Crabb massacre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crabb Massacre
Part of the Reform War
Map Showing the location of the Crabb Massacre
Date April 1–8, 1857 Location Caborca, Sonora, Mexico Result Mexican victory
Belligerents
United States	Mexico Tohono O'odham
Commanders and leaders
Henry A. Crabb	Ignacio Pesqueira Hilario Gabilonda
Strength
100	1,200
Casualties and losses
87 killed	189 killed or wounded

The Crabb Massacre was a sad and violent event that happened in April 1857. It was the final part of an eight-day fight called the Battle of Caborca. This battle took place in Mexico, between forces from Mexico and their O'odham allies, and a group of people from the United States.

At the time, Mexico was going through a civil war called the Reform War. A leader named Ignacio Pesqueira invited an American politician, Henry A. Crabb, to bring settlers to the northern part of Mexico, in a state called Sonora. These settlers were supposed to help Pesqueira fight in the civil war and against the Apache people. But when Crabb and his group arrived, they were attacked by Pesqueira's own forces. Crabb's group was defeated, and many of the survivors were killed.

What Was the Crabb Massacre?

The Crabb Massacre was a tragic event where many American men were killed after a battle in Mexico. It marked the end of a journey by an American group led by Henry A. Crabb. This group had traveled to Mexico with plans to settle there. However, their arrival led to a conflict with Mexican forces. The massacre is remembered as a dark moment in the history between the United States and Mexico.

Why Did the Crabb Expedition Happen?

The Crabb Expedition started because of a civil war in Mexico called the Reform War. This war was between two main groups: the conservatives and the liberals. Ignacio Pesqueira was a liberal leader in Sonora. He was fighting against the conservative governor.

Henry A. Crabb was a former politician from California. He was not part of the U.S. government or military on this trip. In late 1856, Crabb met Pesqueira through his Mexican wife. Pesqueira offered Crabb a deal: Crabb could bring 1,000 American settlers to Sonora. These settlers would help Pesqueira's liberal forces.

Crabb agreed to the offer. However, he only managed to gather about 100 men for his expedition. Other volunteers either gave up or were attacked by Mexicans before joining. The expedition left San Diego, California, in January 1857. They traveled through what is now Arizona and gathered supplies. They then headed south to meet Pesqueira. By the time Crabb reached Sonora, Pesqueira's liberal forces had already won against the conservative governor. This meant Pesqueira no longer needed Crabb's help.

The Battle Begins in Caborca

When Crabb's group arrived in Sonora, they went to Caborca, not their original meeting place. Since Pesqueira had already won his fight, his followers were upset that he had invited Americans to help. Because of this, the Mexican liberal forces decided to attack Crabb's expedition.

Crabb sent a message to the local leader in Altar, saying his group came in peace. But this message either didn't arrive or was ignored. In Caborca, the Americans got into a fight that lasted eight days. A man named George N. Cardwell, who wrote about the event, described the long skirmish.

The Tragic End: The Massacre

After the eight-day battle, about 25 Americans had been killed. The remaining 58 men were trapped inside a building. An O'odham warrior set the building on fire, forcing them to surrender.

According to George Cardwell, the 58 survivors were divided into small groups. They were then killed by Mexican soldiers. Cardwell wrote that 87 Americans died in total, including General Crabb. Other reports say 77 Americans died in the massacre itself. Cardwell also listed 55 of the Americans who died, noting they were respected citizens from California. He stated that the Mexicans lost 189 men, including many O'odham warriors.

The Mexican commander, Hilario Gabilondo, was told to kill the prisoners. However, he refused to follow these orders. He left with a fourteen-year-old American boy named Evans. Evans was later raised by Gabilondo and became a customs inspector in Mexico.

Before he was killed, General Crabb was allowed to write a letter to his wife. This letter was given to one of two men who had left the expedition earlier. At the time, many people in both Mexico and the U.S. thought Crabb's group were "filibusters." A filibuster was someone who tried to take over land in another country without their own government's full permission. Cardwell himself wrote that Crabb's true goal was to "conquer Sonora."

What Happened After the Massacre?

The conflict did not completely end with the massacre. A few days later, a group of 20 Mexicans crossed the border into Arizona. They captured four of Crabb's men who were sick and resting in a store. These four men were also killed.

Later, 20 of Crabb's volunteers formed a rescue party. They were led by Major R. N. Wood and Captain Granville Henderson Oury. They crossed into Mexico but were attacked by about 200 Mexicans. After a tough fight, these 20 recruits managed to get back across the border safely.

However, another group of sixteen recruits was not as lucky. They also crossed the border and were stopped by the same 200 Mexican soldiers. These men surrendered without a fight. Sadly, they were killed just like the others.

Only one or two Americans from the entire Crabb Expedition survived the events in Caborca. One of them was the fourteen-year-old boy, Evans. News of the massacre caused anger in California and New Mexico Territory. People wanted revenge against the Mexicans. But over time, the incident was mostly forgotten. Commander Gabilondo, who had saved Evans, later faced an angry crowd in Tucson. He was almost harmed, but he survived.