Battle of Canada Alamosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Canada Alamosa |
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| Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War |
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 The Canada Alamosa battlefield |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Confederate States |
 United States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Bethel Coopwood | John H. Minks | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 112 cavalry | ~100 cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 killed 7 wounded |
4 killed 6 wounded 23 captured |
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The Battle of Canada Alamosa was a small fight during the American Civil War. It happened in the late evening of September 24 and morning of September 25, 1861. The Union Army called it Canada Alamosa. The Confederates knew it as Alamosa.
This battle was one of the biggest small fights in Confederate Arizona. This area was near the border with Union-held New Mexico Territory.
What Led to the Battle?
This battle took place about 35 miles south of Fort Craig. It was near a village called San Ygnacio de la Alamosa, also known as Alamosa. This village was close to where Alamosa Creek meets the Rio Grande. Union reports mistakenly called it Canada Alamosa. The Confederate commander, Bethel Coopwood, correctly called it Alamosa.
Lt. Col. John R. Baylor had led Confederate troops into New Mexico Territory. He had won a battle at Fort Fillmore. Baylor then declared the area "Confederate Arizona." He made himself its governor. He sent patrols up the Rio Grande. Their job was to watch Union forts like Fort Craig.
Captain Bethel Coopwood led 112 Confederate cavalrymen. They rode north toward Fort Craig. They looked for streams and springs their army could use.
Two days before the battle, Coopwood's troops captured nine Union soldiers. This happened north of Fort Craig. The Confederates learned that Fort Craig had 350 men but no artillery. With this information, they started heading back south.
The Union Army at Fort Craig also sent out a reconnaissance mission. This was to guard against Confederate forces. Captain John H. Minks led a group of New Mexican militia. They stopped at San Ygnacio de la Alamosa. There, Minks ordered his men to build a camp. They built a corral and breastworks (small walls for defense).
The Battle Begins
On September 24, before the camp was finished, Union troops got news. They heard that Confederate riders were seen south of their camp. Captain Minks sent six cavalrymen to check. They came back saying the men were Union soldiers who had run away. Later that night, more armed men were seen. Some said shots were fired into the town, but this was not confirmed. Captain Minks put his troops on high alert.
Suddenly, some horses escaped the corral. About ten men were sent to get them back. But about 30 men ended up chasing them. Most of these 30 men then ran away into the desert. They crossed the Rio Grande and headed for Paraje.
Then, a loud yell was heard. Union troops thought it was Apache warriors. But then they heard cavalry and a shout: "Here's their camp; give them hell!" The Union soldiers then knew it was not Apaches. It was 12 to 15 Confederate troops led by Captain Bethel Coopwood.
The Confederates attacked the Union Army's main line first. The Union soldiers fought them off. The rebels then fell back to the town. The small group of Confederates had tried to surprise the Union army at night. But they did not have enough firepower. The shooting stopped for a short time. Captain Minks thought the rebels had left or were trying to trick them.
So, Captain Minks and some men walked into town. They left their main group at the camp. They did not see anything. When they went back, they found even more Union soldiers had run away. Minks then decided to attack. He wanted to drive the rebels out of town. He also planned to burn the houses that gave the Confederates cover.
But the Confederate force was much larger than Minks expected. There were 112 Confederates. They had also taken over the houses Minks wanted to burn. The Union advance was stopped by many shots from muskets. After ten minutes, the Union force had to retreat back to their camp. By this time, the Confederates had taken a hill near the road to Fort Craig.
Fighting continued for a long time, almost until daybreak. Captain John Minks found he had only ten men left. These ten men and the Captain fought the Confederates from a distance for a few more hours. Minks tried to contact his main force in camp. But the main group had either run away or thought Minks's attack party had been defeated. Captain Minks realized this. He decided to keep fighting to stop the Confederates from chasing his retreating men. Through his spy-glass, Minks saw about sixty mounted rebels ready to attack.
Minks surrendered between 7:00 and 8:00 am. He did this to prevent more of his remaining ten men from getting hurt. The main Union group made it back to their fort. Minks reported that only one of his remaining ten men was wounded. Confederate reports said four other Union men were killed and six wounded. Captain Minks and his ten men were taken as prisoners to Mesilla. Twelve other Union soldiers, who had run away or not, were also captured. At least three Confederates were wounded, but none were killed. The Confederates also captured supplies, horses, and wagons.
What Happened Next?
The day after the battle, on September 26, 1861, another fight happened. Union cavalry under Captain Robert Murray Morris fought Confederates. These were some of the same Confederates from the Alamosa battle. This skirmish was near Fort Thorn.
Union Colonel Edward Canby reported that ten Confederates were killed. He also said over thirty were wounded in a fight lasting one hour and forty-two minutes. But the Confederate commander Coopwood reported only two men killed and seven wounded.
Captain Minks confirmed this in his report. He wrote it while he was a prisoner. Union casualties were reported as six wounded. This was one of many small battles in the area.
The information Coopwood's troops got from the captured New Mexico Volunteers was important. They now knew Fort Craig had only 350 men and no artillery. Also, the water sources they found along the mountains would help the Confederate Army later. This was when they retreated south after the Battle of Peralta.
Images for kids
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A portrait of Captain Bethel Coopwood
