Perceiving that no pacific measures would avail, Lieutenant Davidson tried the effect of powder and lead.  Many of the warriors fell dead, but the savages were so many and so fierce, that the odds were against the troops.  In danger of being surrounded and of thus sacrificing the whole of his little army, Davidson decided to retreat down the mountains.  Being hotly pursued he was obliged to contest every foot of his way.  Trees, rocks, stumps were, as usual, Indian breastworks.  With their unerring aim, they laid low twenty of the soldiers.  Most of the other forty of Davidson’s command were more or less severely wounded.  Bravely the poor fellows fought, though unsuccessfully.  They however escaped to Taos.

The people in Taos were much distressed, in learning of this disastrous termination of the battle.  The next day they sent wagons to convey the remains of the fallen soldiers to a proper burial place.  On reaching the spot, they found the inhuman savages had, as usual, mutilated the remains of every one, and had stripped them of their clothing.  Not long after several Apaches appeared in the streets of a small Mexican settlement, clad in the garments of the slain dragoons, and afforded much amusement to the people by their grotesque appearance, and awkward endeavors to imitate military etiquette and courtesy.

As is always the case in every military disaster Lieutenant Davidson’s conduct has been assailed.  But the evidence of the men of his command was, that his coolness in difficulty, his courage in danger, and his judgment in the retreat entitle him to credit, not censure.  Mr. Carson does not justify the unkind accusations against him, but says: 

“I am intimately acquainted with Lieutenant Davidson, and have been in engagements with him, where he has taken a prominent part, and can testify that he is as brave and discreet as it is possible for a man to be.  Nearly every person engaged in, and who survived that day’s bloody battle, has since told me, that his commanding officer never once sought shelter, but stood manfully exposed to the aim of the Indians, encouraging his men, and apparently unmindful of his own life.  It was, however, in the retreat they say that he acted the most gallantly, for when every thing was going badly with the soldiers, he was as cool and collected as if under the guns of his fort.  The only anxiety he exhibited was for the safety of his remaining men.”

The Apaches left the region at once, wisely fearing retribution at the hand of their foes.  Mr. Carson, in travelling homeward from Santa Fe, saw no trace of them.  But their barbarities were not forgotten and new and more vigorous measures were taken to reduce them to submission.

Colonel Cook was appointed commander of this new expedition.  Mr. Carson accompanied him.  Forty Mexicans and several Pueblo Indians joined the party under the command of Mr. James H. Quinn.  Passing on in a northerly direction, they came to a small river emptying into the Rio del Norte.  This was a wild mountain stream, swollen into a foaming torrent, by melting snows and recent rains.  But it must be crossed.  It was perilous, for the bed was rocky and the current rapid.