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This list of battles fought in New Mexico is an incomplete list of military and other armed confrontations that have occurred within the boundaries of the modern U.S. State of New Mexico since European contact. The region was part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1535 to 1821, and then Mexico from 1821 to 1847. Over half of New Mexico was claimed by the Republic of Texas from 1836 to 1841, but control was never established in any form. Full administrative control of New Mexico was established on February 2, 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican–American War.
The Mexican–American War, American Civil War, and Plains Indian Wars all directly affected the region during westward expansion.
Battles
| Name | Date | Location | War | Campaign | Dead | Belligerents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Hawikku | July 7–12, 1540 | near Zuni Pueblo | Spanish Colonization | Coronado Expedition | unknown | Kingdom of Spain vs Zuni people |
| Pueblo Revolt | August 10–21, 1680 | Santa Fe de Nuevo México | Spanish Colonization | 400+ | Taos, Picuris, Jemez, Santa Clara, Kewa, Cochiti (aka Kotyit'), Tesuque, Ohkay Owingeh, Nambé pueblos & Apache vs Kingdom of Spain | |
| Recapture of Santa Fe | December 29–30, 1693 | Santa Fe | Spanish Colonization | 89 | Kingdom of Spain & Pecos vs Taos, Picuris, Jemez, Kha'p'oo Owinge, Kewa, Tesuque, Ohkay Owingeh & Nambé | |
| Chimayó Rebellion | August 1–9, 1837 | Rio Arriba County & Santa Fe County | Revolt of 1837 | ~23 | New Mexico rebels & local Pueblo allies vs Mexico | |
| Texan Santa Fe Expedition | June 19, 1841 - June 13, 1842 | Comancheria & Santa Fe | unknown | Republic of Texas vs Mexico | ||
| Battle of El Brazito | December 25, 1846 | near Las Cruces | Mexican–American War | New Mexico Campaign | 43 | Mexico vs United States of America |
| Battle of Cañada | January 24, 1847 | Santa Cruz | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | 38 | United States of America vs Mexico & Pueblo |
| First Battle of Mora | January 24, 1847 | Mora | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | 26 | United States of America vs Mexico |
| Second Battle of Mora | February 1, 1847 | Mora | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | unknown | United States of America vs Mexico |
| Siege of Pueblo de Taos | February 3–5, 1847 | Taos Pueblo | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | 60+ | United States of America vs Mexico |
| Red River Canyon Affair | May 26–27, 1847 | Red River Canyon | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | 25 | United States of America vs Mexico, Pueblo, Apache, Kiowa, & Comanche |
| Las Vegas Affair | July 6, 1847 | Las Vegas | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | 10 | United States of America vs Mexico |
| Cienega Affair | July 9, 1847 | Cienega Creek near Taos | Mexican–American War / Taos Revolt | New Mexico Campaign | 5+ | United States of America vs Mexico & Pueblo |
| White Massacre | October 28, 1849 | Tucumcari, New Mexico | American Indian Wars | Jicarilla War | 5+ | Ute & Jicarilla Apache vs American settlers |
| First Battle of Mesilla | July 25, 1861 | Mesilla, New Mexico Territory (USA) | American Civil War | 5-15 | Confederate States of America vs United States of America | |
| Battle of Canada Alamosa | September 24–25, 1861 | San Ygnacio de la Alamosa | American Civil War | 6 | Confederate States of America vs United States of America | |
| Skirmish near Fort Thorn, New Mexico Territory | September 26, 1861 | near Fort Thorn | American Civil War | 2 | Confederate States of America vs United States of America | |
| Battle of Valverde | February 20–21, 1862 | near Fort Craig | American Civil War | New Mexico Campaign | 104 | Confederate States of America vs United States of America |
| Battle of Glorieta Pass | March 26–28, 1862 | modern Santa Fe County & San Miguel County | American Civil War | New Mexico Campaign | 101 | United States of America vs Confederate States of America |
| Battle of Albuquerque | April 8–9, 1862 | Albuquerque | American Civil War | New Mexico Campaign | 1 | United States of America vs Confederate States of America |
| Battle of Peralta | April 14, 1862 | Peralta | American Civil War | New Mexico Campaign | 5-6 | United States of America vs Confederate States of America |
| Second Battle of Mesilla | July 1, 1862 | Mesilla, Confederate Arizona | American Civil War | none known | United States of America vs Confederate States of America | |
| Battle of Pecos River | January 4, 1864 | near Fort Sumner | Navajo Wars | 40 | United States of America & Mescalero Apache vs Navajo people | |
| Battle of Mount Gray | April 7, 1864 | Mount Gray, modern Hidalgo County | Apache Wars / American Civil War | California Column | 21 | United States of America vs Apache |
| Skirmish in Doubtful Canyon | May 3, 1864 | Hidalgo County | Apache Wars / American Civil War | California Column | 10 | United States of America vs Apache |
| Battle of Columbus | March 9, 1916 | Columbus | Mexican Revolution | Mexican Border War (1910–1919) | ~138 | United States of America vs Mexican Revolutionaries |
Notes
- Native Americans' casualties have not been recorded.
- Nine rebels died during the fighting (two by suicide) and the Spanish executed 70 prisoners who had refused to surrender.
- Governor Albino Pérez was captured by Kewa warriors as he and his few supporters fled Santa Fe after being unable to find support there. Pérez was decapitated and his head returned to Santa Fe for display. Two other government officials and about 20 of their supporters were also killed; Native American or New Mexicans killed during the revolt have not been recorded.
- The Texan forces consisted of over 320 men and they were greatly outnumbered by a detachment of the Mexican Army numbering over 1,500 men. The Texan forces being taken as prisoners were forced to march to Veracruz which took an unknown toll on their numbers. Varying numbers of "Volunteers of the Texan Army Santa Fe Prisoners" are known to have left Mexico and returned to New Orleans.
- No U.S. casualties were reported, but 17 Mexicans were reported killed or wounded.
- Mexican and Native American casualties are estimated at 150 killed or wounded.
- Specific groups have not been identified.
- Mexican and Native Americans killed in action is unknown.
- Specific groups have not been identified.
- The exact number of settlers involved was not recorded. It is unknown if any Native Americans were killed in the action.
- "CWSAC Battle Summary: Valverde". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
- "CWSAC Battle Summary: Glorieta Pass". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-02-07.