No. 1.--Maj. John M. Chivington, First Colorado Infantry.
    No. 2.--Capt. Charles J. Walker, Second U. S. Cavalry, including engagement at Glorieta, March 28.

                                        CAMP LEWIS, NEAR PECOS CHURCH, N. MEX.,
                                                                March 26, 1862.
    GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to you the following report of the troops under my command on the 26th of March, 1862, at the battle of Apache Cañon:
    The force consisted as follows: Company A, 60 men, Captain Wynkoop; Company E, 60 men, Captain Anthony, and 60 men of Company D, Captain Downing, of the First Regiment Colorado Infantry Volunteers, and 28 men of Company C, 6 men of Company D, 6 men of Company __, 10 men of Company K, Third Cavalry, under Captain Howland and Lieutenants Wall and Falvey; 50 men of Company E, Third Cavalry, commanded by Captain Walker and Lieutenant Banks; 50 men of Companies D and G, First Cavalry, under Captain Lord and Lieutenant Bernard (all of the U. S. Army), and 88 men of Company F, First Regiment Cavalry Colorado Volunteers, under Captain Cook and Lieutenants Nelson and Marshall; making the total force on our side 418 men. We marched from Bernal Springs for Santa Fé at 3 o'clock p. m. of the 25th instant, intending to surprise the enemy in small force at that place. After a march of 35 miles, and learning we were in the vicinity of the enemy's pickets, we halted about midnight, and at 2 o'clock a. m. on the 26th Lieutenant Nelson, with 20 men, was sent out to surprise their pickets, which they did, and captured them at 10 o'clock a. m. The detachment again moved forward, and just as we entered the cañon (Apache) discovered the advance guard of the foe and captured two lieutenants. In a few minutes they planted their battery and began to throw grape and shell among us. In double-quick Companies A and E, First Colorado volunteers, were deployed as skirmishers to the left and on the mountain side, and Company D, First Colorado Volunteers, was deployed as skirmishers to the right on the mountain side, and an order was given that the cavalry be held

    *This skirmish is also mentioned in Slough's and Scurry's reports of engagement, March 28, at Glorieta, N. Mex.

in readiness to charge whenever the cannon were about to retreat. Soon our men from the mountain sides made it too hot for their gunners, and they fell back about 1½ miles and took another and more advantageous position, completely covering the sides of the mountains with their skirmishers to support their guns in the cañon below them.
    Having mean time assembled our skirmishers in the cañon, we again deployed Company D, First Colorado Volunteers, on the right, and Companies A and E, First Colorado Volunteers, on the left, and dismounted all the cavalry and deployed them as skirmishers, except Company F, First Colorado Volunteers, Captain Cook, who was ordered to charge them the moment they gave way before the fire of our infantry. After a contest of an hour they began to prepare for another retreat, and by this time Company D, Captain Downing, had well nigh flanked them, so as to cut off their retreat, Captain Cook and Lieutenants Nelson and Marshall leading the way. Company F now made a flying charge on the enemy, running over and trampling them under the horses' feet. Captain Downing with his men, and Lieutenant Bernard with Company C, Third Cavalry, poured into him a sharp fire from the right, which drove him up a cañon on the left side of the main cañon, when Companies A and E, First Colorado Volunteers, took a large number of prisoners. It now being sundown, and we not knowing how near the enemy's re-enforcements might be, and having no cannon to oppose theirs, hastened to gather up our dead and wounded and several of the enemy's, and then fell back to Pigeon's Ranch and encamped for the night.
    Our loss was 5 killed and 14 wounded. The loss of the enemy was, as we ascertained from their own accounts, 32 killed, 43 wounded, and 71 taken prisoners.
        I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant,
                                               J. M. CHIVINGTON,
                             Major, First Regiment Colorado Volunteers.
    Brig. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY, U. S. A.,
        Commanding Department New Mexico, Santa Fé, N. Mex.

                                    FORT CRAIG, N. MEX., May 20, 1862.
    SIR: In compliance with orders from the Headquarters of the South Military District, Fort Craig, N. Mex., of May 18, 1862, requiring a detailed report of the operations of my company or command in the recent actions of Apache Cañon and Pigeon's Ranch, I have the honor to state that on the morning of the 26th of March last my company, forming a part of the cavalry command under Capt. G. W. Howland, Third Cavalry, moved from Gray's Ranch, near the old Pecos Church, in the direction of Johnson's Ranch, in Apache Cañon, a point near which we reached about 2 o'clock p. m. We here discovered the enemy, about 250 or 300 strong, some 400 or 500 yards in front of us. They had two pieces of artillery in position on the road, and were awaiting us. As soon as our column appeared they opened fire with their battery, and, though they kept it up between five and ten minutes at close range, did us no damage. They then retired with their guns, and our

entire force, infantry and cavalry, advanced about 600 or 800 yards farther on the road. At this point my company was ordered to dismount and assist Captain Wynkoop's company of Colorado Volunteers in clearing the hills to the left and front of our position. Some little skirmishing occurred after this at long range, but the enemy fell back so rapidly that we scarcely got sight of them.
    By this time the firing had ceased at every point of the field and the troops were recalled to the road, where my company remained until about 9.30 o'clock that night, when I retired to Pigeon's Ranch and rejoined Colonel Chivington. Next morning we marched to old Pecos Church, at which place Colonel Slough united all of the forces. On the following morning (March 28) the entire command, my company in advance, moved to Pigeon's Ranch, where we halted about an hour and a half, after which we started on. We had not, however, proceeded more than 600 or 700 yards before we discovered the enemy in force immediately in front of us. They, as on the 26th, had their artillery (three pieces) in the road, ready to receive us. As soon as I learned the position of their guns I at once moved into the timber on our left, and dismounted my company and commenced skirmishing on foot. About this time Captain Ritter's battery arrived, and, supported by the infantry, took position in the road on my right. As soon as he opened on the enemy's guns my company was ordered to mount and follow the colonel commanding. I followed Colonel Slough, in obedience to this order, for a half or three-quarters of an hour, by which time the action had become general. I was then ordered to occupy the high ridge running obliquely back from the road and on the right of Pigeon's house. I did so, and held that position during the remainder of the day, or at least until our forces had retired from the field. While in this position we at several times during the day had some skirmishing with the enemy in small parties. The company, though under fire a great part of the day, accomplished nothing that I remember of special importance, though they did all that the position assigned them required. The officer (Lieut. Sidney Banks) and men behaved handsomely whenever brought under the enemy's fire, and gave every evidence of a willingness and determination to do any duty that might be required of them. The strength of the company (E, Third U. S. Cavalry) during these two actions was one officer (Lieut. Sidney Banks, Third Cavalry) besides myself and about 40 or 45 enlisted men.
        I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                                                    C. J. WALKER,
                  Second Cavalry, Commanding Company E, Third Cavalry.
    Lieut. N. M. MACRAE,
        Fourth New Mexico Volunteers, Act. Asst. Adjt. Gen.

Source:

United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al., "Roanoke," The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Prepared, Under the Direction of the Secretary of War, by Bvt. Lieut. Col. Robert N. Scott, Third U. S. Artillery. Published Pursuant to Acts of Congress Approved June 16, 1880. Series I-Volume IX. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1883, pp. 530-532.