Battle of Apache Pass

Part of the Apache Wars, American Civil War

Apache Pass

Date	July 15–16, 1862
Location	Apache Pass, New Mexico Territory (USA), Arizona Territory (CSA) Present Day: Cochise County, Arizona
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Apache

Commanders and leaders

Thomas L. Roberts

Mangas Coloradas
Cochise

Strength

116 infantry
22 cavalry
2 artillery pieces

~500 warriors

Casualties and losses

2 killed
3 wounded

66 killed

Nine civilians were killed before the battle just outside Apache Pass, prompting Colonel Carleton to build Fort Bowie.

The Battle of Apache Pass was fought in 1862 at Apache Pass, Arizona, in the United States, between Apache warriors and the Union volunteers of the California Column as it marched from California to capture Confederate Arizona and to reinforce New Mexico's Union army. It was one of the largest battles between the Americans and the Chiricahua during the Apache Wars.

In early 1862, Col. James H. Carleton's force set out from Fort Yuma for Tucson, Arizona, which had recently been occupied by a Confederate force, Company A, Arizona Rangers. After a small engagement known as the Battle of Picacho Pass just north of Tucson between a detachment of Carleton's cavalry and Confederate pickets, Carleton advanced on Tucson in three columns. His troops arrived in Tucson on May 20, 1862, forcing the heavily outnumbered Confederate garrison to withdraw without a fight.

After capturing Confederate Arizona's western outpost, Carleton prepared to march east with his main body in July, intending to enter New Mexico through Apache Pass in southeast Arizona. To prepare for the advance of his main force, he sent a column ahead as he had on his march from Yuma to Tucson. The column was led by Capt. Thomas L. Roberts of Company E, 1st California Infantry, accompanied by two 12-pounder mountain howitzers, a 22-man cavalry escort from Company B, 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry led by Capt. John C. Cremony and 21 wagons plus 242 mules and horses.

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