Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-03-29
THE SANTA FEE EXPEDITION.


to Santa Fe, and was captured with the advanced
guard, but was released by Santa Ana at Mexico,
has passed through New Orleans on his return to
Kentucky. The Bee received from him narra-
tive of the fortunes of the Expedition, which in
great part agrees with what we have already pub
lshed. 1t seems that the division of the Texan
force was constrained by want the Expedition ha-
wing been ten weeks on its march when it arrived
at the Palo Duro, constantly harrassed by the In
dams, who killed five of its men the morning the
advanced party set out. The provisions had run
short, and 80 men under Col Cook, Dr. Brennan
and Capt. Sutton were pushed on, to procure
fresh supply and to open a communication with the
Santa Feans. AS they supposed they were but 80
miles from Gallinas, and provisions were scarce,
only three days rations taken. But time
showed that they were 800 miles from Gallinas!
with not habtation on the way, and they were
two weeks accomplishing the distance, subsisting
on their broken down horses, wild berries, horned
frogs, snakes, &C. &c.-any thing to escape star
walton. But at last they reached Gallinas; and
from this point Mr.. Combs account of the treache
ry of Capt. Lewis, Gov. Armijo and the Mexicans
generally, and their solemn oahs to supply them
with provisions and give them safe passage out of
the Country, agrees with the accounts we have al
ready given. Mr.. Combs proceeds:
"Food was then furnished the troops, and they
were treated with some leniency until the next day.
when the Governor arrived with about l 500 men,
force sufficient to make him secure in his barbara
ty; we were seized and bound six and eight togeth
err, with hair ropes and thongs of raw hide and put
~ IL IaI h.,, lave ,od
guard The Mexican officers then excited the Pc
ons to the highest degree of phrenzy, by the ac-
counts they gave of the Texans, and we were pre-
vented from being slaughtered by being huddled
together in a small yard enclosed by mud wall,
and defended by the regular troops. In this place
we were kept all night, lying in heaps, one upon
another, and suffering the most intense agony from
the coseness of the confinement and pressure of the
ropes with which we were bound, and in full hear
ing of the disputes in the council called by the Go
vernon to deliberate upon our destiny, which deci-
ded about day break, by single cote, that we
should not be shot but marched off for Mexico
"At sunrise we had to take our march for the
city of Mexico, about 2, 900 miles distan-the SOL
diers telling that we were going to the Mines
Bound six and eight together, we were forced to
travel the three first days. about thirty miles each'
without food and even denied the privilege of drink
ing when we were wading the small streams, thro'
which we were marched. We were stripped of
hats, shoes, blankets and coats. The Governor
himself took from me my blanket and buffao-robe,
cursng and striking the prisoners and raving like
mailman, because Gas heard) his wish to have
us shot had been overruled in council. was OBJ
liged give my shirt, In the extremity of my dis
tress for loaf of bread, and snapped tolerably
good pair of pantaoons for ragged pair upon re-
ceving mouthful or two in the exchange. When
we arrived at the Rio del Norte, had parted with
every thing but my tatered trousers, vest and sus-
penders, every thing else having been disposed OF
for bread or robbed from me by the soldiers Nor
were the other prisoners in a better condition.
The weather was then cold, and we were nigh per-
ishng in nakedness.
cater few days march it was found mprac-
tcable for US to get on with any speed, bound to-
gether in such numbers. We were then tied two
together, and to each pair there rope tied
about the waist neck or arms, and fastened to the
pummel of the saddle of the horses which the
guard was mounted. The soldiers would occa-
sionally put their horses in gallop torture those
fastened to them; and whenever any of us fell down
or Jagged behind, we dragged upon the ground
and beaten with thongs, sticks, whatever else at
| hand.
The principal, indeed almost all the food we re-
ceived during the route was furnished by the wo-
men, who would follow US in large numbers for
| miles, weeping at the cruelties to which were
| ha ole me
the discharge of their offices of charity-the SOL
diers beating them off and reviling them with OBJ
scene and abusive language. We were marched,
at times all night and all day, blinded by sand and
parched with thirst, till our tongues were so swol
| len as almost to be incapable of speaking.
| In this manner we were hurried on to the city of
| Mexico, which we reached toward the close OF De-
cember But must here pause, to do justice to
one of the captains of the Mexican army, who had
charge of for about five days of the journey, who
treated us with kindness, and furnished with
money out of his own pocket. He respected
prisoners of war, and lament that | cannot recol-
lect his name. He the only officer who seemed
to regard us as human beings during the whole of
our long march. The foreigners also in Chihau-
hua and Zacatecas, raised contribution for US,
which gave us temporary relief.
cater we were taken prisoners, we learned
that Rowland, Rosenbury and Baker, the guides
we took with US from Texas, and who had been
sent on before the division left Palo Duro had been
taken and shot-as well as an American merchant,
named Rowland, who had gone their security when
they were taken up upon the information of one
Brignole, deserter from the Expedition. Ofthese
transactions, however, can only speak from hear
say. A number of other outrages were reported to
have been perpetrated upon American citizens-no
doubt correctly reported.
"When we arrived at Mexico, we were covered
with filth and vermn. We there met an order from