Siege of Pueblo de Taos

Part of the Taos Revolt
Mexican-American War

The death of John Burgwin at the Siege of Taos.

Date	February 3–5, 1847
Location	Pueblo de Taos, New Mexico
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Mexico

Commanders and leaders

Sterling Price
John Burgwin†
Ceran St. Vrain

Pablo Chávez
Pablo Montoya†
Tomás Romero†

Strength

478

600-700

Casualties and losses

7-10 killed
45 wounded

~150 killed

The Siege of Pueblo de Taos was the final battle during the main phase of the Taos Revolt, an insurrection against the United States during the Mexican-American War. It was also the final major engagement between American forces and insurgent forces in New Mexico during the war.

In August 1846, New Mexico fell to American troops under Stephen Watts Kearny. When Kearny departed for California, Colonel Sterling Price was left in command of American forces in New Mexico. In January 1847, Price learned of a Mexican revolt in the territory and confronted the rebels at the Battle of Cañada and Battle of Embudo Pass as his forces moved on to Pueblo de Taos, the center of insurrection activity. Another American force fought the New Mexicans at Mora, on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

On 1 Feb., his force of 478 men reached the summit of Taos Mountain, covered in two feet of snow, and on 2 Feb., Rio Chioito, the entrance to Taos Valley. On 3 Feb., Price marched through Don Fernando de Taos and then found the rebels had strongly fortified Pueblo de Taos.

Price ordered Lt. Dyer to set up an artillery battery, consisting of a 6-pounder and the howitzers, 250 yards from the western flank of the church and began firing at 2 PM and continued for two and a half hours before retiring to Don Fernando for the evening. Early on 4 Feb., he placed Capt. Burgwin's 1st Dragoon Regiment, and Major Clarke's light artillery, in the same position he had the battery the evening before, Capt. St. Vrain's and Capt. Slack's mounted men were placed to prevent escape towards the mountains or Don Fernando, and the remaining men were placed 300 yards from the northern wall along with Lt. Dyer's artillery battery. This placed the front and eastern flank of the church in a crossfire.

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