Battle of Hembrillo Basin
Battle of Hembrillo Basin
The Battle of Hembrillo Basin happened April 5–8, 1880, in Hembrillo Basin in what is now Doña Ana County, New Mexico. It was the largest battle of Victorio’s War, fought between the United States Army and a combined band of Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache led by Chief Victorio. The Apaches won a tactical victory by holding off a much larger force, evacuating women and children, and withdrawing safely.
Background: Victorio had left the Mescalero Reservation in 1879 with about 80 warriors and their families. The U.S. Army pursued him across southern New Mexico toward Texas and Mexico. In March 1880 Pueblo Indian scouts located Victorio in Hembrillo Basin on the western slopes of the San Andres Mountains.
Forces and plan: Army commander Colonel Edward Hatch split his force into four groups to trap Victorio. The plan was to strike from the north, south, west, and east and surround the Apache camp, with the assault set for April 8.
The fighting:
- April 5: Captain Carroll, with more than 100 Buffalo Soldiers and Indian scouts, moved into Hembrillo Valley. Lt. John Conline’s scouts spotted 35–50 Apaches. A brief fight followed; two soldiers were wounded. The Apaches withdrew at night.
- April 6: Carroll pressed the attack. Apache fighters used high ground to fire from a distance, and Carroll found himself briefly surrounded and short of water. The night was difficult for his troops.
- April 7: More U.S. troops arrived, including Captain McClellan with 85 soldiers and 40 Indian scouts, plus a large force of White Mountain Apache allies. Lt. Gatewood led the Apache scouts in a flank attack. Victorio, seeing victory was unlikely, began to withdraw. He moved his warriors to a ridge and then pulled back as his women and children fled the area.
Casualties and aftermath: The battle ended with relatively light losses. About two Buffalo Soldiers were killed and five wounded; Captain Carroll was wounded; Apache casualties were few, with three bodies found. Victorio’s group retreated and continued resistance in the region.
Aftermath: In the follow-up weeks, U.S. forces moved against the Mescalero reservation near Fort Stanton, rounding up many Mescalero people. In 1988, archaeologists examined Hembrillo Basin and found evidence that the area was a sacred site with important springs. The investigation also revealed details about Victorio’s tactics and how his fighters used the terrain to defend against larger forces.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:24 (CET).