THE CONFEDERATE INVASION OF NEIV MEXICO AND ARIZONA. 109
Infantry, and a battery of 4 mountain howitzers commanded by CaptainIra W. Claflin, 3d Cavalry. Slough left Fort Union on March 22d. On the26th, when at Bernal Springs, he dispatched Major Chivington, of the 1stColorado Volunteers, with 200 cavalry and 180 infantry, toward Santa Fe.The enemy were encountered at Johnson’s Ranch, in Apache Canon, aboutfifteen miles from Santa Fe. An engagement followed, in which both sidesclaimed the victory: the Union loss was 5 killed and 14 wounded, while theConfederate loss was 32 killed, 43 wounded, and 71 prisoners. Chivington
fell back to Pigeon’s Ranch, and MajorPyron, who had commanded the Confed-erates, was reenforced during the nightby Colonel W. R. Scurry and his com-mand, who had been encamped at Galisteo.On the 27th Colonel Slough arrived atKoslowski’s Ranch; on the 28th he movedtoward Apache Canon, and at 11 o’clocka. m. the enemy’s pickets were encoun-tered. This was a terrible place for anengagement—a deep gorge, with a narrowwagon-track running along the bottom,the ground rising precipitously on eachside, with huge bowlders and clumps ofstunted cedars interspersed. The batterieson both sides were brought forward, theinfantry thrown out upon the flanks, andthe firing soon became general. ColonelSlough had been informed that the entire baggage and ammunition train ofthe Confederates was at Johnson’s Ranch, and before the action began MajorChivington’s command was sent direct over the mountain, unobserved by theenemy, came down upon their camp, which was guarded by some two hun-dred men, and fell upon their train, consisting of sixty wagons, which, withtheir entire contents and a 6-pounder gun, were completely destroyed. TwoConfederate officers and fifteen men were taken prisoners. This loss wasthe most serious that the enemy had met with in the whole of their cam-paign, as all their ammunition, baggage, and provisions—of which theywere already short—were destroyed, and it was accomplished without theloss of a single Union man. The fight in the canon continued until late inthe afternoon, when Colonel Slough moved back to Koslowski’s Ranch. - Thisengagement is known in Union reports as “Apache Canon,” and at the Southas the “battle of Gtlorietta.” The Union loss was 1 officer and 28 men killed,2 officers and 40 men wounded, and 15 prisoners; the Confederate, 36 killed,60 wounded, and 17 prisoners. Colonel Scurry returned to Santa Fe in acompletely demoralized condition, while Colonel Slough, having accomplishedall that was desired, returned to Fort Union.
On April 1st Colonel Canby, who still remained at Fort Craig, left thatpost with a force consisting of 860 regulars and 350 volunteers, and arrived