Battle of Fort Buchanan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Fort Buchanan |
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| Part of Apache Wars, American Civil War | |||||||
 Ruins of Fort Buchanan in 1914. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
Apache | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Michael Buckley |
Cochise | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 9 cavalry 1 fort |
~75 warriors | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 killed 1 wounded 1 fort destroyed |
~2 killed | ||||||
| Civilian Casualties: 3 killed | |||||||
The Battle of Fort Buchanan was an attack by Apache warriors on a United States Army outpost called Fort Buchanan. This happened in southern Arizona Territory on February 17, 1865. Even though it was a small fight, the Apache won a big victory. They forced the few American soldiers there to leave their post and retreat into the Santa Rita Mountains. Fort Buchanan was the only American military base captured during the war against the Chiricahua Apache people.
Contents
Why Did the Battle of Fort Buchanan Happen?
During the 1860s, the United States was busy with the American Civil War. This meant the Union Army had fewer soldiers available for other areas. At the same time, many conflicts were happening with different Native American tribes.
Apache Conflicts in Arizona
In 1861, the southern part of New Mexico Territory and the new Arizona Territory joined the Confederacy. So, soldiers from California were sent to control the area. After a disagreement in 1860 involving Chief Cochise of the Apache, the Apache began attacking both Union and Confederate troops across Arizona. This conflict was known as the Chiricahua War.
What Was Fort Buchanan Like?
By early 1865, the war was still going on. Fort Buchanan was not a strong fort with walls. It was just a group of military buildings. Reports said only nine American cavalry soldiers were at the fort. Corporal Michael Buckley was in charge. He and eight other soldiers were stationed in a small building that was like a lookout post.
How Did the Battle Unfold?
The battle started on the morning of February 17, 1865. It began about twelve miles from Fort Buchanan.
Attack on Surveyors
Two surveyors and a young Mexican boy were traveling towards the fort. Their names were William Wrightson and Gilbert W. Hopkins. Suddenly, dozens of Apache warriors attacked them. The Apache were on horseback and used rifles and bows. A chase began, heading towards Fort Buchanan. The three men almost reached the fort but were caught and killed. The U.S. Army said the men did not try to fight back. No gunshots were heard from them. Corporal Buckley later said he did not know they were in the area. Today, two tall mountains in the Santa Ritas, Mount Wrightson and Mount Hopkins, are named after these men.
Apache Attack on the Fort
Afterward, the Apache moved towards the lookout station where Corporal Buckley was. He was sitting on the porch. Five other soldiers were resting inside. Buckley did not know he was about to be attacked. He had sent two men to cut hay nearby and one man to go hunting.
The Apache surprised them. A warrior crept close to Buckley and shot him. The bullet hit Buckley's leg. He quickly pulled out his revolver and killed the warrior who shot him. Buckley then crawled inside the building. Many warriors quickly surrounded the station. One soldier inside shot and killed a second Apache warrior while covering Buckley.
The American soldiers took positions to defend themselves. Corporal Buckley estimated there were about 75 Apache warriors. The soldiers fired their rifles through small openings in the building. They fought off a first attack that came very close. After that, the Apache kept fighting from a bit farther away.
The Retreat
Eventually, the Apache set the building on fire. After a few minutes, the roof started to collapse. Buckley ordered his men to retreat. This meant they had to run through the enemy and into the nearby hills. As the soldiers ran, they fired their guns wildly. The Apache chased them until they reached the hills, where the Apache gave up.
Corporal Buckley and his men walked to some mines in the Santa Rita Mountains and found safety. Private George English, the soldier who had gone hunting, was never seen again. He was first listed as missing and then presumed dead. The two soldiers who were cutting hay heard the gunshots. They went back to the fort and saw it surrounded by warriors. The Apache were taking goods from the buildings and burning them. These two soldiers also retreated to the Santa Ritas and later rejoined their group.
What Happened After the Battle?
Corporal Buckley confirmed that he and his men killed two Apache warriors. He said that because of the smoke from their guns and the burning building, he could not tell if more Apache were killed. The Apache took six horses, 250 rounds of ammunition, 200 food rations, two carbine rifles, and six U.S. Cavalry uniforms.
The next day, Captain John L. Miriam heard about the attack. He went to the fort with 25 men. Just outside the fort, they found the bodies of Wrightson, Hopkins, and the boy. They buried them there. After seeing how badly Fort Buchanan was damaged, Captain Miriam ordered it to be left empty. He and his men returned to Fort Tubac to the west. This is where the rest of Company L was stationed. A new fort, Fort Crittenden, was built about half a mile east of Fort Buchanan in 1867.
Images for kids
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Apache warriors in their traditional tribal wear.
