The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-21
Mr.. Falconer TO Mr.. Ellis.

Mr.. Fdlconer TO Mr.. Ellis.
SIR Mr.. Kendall joined the expedition at the city
of Austin as guest. He not enrolled, and he
was not subject to military orders. Frequen thy upon
the route, he showed the passport he had obtained
from the Mexican Consul at New Orleans which
clearly authorized him to enter Mexico by Santa Fee.
He with the party consisting of four, who were
first captured The of his being with this
party, that Col. Cooke anticipated difficulties,
and knowing that he had passport thought it would
enable him to remove from any scene of hostilities
that might occur He was on his route 10 Santa Fe.
When he reached that place he might, and probably
would, have CONFIRMED to the law of Mexico, in
the aid his passport entitled him to by presenting it
the local authorities.
When Mr.. Kendall captured, his companions
exhibited white flag, and assured that they
would not be made prisoners. The promise of their
security fulfilled, and Mr.. KeDdall's pass
port taken from him. He was clearly entitled to
return to Col Cooke or upon the authority of his
passport to have left his companions, and to have
pursued his journey without interruption.
The secret instructions of the Commiss who
accompanied the expedition and who, it stated,
to treat with the inhabitants of New Mexico
upon matters Of trade, were not by Mr.. Kendall
Their character could have been anticipated from
the presence Of the military. The military force
not larger than necessary for the protection of the
goods OF the merchants from the attack of Indians,
nor larger, believe, than The military force which
companed the early Missouri expeditions.
The patty with whom Mr.. Kendall was prisoner
left San Miguel upon the 18th October. A few days
afterwards at Valencia Of the Texan volunteers Of
the of McAster shot 1t is said, that his sis
ter married of Chief Justice Marshall. He was
lame, and unable from fatigue and exhaustion to
walk SO fast others. Captain Demasio Salazar
who had the charge of the prisoners, directed Mr.
Van Ness to inform the men that he would order
those to be shot who were unable to keep up. When
MIR. Van Ness was complying with this direction, but
had not repeated the whole message, party of SOL
l,aro toll Mo 1icfar o1 txbv ho
not go on'" He replied that Z" he could not" He
was instantly shot.
Dolphin, merchant was shot November Cd, and
in the course of the march called the Grand lorna
da. He had long been sick, and was carried in the
sick Wagon nearly the whole distance from Quinn
tifue to San Mgue-that is, from September 18th
to October 18th. He continued inirm and sick
til the time Of his DEATH The march at that time
was very severe. The Grand Jornada is so called
from their being water the whole distance, and is
always made with difficulty. The day before it
commenced we camped at Fray Cristoyal. In the
night there was snow-storm. None Of us
had more than blanket, and when morning came
there more than two inches of snow on us. Col
phin, being sick, suffered more than many others.
The march commenced at noon and continued the
whole night. There was halt for about one hour
and half in the morning. when the march again COM
mcnced, and was continued throughout the day, and
with the exception Of three hours throughout the
whole night, and until about 10 O'Clock the next
morning. During the whole time no provisions or
water were given to the Texans. 1t was about
O'Clock in the evening of the last day that Dolphin
went to one of the Mexican soldiers, and obtained
from him perm sson to ride part of the distance. He
in the act of taking off his shirt to pay for this
favor, when some soldiers came up and shot him.
He ran off some yards, crying out to have his life
spared, VIII another soldier shot him dead.
Griffith, soldier, was killed the same night Col
phin was killed. What occurred previous to his
death, we do not know nor any particulars, other
than that his brains were knocked out. man Of
the name of Ernest died at Valencia from exhaus-