Blas de Hinojos facts for kids
Blas de Hinojos was a military leader in New Mexico a long time ago. He was killed in 1835 by a group of Navajo warriors. Their leader was named Narbona.
Who Was Blas de Hinojos?
Blas de Hinojos was a captain in the military forces of New Mexico. He was married to Maria de Jesus Trujillo. His soldiers often did not get paid very much. In 1834, some of his troops complained that they could not support themselves or their families.
In 1834, Captain Hinojos led a trip into Navajo territory. This expedition lasted from October 13 to November 17. His soldiers killed sixteen warriors but only captured three people.
On February 8, 1835, Hinojos left Santa Fé for a second expedition. He had a large force of almost 1,000 armed men.
The Battle at Copper Pass
Narbona, the Navajo leader, heard about the invasion. He gathered 250 of his best warriors. They went to a place called Beesh Lichii'l Bigiizh, or Copper Pass. This pass is about 8,000 feet (2,400 m) high and is in the Chuska Mountains. The Navajo knew the Mexican forces would use this route.
Even though Hinojos's army was large, the soldiers were not well-trained or disciplined. They did not take any safety steps. On February 28, 1835, they slowly entered Copper Pass.
Narbona's warriors were hiding on both sides of the pass. Narbona told them to wait for the right moment. He said they would cut the long line of soldiers into small pieces, like cutting a tree trunk for firewood.
When Narbona gave the signal, the Navajos attacked. They shot many arrows and fired their guns. Some also threw stones or rolled rocks down into the gorge. The Mexican soldiers and their horses were completely surprised. They panicked and ran away.
Hinojos and most of his soldiers died in the battle. The few who survived made their way back to Santa Fe. They returned on March 13, 1835.
Aftermath
After Hinojos's death, Albino Pérez took his place as military leader. The pass where the battle happened was later renamed Washington Pass. This was after Colonel John M. Washington, who killed Narbona in 1849. Today, the pass is known as Narbona Pass.
