John Henry K. Burgwin, American soldier, was a Second Lieutenant in 1833 when the US 1st Dragoons (later changed to 1st Cavalry) were established. He then served at Fort Gibson

Fort Gibson

Fort Gibson, now located in Oklahoma and designated Fort Gibson Historical Site, guarded the American frontier in Indian Territory from 1824 until 1890...

, in what is now Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

. In 1847 he was a Captain in the 1st Dragoons, serving under Colonel Sterling Price

Sterling Price

Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...

. Responding to the Taos Revolt

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...

 Burgwin moved towards Taos and led the US troops at the Battle of Embudo Pass

Battle of Embudo Pass

The Battle of Embudo Pass was part of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the American army's occupation of northern New Mexico. It took place on January 29, 1847, during the Mexican-American War, in what now is New Mexico.-Battle:...

 on January 29, 1847.

The following day Burgwin joined Col. Price and the combined force marched to Taos where the Mexicans

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 and Natives they were pursuing had retired.

He was severely wounded on February 3 during 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...

 and died February 7, 1847.

In 1852 Cantonment Burgwin

Cantonment Burgwin

Cantonment Burgwin was a fort located at 10 miles outside of Taos, Taos County, New Mexico, United States, southeast of Ranchos De Taos. It was established in 1852 to protect the Taos Valley from Utes and Jicarilla Apaches. It was named after Captain John H. K...

(often referred to as "Fort Burgwin"), named after Captain Burgwin, was set up 10 miles outside of Taos, and was to remain a US Army outpost until 1860.