Legends of the Old West: "BUFFALO SOLDIERS Ep. 5 | Ambush at Carrizo Canyon" (Dec 24, 2025)
Host: Chris Wimmer, Black Barrel Media

Episode Overview

This episode of "Legends of the Old West" explores the harrowing Ambush at Carrizo Canyon in August 1881—a key engagement in the final days of the Apache Wars. The story follows Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry, particularly the leadership of Sergeants George Jordan and Thomas Shaw, as they are caught in a deadly ambush by the legendary Apache leader Nana and his warriors. The episode also contextualizes the wider scope of Apache raids during this period, the endurance and tactics of the warriors, and the eventual recognition of these Black soldiers’ bravery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Carrizo Canyon Ambush

[00:56-04:30]

• The terrain around Carrizo Canyon in southern New Mexico is described as deceptive—difficult, yet seemingly unremarkable—making it an effective site for an ambush.
• On August 12, 1881, Captain Charles Parker and 18 Buffalo Soldiers are tracking Nana, an aged but fierce Apache leader. The patrol is exhausted and unaware how close they are to danger.
• As the group enters the canyon, Apache rifle fire erupts from above. Horses panic and chaos ensues. Captain Parker attempts to rally the men, but crucial initiative falls to veteran Sergeants George Jordan and Thomas Shaw.
• Quote: "Sergeant George Jordan steadied the line. He was small in stature, but a giant in presence, and his voice rose above the panic." (Chris Wimmer, 03:09)

2. Profiles in Leadership: George Jordan & Thomas Shaw

[04:30-06:50]

• Both sergeants were born into slavery and later enlisted after the Civil War—Jordan in Tennessee, Shaw in Kentucky.
• By 1881, both have risen through the ranks to become trusted leaders of K Troop.
• Contrasting physiques and backgrounds are detailed, but both are respected for skill under fire.
• Their actions at Carrizo Canyon and historical context of their military careers are highlighted.
• Quote: "By the time Victorio's war started in 1879, Jordan and Shaw were veteran soldiers…They would both be honored for their actions during the Ambush at Carrizo Canyon in 1881." (Chris Wimmer, 05:55)

3. Flashback: The Battle of Fort Tularosa

[06:50-11:40]

• The narrative steps back to May 1880: The Warm Springs Apache led by Victorio attacks Fort Tularosa.
• The fort, defended by 25 men (mostly K Troop, 9th Cavalry) with townspeople, is outnumbered by a force four times their size.
• Sergeant Jordan organizes a disciplined defense, reinforcing walls and encouraging calm, methodical volley fire.
• His order-saving tactics, including driving the cattle inside the fort, preserve supplies and bolster morale.
• The Apache ultimately withdraw after sustained resistance; none of the defenders are killed.
• Quote: "The defenders were outnumbered, and discipline would be their only salvation." (Chris Wimmer, 08:11)

4. The Rise of Nana

[11:40-16:45]

• After Victorio’s death and the destruction of Warm Springs Apache at Tres Castillos (Oct 1880), Nana, an old and seemingly frail warrior, emerges as leader.
• Despite his age and ailments, Nana commands fierce respect and energy, launching his personal campaign of raids in summer 1881.
• Nana’s tactical prowess and resilience—leading a small force (no more than 50 men, sometimes just 15)—terrorize southern New Mexico.
• Quote: "He, quote, rode like the devil and pushed himself and his warriors with a stamina that stunned his opponents." (Chris Wimmer, 14:39)

5. Nana’s 1881 Raid: Timeline and Atrocities

[16:45-21:42]

• Nana’s band attacks survey crews, stagecoaches, convoys, and ranches, leaving dozens dead across a month.
• The army, including Captain Parker’s men, chases the raiders across harsh terrain, often trailing carnage by hours.
• The narrative builds toward the ambush at Carrizo Canyon—with Parker’s troop tracking Nana directly into the Apache’s trap.

