Cienega Affair
Encyclopedia
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
insurgent
s, Pueblo
native
s and United States
Army
troops.
of American infantry
were stationed close to Cienega Creek about eighteen miles from Taos, New Mexico
. On this early morning the Americans were attacked by two hundred New Mexican militia
and their Pueblo allies. The ensuing battle resulted in an American retreat to the banks of Cienega Creek. The only American casualties apparently were sustained at the initial contact. Five United States fighting men were killed, and nine more were wounded.
Upon acquiring the creek bank position the New Mexicans and Pueblos launched another fast attack. The remaining twenty-six Americans were able to fight off the assault, killing or wounding many of their enemies according to reports. Eventually a relief force of a company, under a Captain Shepherd, arrived and assisted Captain Morin's men in defeating the rest of the New Mexican insurgents. The New Mexicans and Pueblos retreated, ending the last battle of the revolt.
It is perhaps known as an "affair" due to the supposed peace between New Mexican insurgents and the Americans which began after the Siege of Pueblo de Taos
. The engagement was the second bloodiest battle for the United States during the revolt in New Mexico. Casualties of the New Mexicans and Pueblos are unknown.
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...
during the Mexican-American War. The battle occurred in July, 1847 and was fought between 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...
insurgent
Insurgent
Insurgent, insurgents or insurgency can refer to:* The act of insurgency-Specific insurgencies:* Iraqi insurgency, uprising in Iraq* Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, uprising in India* Insurgency in North-East India...
s, 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...
native
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
s and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
troops.
Battle
On July 9, 1847 a detachment of thirty-one men, belonging to Captain Jesse I. Morin's companyCompany
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 American 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...
were stationed close to Cienega Creek about eighteen miles from Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
. On this early morning the Americans were attacked by two hundred 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...
and their Pueblo allies. The ensuing battle resulted in an American retreat to the banks of Cienega Creek. The only American casualties apparently were sustained at the initial contact. Five United States fighting men were killed, and nine more were wounded.
Upon acquiring the creek bank position the New Mexicans and Pueblos launched another fast attack. The remaining twenty-six Americans were able to fight off the assault, killing or wounding many of their enemies according to reports. Eventually a relief force of a company, under a Captain Shepherd, arrived and assisted Captain Morin's men in defeating the rest of the New Mexican insurgents. The New Mexicans and Pueblos retreated, ending the last battle of the revolt.
It is perhaps known as an "affair" due to the supposed peace between New Mexican insurgents and the Americans which began after the Siege of Pueblo de Taos
Siege 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 engagement was the second bloodiest battle for the United States during the revolt in New Mexico. Casualties of the New Mexicans and Pueblos are unknown.