Jesús Tafoya

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Tafoya issued a declaration throughout Rio Arriba that called nuevomexicanos to arms against the U.S. occupation under Colonel Sterling Price in January of 1847. Price learned of the insurrection and led 353 men northward to combat Tafoya’s forces at the Battle of La Cañada. Tafoya was killed in combat, and Price defeated the nuevomexicano force. Despite the defeat, however, the nuevomexicano resistance continued piecemeal throughout the remainder of the year.