6. The Ambush Unfolds

[22:15-24:55]

• The battle is chaos. The troopers are pinned down; Captain Parker struggles to coordinate.
• Jordan keeps the line organized, carefully rationing ammunition. Shaw leads a small group up the ridge, disrupting the Apache flank.
• The soldiers hold out until night falls, at which point Nana’s warriors slip away—their classic tactic.
• Losses: 2 soldiers killed, 4 wounded—heavy, but not disastrous, testament to the sergeants’ leadership.
• Quote: "Instead of firing wildly, Jordan directed volleys—short, disciplined bursts. Ammunition was precious, and every round had to count." (Chris Wimmer, 22:25)

7. The Aftermath and Wider Campaign

[24:55-30:00]

• The fight at Carrizo Canyon is just one in a string of running battles during Nana’s month-long raid.
• Subsequent engagements described: Cuchillo Negro Creek (Aug 16) and a final ambush days later at Fort Cummings, where Sergeant Brent Woods also distinguishes himself.
• Nana’s force covers an astonishing 1,000 miles in 34 days, killing at least 72 people. The army is outmaneuvered and strained.
• Nana eludes capture, committing his last atrocities before slipping back to Mexico.
• Quote: "They eluded upwards of a thousand soldiers throughout southern New Mexico…and they did it while being led by a white-haired, half-blind, stoop-shouldered man in his 80s. The slaughter was terrible, but the feat of stamina became legendary." (Chris Wimmer, 28:16)

8. Legacy: Recognition and the End of the Indian Wars

[30:00-32:15]

• Nana is eventually captured in 1883, escapes, joins Geronimo, and lives until 1896.
• Sergeant Jordan retires in 1896 as a landowner—a rare accomplishment for a man born enslaved.
• Both Jordan and Shaw receive the Medal of Honor in 1890 (for Carrizo Canyon and earlier heroics), alongside other Buffalo Soldiers recognized for their valor during Nana’s Raid.
• The episode closes by noting the Buffalo Soldiers’ key roles in the end of the Indian Wars, their adversaries, and their hard-won freedoms.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sergeant Jordan’s Leadership:
  "Sergeant George Jordan steadied the line. He was small in stature, but a giant in presence, and his voice rose above the panic." (Chris Wimmer, 03:09)

• On Nana’s Endurance:
  "He rode like the devil and pushed himself and his warriors with a stamina that stunned his opponents." (Chris Wimmer, 14:39)

• On the Battle's Intensity:
  "Chips of stone flew through the air like razor sharp shrapnel as Apache bullets ricocheted off the boulders. Shaw found a low shelf of rock near the top of the ridge and threw his men behind it. From that perch, they returned fire and disrupted the Apache flanking maneuver…" (Chris Wimmer, 22:40)

• On the Raids' Aftermath and the Apache Tactics:
  "Like many fights against Native American warriors, the only thing that ended the action was darkness." (Chris Wimmer, 24:35)

• On the Buffalo Soldiers' Legacy:
  "For a man born into slavery in Tennessee, it was no small thing to hold property in his own name." (Chris Wimmer, 30:55)

Timestamps to Key Segments

• Ambush Preparations and Terrain: 00:56–03:30
• Buffalo Soldiers’ Backgrounds: 04:30–06:50
• Defense of Fort Tularosa: 06:50–11:40
• Rise and Tactics of Nana: 11:40–16:45
• Nana’s 1881 Raid Details: 16:45–21:42
• Ambush at Carrizo Canyon (Battle): 22:15–24:55
• Aftermath, Final Battles, and Legacy: 24:55–32:15

Final Thoughts

The episode paints a vivid, gritty picture of the realities faced by the Buffalo Soldiers and their Native American adversaries. Through well-crafted storytelling and historical detail, it honors the heroism and determination of men like Jordan and Shaw, the tactical brilliance and endurance of Nana, and the tragedy and complexity of the American West’s final wars. The actions at Carrizo Canyon and beyond cement these figures as legends in the saga of the Old West.