Battle of Little Dry Creek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Little Dry Creek
Part of the Apache Wars
"A Dash for the Timber" by Frederic Remington shows American cavalry fighting Apaches.
Date December 19, 1885 Location near Pleasanton, Little Dry Creek, New Mexico Result Successful Apache ambush
Belligerents
United States	Apache
Commanders and leaders
United States Samuel W. Fountain	Josanie
Strength
20 cavalry 10 native scouts	10 warriors
Casualties and losses
5 killed 2 wounded	none

The Battle of Little Dry Creek was a small fight during the Apache Wars. This conflict is sometimes called Geronimo's War. Chiricahua Apache warriors were raiding in the Arizona and New Mexico border areas. They set a trap for a larger group of United States Army soldiers and Navajo Scouts. This ambush happened near Pleasanton.

What Happened at Little Dry Creek?

The Search for Josanie

On December 19, 1885, First Lieutenant Samuel W. Fountain led a group of soldiers. His team included nineteen men from the 8th Cavalry. They also had ten Navajo Scouts. They were searching in the Mogollon Mountains for an Apache leader named Josanie. Josanie and his group were responsible for the deaths of six scouts and other people.

Two groups of Apaches, fewer than thirty in total, had met up in November. This was in the Florida Mountains. By the time Lieutenant Fountain found them, Josanie had only nine warriors with him.

The Ambush

The American soldiers and Navajo Scouts were heading back to Fort Bayard. They needed to get more supplies. They had just reached the top of a hill. This hill was next to Little Dry Creek. Suddenly, rifle fire came from a ridge across the road.

The cavalry quickly got off their horses. They moved forward on foot. As they crossed the road, Apache fire hit them. A soldier named Private Wishart was killed. He was said to be the strongest in the group. More shots hit another soldier, Private Gibson, who also died. A corporal was wounded.

After the Fight

The cavalry's advance stopped. Lieutenant Fountain turned to order his scouts into battle. But they were gone. Fountain thought they had left. Then, the Navajo Scouts reappeared. They drove the Apaches from the ridge.

However, by then, an army surgeon named Thomas J. C. Maddox was hit and wounded. He then received a second shot and died. Lieutenant Rosey C. Cabell was also slightly wounded. A blacksmith named Collins died the next day.

The Apaches retreated to the west. They had no losses. The Americans and Navajo controlled the area. But the Apaches had successfully ambushed a stronger force. They escaped without being chased.