When Kearny departed for California, Colonel Sterling Price was left in command of American forces in New Mexico.

[3]: 140  Another American force fought the New Mexicans at Mora, on the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

[1][3]: 140 Price ordered Lt. Dyer to set up an artillery battery, consisting of a 6-pounder and the howitzers, 250 yards from the western flank of the church and began firing at 2 PM and continued for two and a half hours before retiring to Don Fernando for the evening.

Burgwin's 1st Dragoon Regiment, and Major Clarke's light artillery, in the same position he had the battery the evening before, Capt.

[1] A hole was cut in the western wall which permitted shells to be thrown in by hand, while the 6-pounder was placed so it could fire grape into the town.

[1] This allowed Lt. Dyer, Lt. Wilson and Taylor to take possession of the church, followed by the rebels abandoning the western part of the town.