List of battles fought in New Mexico

This list of battles fought in New Mexico is an incomplete list of military and other armed confrontations that have occurred within the boundaries of the modern U.S. State of New Mexico since European contact. The region was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1535 to 1821, and then Mexico from 1821 to 1847. Over half of New Mexico was claimed by the Republic of Texas from 1836 to 1841, but control was never established in any form. Full administrative control of New Mexico was established on February 2, 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican–American War.

The Mexican–American War, American Civil War, and Plains Indian Wars all directly affected the region during westward expansion.

Battles

Name Date Location War Campaign Dead Belligerents
Battle of Hawikku July 7–12, 1540 near Zuni Pueblo Spanish Colonization Coronado Expedition unknown Kingdom of Spain vs Zuni people
Pueblo Revolt August 10–21, 1680 Santa Fe de Nuevo México Spanish Colonization 400+[1] Taos, Picuris, Jemez, Santa Clara, Kewa, Cochiti (aka Kotyit'), Tesuque, Ohkay Owingeh, Nambé pueblos & Apache vs Kingdom of Spain
Recapture of Santa Fe December 29–30, 1693 Santa Fe Spanish Colonization 89[2] Kingdom of Spain & Pecos vs Taos, Picuris, Jemez, Kha'p'oo Owinge, Kewa, Tesuque, Ohkay Owingeh & Nambé
Chimayó Rebellion August 1–9, 1837 Rio Arriba County & Santa Fe County Revolt of 1837 ~23[3] New Mexico rebels & local Pueblo allies vs Mexico
Texan Santa Fe Expedition June 19, 1841 - June 13, 1842 Comancheria & Santa Fe unknown[4] Republic of Texas vs Mexico
Battle of El Brazito December 25, 1846 near Las Cruces Mexican–American War New Mexico Campaign 43 Mexico vs United States of America
Battle of Cañada January 24, 1847 Santa Cruz Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign 38 United States of America vs Mexico & Pueblo
First Battle of Mora January 24, 1847 Mora Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign 26 United States of America vs Mexico
Second Battle of Mora February 1, 1847 Mora Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign unknown[5] United States of America vs Mexico
Siege of Pueblo de Taos February 3–5, 1847 Taos Pueblo Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign 60+[6] United States of America vs Mexico
Red River Canyon Affair May 26–27, 1847 Red River Canyon Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign 25 United States of America vs Mexico, Pueblo,[7] Apache, Kiowa, & Comanche
Las Vegas Affair July 6, 1847 Las Vegas Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign 10 United States of America vs Mexico
Cienega Affair July 9, 1847 Cienega Creek near Taos Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt New Mexico Campaign 5+[8] United States of America vs Mexico & Pueblo[9]
White Massacre October 28, 1849 Tucumcari, New Mexico American Indian Wars Jicarilla War 5+[10] Ute & Jicarilla Apache vs American settlers
First Battle of Mesilla July 25, 1861 Mesilla, New Mexico Territory (USA) American Civil War 5-15 Confederate States of America vs United States of America
Battle of Canada Alamosa September 24–25, 1861 San Ygnacio de la Alamosa American Civil War 6 Confederate States of America vs United States of America
Skirmish near Fort Thorn, New Mexico Territory September 26, 1861 near Fort Thorn American Civil War 2 Confederate States of America vs United States of America
Battle of Valverde[11] February 20–21, 1862 near Fort Craig American Civil War New Mexico Campaign 104 Confederate States of America vs United States of America
Battle of Glorieta Pass[12] March 26–28, 1862 modern Santa Fe County & San Miguel County American Civil War New Mexico Campaign 101 United States of America vs Confederate States of America
Battle of Albuquerque April 8–9, 1862 Albuquerque American Civil War New Mexico Campaign 1 United States of America vs Confederate States of America
Battle of Peralta April 14, 1862 Peralta American Civil War New Mexico Campaign 5-6 United States of America vs Confederate States of America
Second Battle of Mesilla July 1, 1862 Mesilla, Confederate Arizona American Civil War none known United States of America vs Confederate States of America
Battle of Pecos River January 4, 1864 near Fort Sumner Navajo Wars 40 United States of America & Mescalero Apache vs Navajo people
Battle of Mount Gray April 7, 1864 Mount Gray, modern Hidalgo County Apache Wars / American Civil War California Column 21 United States of America vs Apache
Skirmish in Doubtful Canyon May 3, 1864 Hidalgo County Apache Wars / American Civil War California Column 10 United States of America vs Apache
Battle of Columbus March 9, 1916 Columbus Mexican Revolution Mexican Border War (1910–1919) ~138 United States of America vs Mexican Revolutionaries

Notes

  1. ^ Native Americans' casualties have not been recorded.
  2. ^ Nine rebels died during the fighting (two by suicide) and the Spanish executed 70 prisoners who had refused to surrender.
  3. ^ Governor Albino Pérez was captured by Kewa warriors as he and his few supporters fled Santa Fe after being unable to find support there. Pérez was decapitated and his head returned to Santa Fe for display. Two other government officials and about 20 of their supporters were also killed; Native American or New Mexicans killed during the revolt have not been recorded.
  4. ^ The Texan forces consisted of over 320 men and they were greatly outnumbered by a detachment of the Mexican Army numbering over 1,500 men. The Texan forces being taken as prisoners were forced to march to Veracruz which took an unknown toll on their numbers. Varying numbers of "Volunteers of the Texan Army Santa Fe Prisoners" are known to have left Mexico and returned to New Orleans.
  5. ^ No U.S. casualties were reported, but 17 Mexicans were reported killed or wounded.
  6. ^ Mexican and Native American casualties are estimated at 150 killed or wounded.
  7. ^ Specific groups have not been identified.
  8. ^ Mexican and Native Americans killed in action is unknown.
  9. ^ Specific groups have not been identified.
  10. ^ The exact number of settlers involved was not recorded. It is unknown if any Native Americans were killed in the action.
  11. ^ "CWSAC Battle Summary: Valverde". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  12. ^ "CWSAC Battle Summary: Glorieta Pass". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-02-07.

See also