La Cañada

The Battle of La Cañada was directly tied to a popular insurrection called the Taos Rebellion. In August 1846, an American force of 1,750 men led by General Stephen W. Kearny marched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and easily captured Santa Fe, New Mexico when Mexican forces retreated without offering battle. Kearny appointed Charles Bent, a local businessman, governor of the New Mexico Territory, and left a small contingent of occupation troops, commanded by Colonel Sterling Price, before heading to California. 

Fearful for their future and resenting the daily insults from American occupation forces, a mixed New Mexican force of Santa Fe’s leading families, as well as Hispanic and Taos Indians, plotted a rebellion. Governor Bent recognized the growing unrest and urged American authorities to control their troops. According to Bent, American “outrages are becoming so frequent that I apprehend serious consequences must result sooner or later if measures are not taken to prevent them.” Bent’s fears were soon realized. In early January 1847, Pablo Montoya, who dubbed himself the “Santa Ana of the North,” led the rebel force that broke into Governor Bent’s house, murdering him and several others. A few days later, another insurgent attack left several Americans dead. 

In early February Colonel Price responded to the “Taos Bellion” by marching his troops north from Santa Fe. At the same time, a New Mexican force headed south from Taos. The two forces met at near Santa Cruz in what became known as the Battle of La Cañada. Using their artillery, the Americans charged and routed the untrained Mexicans. Price reported, “In a few minutes my troops had dislodged the enemy at all points, and they were flying in every direction.” A few days later, the two forces met in the Battle of Embudo Pass where the New Mexicans were once again easily routed.