Santa Fe Expedition
Instead of sending out the expedition on June 19,1841 the President of Texas Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar waited until September 20,1841 to prepare the troops & better learn the route & distance of Santa Fe. In mid November 1841 Hugh McCleod’s scouts reported to him that a large Mexican Army detachment of around 1500 men under Manuel Armijo 2 miles from their position.
McCleod sent 25 of his best riders & marksmen under Capt. William G. Lewis to distract the detachment by conducting a series of night raids against it so McCleod could lead the expedition away. After four nights of raiding Capt. Lewis had killed or wounded more than 300 Mexicans & only losing 13 men. Manuel Armijo split his troops sending all of his cavalry & 100 infantry after Capt. Lewis.
Armijo then began a forced march to capture McCleod who was already past his position. On November 27,1841 McCleod’s rear guard informed him that Armijo’s forces were only 3 miles behind them. McCleod then set his forces up on 2 hills overlooking the ridge that Armijo was coming down. On November 28,1841 in the early morning McCleod’s 285 men opened up on Armijo’s 850 troops with grapeshot from his 6 cannon & rifle fire. By mid-morning Armijo had lost 610 troops to McCleod’s 78 troops.
After leading Armijo’s cavalry over 50 miles from the expedition, Capt. Lewis & his 12 surviving men are killed in battle taking over 75 Mexican troops with them. On December 3,1841 Hugh McCleod marches into Santa Fe & declares himself the governor of the region.