on the morning of september 18, day, along with captain byron dawson and twenty-two men of troops a and b together with three navajo scouts, were following victorio's trail through las animas canyon in new mexico. here, they fell into an ambush, with the apache above them on three sides of the canyon pinning them down with rifle fire. they were subsequently reinforced by two companies led by captain charles beyer, which made contact with them but were unable to drive the apaches from their positions.