later and destroyed the New Mexican insurgents holding the town.-Battle:On...
.
Lieutenant Colonel Philip St. George Cooke
Philip St. George Cooke
Philip St. George Cooke was a career United States Army cavalry officer who served as a Union General in the American Civil War. He is noted for his authorship of an Army cavalry manual, and is sometimes called the "Father of the U.S...
, a member of the Army of the West, reports the battle thus: “At the handsome village of Mora, eighteen miles west of the present [as of 1878] Fort Union, eight Americans were murdered. January 22d, Capt. Hendley, Second Missouri Volunteers, marched there from Vegas the 24th, with eighty men; he found it occupied by above one hundred and fifty men; he engaged with a number, attempting to enter the town, who were supported by a sally; he then assaulted the town; he penetrated from house to house, some of which were destroyed and into one end of their fort, where he was killed and several were wounded. Lieut. McKarney then – apprehending the return of from three hundred to five hundred men, who had left there that day for Pueblo – withdrew, and marched back to Las Vegas, with fifteen prisoners; he reported fifteen to twenty of the enemy slain.”