The Battle of Sulphur Springs involved members of the 1st California Cavalry Battalion and the Chiricahua and took place in Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona. It was the only engagement of General John S. Mason's 1865 campaign against Apaches led by Cochise.
| Battle of Sulphur Springs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of American Indian Wars, Apache Wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States | Apache | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Captain Jimeno | |||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 1st California Cavalry Battalion | Chiricahua Apache | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~100 | unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | 1 killed, 2 wounded | ||||||
Background
editGeneral Mason was planning a campaign against Cochise that involved the soldiers garrisoning Fort Mason. This Included men of the 7th California Infantry Regiment and the 1st California Cavalry Battalion.[1]
Most of Native Cavalry's service in the Arizona Territory had not involved combat with the Apache. Many of the Californios had never even seen an Apache. The only time they fought was a skirmish that Captain Jimemo described as "killing one Apache in a brief exchange in October.[1]" Cochise was being very elusive in the area possibly in part because of the troop increase with General Mason's appearance in Arizona.[1]
Mason's campaign against Cochise called for troops from Fort Mason and Bowie. The one pick to lead was Colonel Lewis's with men from the 1st Battalion and his own 7th. They left Fort Mason[1] in December.
Battle
editIn late December they split into three detachments that scouted the San Pedro Valley and the Huachuca and Dragoon Mountains. Captain Jimeno's cavalry followed a party of Apaches to an encampment at Sulphur Springs on Christmas Eve. "Attacking from ambush, the Californios killed one Indian, wounded two others, and scattered the remainder."[1][2]
Aftermath
editDays after the ambush, Colonel Lewis and the rest of the expedition united with Jimeno's Cavalry at the ambush site.[1] Heading north and west, the California Volunteers headed to Fort Bowie. By the 6 of January, command was in the field again, trailing Cochise's band in the Chiricahua Mountains. Although at one point the Californios observed sixty to seventy warriors at a distance, the Apache constantly remained a few steps ahead of Lewis's men. The chased continued as far south as Fronteras, Sonora where Lewis turn around the unit, ending the expedition in failure. Captain Jimeno was blamed by Lewis in spite of the fact that the Lancers had the only noticeable success of the campaign.[1]