Battle of Washington Pass. Successful attack on Mexican troops doing a slaving expedition in Diné (Navajo) territory

In February 1835 the Mexican Captain Blas de Hinojos left Santa Fe and headed west into Diné country with a force of almost 1,000 Mexican troops on a slaving expedition. The Diné headman Narbona had heard of Hinojos's advance, knew he had to come through the pass to reach the Canyon de Chelly, and had carefully prepared an ambush by about 250 warriors. Narbona held back his forces, who were hidden on both sides of the defile. He told them that when the time was right, and not before, they would cut the long file of men into small pieces, like cutting a long tree trunk into firewood. When the owl hoot signal was given, the Diné fighters poured arrows into the column, those who had guns fired, and some threw stones or rolled rocks into the gorge. Taken completely by surprise, both men and horses panicked and were routed. Many of the Mexicans were killed, including their leader.