Colonel Sterling Price, commander of the U.S. forces in Santa Fe, heard of this insurgent movement and assembled a force of 353 soldiers and marched north to intercept them. Price met the large insurgent force on a hilltop position near the town of Santa Cruz de la Cañada. Price attacked and drove off the insurgents inflicting 36 casualties including Jesus Tafoya, one of the leaders.
A few days later Price again defeated the insurgents at the Battle of Embudo Pass and drove them back into fortifications at Pueblo de Taos.