Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-19
DOMESTIC.
THE SANTA FE EXPEDITION.


Ohcial documents have been received at New Or
leans, concerHir- the capture CT the Santa Fe Exped
lion anu the SUBS qnen treatment of the prisoners. IL
Is clearly proved that they induced surrender
ny representations OF Of their party, Captain
Lewis, that the Mexican force was much greater than
treaily was. They also destitute of provisions,
The country was almost impossible, and Indians were
hoverng thickly about their camp. In this condition
they were summoned to surrender, the Mexican leader
assuring them that their arms and private property
should be respected and that they should remain in safe
y where they were, parole, until provision could be
made 10 send them back 10 Texas Having express or
ders from the Texan authorities TO avoid hostes with
the natives, they surrendered and instantly start
ed off for Mexico 1t after considerable deliberation
that their lives were spared. Ninety OF the prison
ers are known TO have arrived at Mexico, where they
are employed as scavengers Of the streets Mr. Ellis
our Minister there, had demanded the surrender OF
young Co"m6s, whose health IS very poor, as citizen
oil The u ). More than week had lapsed, and no
swer had been returned. Kendall had not reached
Mexico. The following letter has been received from
him, howe yer, dated
CnIuuAnus, MEXICO, Nov. -, ls4l.
My Dear Friends-fou have doubtless, this,
heard thlt your humble servant in what may justly
be termed IA bad muss" but this is the first time have
had Glance of letting you know it myself.
Oh The l5 September last, after suffering hanlships
almost tccdie ON The pralrieS, i'll the way OF starvG-
lion: & lavsei with four Others, taken prisoners
hy detachment cl AIcxicans near san Miguel, New
Mexico After confinement Of some fire weekSal San
Miguel, a town some fifty miles from Santa Fe, was
taken AID brought to this city with near Two hundred Of
the troops (plSoners) attached I" The Icxan Santa Fc
expedition. Tomorrow or next day We are all Ia start
iur the ciy If Mexico where shall probably arrive
early in February and where have the strongest hopes
Of gainih9 my liberty once more and soon after my arii-
ra ltlp2carS little singular, does il not that IN
individual perfectly innocent, and with no wrong inten
tons loyari this Government, should thus be made :;
prisoner Of and marched Il distance Of 1850 or 1000
miles! But AT present well treated, and have no
reason 3 complain although my case is peculiarly
hard One thing, however, have gained by the opc
ralion-heallh and that Of the hcsl kind. verify he
licvc we're 10 enter the Office in my present condition,
you void not know me. am souter and heavier than
ever was in my life.
| have not seen q paper heard word from the
u. S. since left in May last, with the exception of a
runor hat war had been declared against England,
and that The old Harrison cabinet had 'buslcd up" AL.
thought have been IN the world for the last six months,
have not been ri it,
My inkle has nearly recovered, and perhaps you
will think il time. So serious the injury that for
months unable 10 put my foot TO the ground.
a broken leg would have been scratch IN COM
parlson.
There are a number Of English and Americans here,
who hare all treated with great kindness The Co.
Of the State Of Chlhuahua is also gentleman.
ly and odhearted man. and has done much TO alevl
ac the condition of the prisoners.
This place | should like extremely well it had
my liberty, as the people are kind-heaIted and very
obl,ging to strangers. At Passo, town some three
hundred miles from this, | received avors from the
priest OF the place, such wouldsno be granted or
conferred hy any minister of the gospel out OF Mexico
but of all this shall speak further when get home.
Oncc say TO all, keep "slif upper lips. Tell
all my friends thai | shall ''mam!ffst" myself among
them one Of these days.
Hoping that you are all enjoying MS good health as
myself, remain still GEO WILKES kEsDALL.
I 8 d. h,s NJ Hpr
Cruz In letter home he says he has strong hopes Of
procuring kcndals liberation. The names in The list
of the Santa Re expedition he says, 50 badly spelled
moi 5e recognized Several Of the prisoners were
shot loo attempting 10 escape on their march, and one
had committed suicide " \. Tribune.