The Battle of Las Animas Canyon was fought on 18 September 1879 during the Apache Wars, when a party of 150 Apache warriors led by Victorio ambushed four companies of the US 9th Cavalry Regiment at Las Animas Canyon in Sierra County, New Mexico. The cavalry companies were following Victorio's trail and were lured into the canyon, where they were ambushed by Apache warriors who pinned them down throughout the day. The cavalry withdrew at dark, abandoning their camp to the Native Americans, and the Army reported 5-6 soldiers and 2-3 Navajo scouts lost, although the cemetery at the battle site had at least 32 graves.