Battle of Cookes Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Cookes Canyon |
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| Part of the American Civil War Apache Wars |
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Confederate States |
Apache | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| N/A | Mangas Coloradas Cochise |
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| Strength | |||||
| 24 militia | ~100 warriors | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 4 killed 8 wounded |
unknown | ||||
The Battle of Cookes Canyon was a fight between settlers from an area called Confederate Arizona and Chiricahua Apache warriors. It happened in August 1861. The battle took place about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Mesilla, in a place known as Cookes Canyon. We don't know the exact date of the battle. This event was part of two bigger conflicts: the Apache Wars and the American Civil War.
Contents
What Led to the Battle?
In early August 1861, a group of people living near Tubac had to leave their homes. This happened after U.S. troops left Fort Buchanan. Their homes were also burned during the Siege of Tubac. This group was known as the Ake Party. They wanted to travel to the Rio Grande river, near Mesilla.
The Ake Party's Journey
The Ake Party started their journey with several wagons. They had six large wagons, two smaller buggies, and one single wagon. When they reached Tucson, more people joined them. One of these people was Moses Carson, who was the half-brother of the famous scout, Kit Carson.
The group grew to 24 men, 16 women, and 7 children. They also had many animals with them. There were 400 cattle, 900 sheep, and also horses and goats. Most of these settlers were miners and ranchers. They left Tucson around August 15, 1861. Having so many animals made them a tempting target for the Chiricahua Apache warriors. These warriors were led by Cochise and Mangas Coloradas. The trip was peaceful until they crossed the Mimbres River. Then, they headed towards the springs in Cooke's Canyon. This area is now in New Mexico.
The Battle in Cookes Canyon
It is not certain if Cochise and Mangas Coloradas were personally leading the Apache warriors. However, they were likely in charge. They were the main leaders of the Apache forces in that part of New Mexico.
The Apache Ambush
When the last wagon entered the canyon, about 100 Apache warriors attacked. They first scattered the settlers' large group of animals. Then, they charged towards the wagons. The settlers fought back with mounted countercharges. This stopped the Apaches from reaching the wagons. The settlers quickly moved their wagons into a circle. They then defended themselves in a siege that lasted the rest of the day.
Eventually, the Apaches moved to the hills around the canyon. From there, they fired arrows and bullets from a distance. The settlers fired back from their wagon circle. They managed to kill several attackers who came too close. By the end of the day, the Apaches left. They took the 400 cattle and 900 sheep with them. The settlers then went back to the Mimbres River. Four of their men were killed, and eight were wounded.
What Happened Next?
The very last wagon, which carried most of the women and children, turned around when the fighting started. It quickly went back towards the Mimbres River. The Apaches did not bother this wagon. It reached the settlement on the Mimbres safely. From there, they sent a message asking for help to Pinos Altos. The Arizona Guards, who were Confederate troops, were stationed there. These troops responded to the call for help. This led to another fight, the Battle of the Florida Mountains, two days later.
Other Attacks in Cookes Canyon
During the summer of 1861, Apache warriors led by Mangas Coloradas and Cochise attacked other groups of settlers in Cookes Canyon. They killed a group of seven people near the east end of the canyon. In the same area, they killed nine Mexican herdsmen and took their cattle. Three white people from that same group were captured and later killed. On July 25 or 26, 1861, fourteen American settlers were killed. The Los Angeles Mounted Rifles found their bodies soon after.
Cookes Canyon became a very dangerous place. One person at the time described seeing "many bones, skulls, & graves" there. Over time, the Apaches killed as many as 100 Americans and Mexicans in Cookes Canyon. This made it the most feared part of the trail from Mesilla to Tucson. According to historian Dan Thrapp, 150 white people were killed in this area within just sixty days. Around the same time, the Mexican governor of Sonora estimated that 500 to 600 of his people were killed by the Apache on their side of the border.
