Las Vegas Affair
Encyclopedia
The Las Vegas Affair or the Battle of Las Vegas was a battle of the Taos Revolt
, fought in July 1847. It was initiated by American
troops against New Mexican
insurgent
s at the presidio
town of Las Vegas
during the Mexican-American War.
himself. The American forces under Colonel
Alexander Doniphan were marching north in northern New Mexico at the end of their campaign and months after the Siege of Pueblo de Taos
. New Mexican insurgents and their native allies were still on the path of rebellion
. On June 26, 1847, the horses belonging to American Captain Horine's company of cavalry
were stolen by the New Mexican forces who fled into the nearby mountains. Two days later on June 28, a lieutenant
named Brown and two privates
with one Mexican guide, were dispatched by a Major
Edmondson to begin pursuit of the New Mexicans and bring back the horses. After a while and with no return of Lieutenant Brown and his three men, The American force began to suspect that their comrades had been masssacred. So was the case when on July 5, Major Edmondson received information from a New Mexican woman, the information was that three American soldiers were killed and burnt by the New Mexican militia
near Las Vegas. Immediately after receiving the information, Edmondson posted a picket to guard the camp, with orders to not allow anyone to enter the camp, without first seeing him. On the same afternoon, Private William Cox, of Captain Hollaway's infantry
, were hunting in the mountains when they discovered three suspicious New Mexicans. The three Mexicans were captured and taken back to camp. They were interrogated and one of whom reported the deaths of Lieutenant Brown and his men. After hearing this, Edmondson ordered a force of twenty-nine cavalry, thirty-three infantry, and one 12-pounder mountain howitzer, to prepare for a march to Las Vegas. The Americans expected to reach the town before daylight the next morning. The Americans arrived later than they expected but either way Las Vegas was observed and appeared to be garrisoned by hundreds of New Mexican militiamen.
s, musket
s, knives
and many other trinkets were found to have been dispersed amongst Las Vegas' population. After fighting had ceased as the Americans prepared to take their prisoners back to their camp, they burned some homes and some other buildings, where the fighting had taken place. Sufficient homes and food were left for the remaining civilian population. A nearby home, outside of Las Vegas and belonging to a New Mexican insurgent, was also burned when the Americans left for camp.
where they were tried before a court-martial. Ultimately six of the New Mexicans were sentenced to death by hanging. Execution of sentencing took place on August 3, 1847. The fate of the other forty or so New Mexican prisoners is not known but were likely released after the end of the war. Three days later, the Battle of Cienega Creek
would begin, ending the Taos revolt for good.
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...
, fought in July 1847. It was initiated by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops against 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 at the presidio
Presidio
A presidio is a fortified base established by the Spanish in North America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The fortresses were built to protect against pirates, hostile native Americans and enemy colonists. Other presidios were held by Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth...
town of Las Vegas
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...
during the Mexican-American War.
Background
During Doniphan's Expedition into New Mexico and Old MexicoMexico
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...
himself. The American forces under Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Alexander Doniphan were marching north in northern New Mexico at the end of their campaign and months 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...
. New Mexican insurgents and their native allies were still on the path of rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
. On June 26, 1847, the horses belonging to American Captain Horine's company of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
were stolen by the New Mexican forces who fled into the nearby mountains. Two days later on June 28, a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
named Brown and two privates
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
with one Mexican guide, were dispatched by a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Edmondson to begin pursuit of the New Mexicans and bring back the horses. After a while and with no return of Lieutenant Brown and his three men, The American force began to suspect that their comrades had been masssacred. So was the case when on July 5, Major Edmondson received information from a New Mexican woman, the information was that three American soldiers were killed and burnt by the 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...
near Las Vegas. Immediately after receiving the information, Edmondson posted a picket to guard the camp, with orders to not allow anyone to enter the camp, without first seeing him. On the same afternoon, Private William Cox, of Captain Hollaway's 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 hunting in the mountains when they discovered three suspicious New Mexicans. The three Mexicans were captured and taken back to camp. They were interrogated and one of whom reported the deaths of Lieutenant Brown and his men. After hearing this, Edmondson ordered a force of twenty-nine cavalry, thirty-three infantry, and one 12-pounder mountain howitzer, to prepare for a march to Las Vegas. The Americans expected to reach the town before daylight the next morning. The Americans arrived later than they expected but either way Las Vegas was observed and appeared to be garrisoned by hundreds of New Mexican militiamen.
Battle
Edmondson divided his men into two forces, one was under the command of Captain Hollaway and the other under Captain Horine. They were now ordered to make a charge simultaneously on the right and left flanks in an effort to gain possession of the presidio. The Americans hastily prepared for a charge and then advanced. The New Mexicans had noticed the approaching United States Army and took up strategic positions along the presidio walls. At first the Mexicans fired into the charging Americans who held their fire in order to not slow the charge. Eventually the Americans closed in on the town and began to swarm the buildings, clearing them out of New Mexicans in a close quarters action. After only fifteen minutes of fighting, the New Mexicans began a retreat into the surrounding terrain of Las Vegas. The mountain howitzer was apparently never used by American forces. A total of about fifty New Mexicans were captured during the battle. Ten others were killed and according to United States Army reports, others were wounded. No Americans were killed in the battle, a few had slight wounds though. The bodies of the two American privates and their guide were discovered to have been burned as suspected, Lieutenant Brown was left among a pile of rocks unburied. The clothes, swordSword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
s, musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
s, knives
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
and many other trinkets were found to have been dispersed amongst Las Vegas' population. After fighting had ceased as the Americans prepared to take their prisoners back to their camp, they burned some homes and some other buildings, where the fighting had taken place. Sufficient homes and food were left for the remaining civilian population. A nearby home, outside of Las Vegas and belonging to a New Mexican insurgent, was also burned when the Americans left for camp.
Aftermath
The New Mexican prisoners, by order of Colonel Edward Price, were taken to Santa FeSanta 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...
where they were tried before a court-martial. Ultimately six of the New Mexicans were sentenced to death by hanging. Execution of sentencing took place on August 3, 1847. The fate of the other forty or so New Mexican prisoners is not known but were likely released after the end of the war. Three days later, the Battle of Cienega Creek
Cienega Affair
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 insurgents, Pueblo natives and United States Army troops.-Battle:On July 9, 1847 a detachment of...
would begin, ending the Taos revolt for good.