White massacre facts for kids
![]() An 1876 map of northeastern New Mexico with the principal sites plotted.
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Date | October 18, 1849 |
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Location | New Mexico Territory |
The White massacre was a clash between American settlers and a group of Utes and Jicarilla Apaches. It happened in northeastern New Mexico on October 28, 1849. This event is remembered because Mrs. Ann White was captured by the Native Americans. Sadly, she was later killed during an Army rescue attempt a few weeks later.
Contents
The Journey Begins: Setting the Scene
In October 1849, a merchant named James White was traveling west. He often went between Independence, Missouri, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, to sell his goods. He was part of a wagon train led by a famous wagon master, François Xavier Aubry.
After the wagon train had passed the most dangerous part of their journey, they stopped to rest. James White, who knew the trail well, decided to go ahead to Santa Fe. He left the main group with his wife Ann, their baby daughter, a servant, a German man named Lawberger, and a few others.
A Stop at Point of Rocks
After traveling alone for a few days, White's group paused at a well-known landmark. This place was called the Point of Rocks. It was located between Rock Creek and the Whetstone Branch. These exact spots are hard to find on modern maps of New Mexico today.
The Attack: What Happened at the Camp
On October 27, a group of Jicarilla Apaches and Utes approached White's camp. According to what the Native Americans later said, they asked for gifts. They were sent away from the camp but came back to ask again. Their request was turned down a second time.
When they returned a third time, they attacked the settlers. Everyone in White's group was killed except for Ann White, her child, and her servant. Some of the attackers left with their captives. The others hid around what was left of the wagons.
Discovery of the Massacre
Soon after, a group of Mexican travelers came upon the scene. As they started to look through the remains of the wagon train, the Apaches and Utes attacked them. They killed or chased away the Mexican travelers, but one wounded Mexican boy was left behind.
This boy was later found by a group of Americans. He was the first to tell people about the massacre. Soldiers soon arrived at the site and buried the dead. When François Aubry, the wagon master, heard about the killings, he offered a $1,000 reward for Mrs. White's safe return.
The Rescue Attempt and Its Aftermath
News of the massacre eventually reached the United States Army base near Taos. From there, Captain William Grier and the 1st Cavalry were sent out. Their mission was to try and rescue Mrs. White and to punish the Native Americans involved.
Two experienced guides, Antoine Leroux and Robert Fisher, went with the soldiers. Along the way, they stopped at Rayado. There, Kit Carson, a famous scout, joined them. Carson eventually led them to the exact spot where the attack had happened.
The Pursuit and Tragic Discovery
From the massacre site, the group chased the Native Americans. Kit Carson later said it was "the most difficult trail I ever followed." They tracked them for about ten to twelve days.
Finally, the trackers found the Native Americans by surprise. They were camped on the banks of the Canadian River, near Tucumcari Butte. Carson, who was leading the way, moved towards the camp, signaling for the others to follow.
In his life story, Carson described what happened next: "I was in advance, starting for their camp, calling for the men to follow. The [commanding] officer called a halt, none of them would follow me." Carson learned that Leroux, the main guide, had told the officer to stop. Leroux believed the Native Americans wanted to talk.
The Jicarillas began to pack their belongings to escape. A shot was fired, hitting Captain Grier. He was not seriously hurt because he had thick gloves tucked into his jacket. The captain then ordered a charge, but the delay allowed all but one of the Native Americans to get away.
As they chased the fleeing group, about 200 yards away, they found Mrs. White's body. She was still warm, meaning she had been killed only about five minutes earlier. She had been shot through the heart with an arrow. Carson believed that if they had attacked immediately, Mrs. White could have been saved.
The Fate of Ann White's Family
Ann White's daughter and servant were never found by the rescue team. In February 1850, James S. Calhoun, who was in charge of Native American affairs in New Mexico, sent two traders, Auguste LaCome and Encarnacion Garcia, to find out what happened to them. They also wanted to see if they could be bought back.
LaCome met with Utes who were connected to the Jicarilla Apache group. He learned that the child had been killed shortly after the attack on the camp. Her body was thrown into a river. The servant was killed a short time later because they could not keep up with the group.