The daily union., 1846-10-02
Correspondence Of the Republican
ARMY OF THE WEST.
SANTA FE, New Mexico,
Aug. oath, 1886.

SANTA FE, New Mexico,
Aug. 24th, 1886.
From the heading Of my letter you will perceive
that Santa Fe and with the province OF New Mex
leo, Is taken. Even now, the staT-spangled banner
waves over the former palace Of General ArmljO,
American sentnels guard. the town; American sol
deIs parade on the pubic plaza. On the highlands,
south OF the town, tent upon tent may be seen, and
their inmates buslly engaged IN cleaning their armoT
drilling and attending to their various military du-
ties; the cannon Of Major Clarks battalion pointing
significantly with their muzzles towards the town
all denotng that, unless symptoms belle me, the war
east Of the Rio del NoHe is ended
In one word, the expedition Of General s. w.
Kearney, with the army Of the wes has, thus far,
resulted in the most successful triumph which even
the most saDguine could have imagined.
II remember right, my last communication to
you was addressed from Fort Bent. At that place
our army remained but three days, camping nine
miles east Of the fort, the mouth Of PquetWay
Some prisoners whom we made there, and who
was supposed, were spies Of General ArmljO, spread
various contradictory rumors amongst Us, but Gen.
Keaney, without paying the least regard TO their
hostile intentions, treated them remarkably friend
ly sent them about the camp, showed them our en-
lire forces, and especially our cannon and then sent
them home, with the request to tell Gen ArmliO
what they had seen, and that in less than twenty
days we should meet him-not on by-paths-not
stealthily-but boldly, openly, on the highways Of
New Mexico, ready TO remove any obstacle which
might present itself in way, but ready, also, 10
treat al those who made no hostile demonstrations
towards us, tellow-citizens OF our republic. On
the % Of August our forces left the camp, and at
the fort, crossed the Arkansas, the inmates Of the
fort saluting US by hosting the American flag;
and, unless appearances deceived me much, |
thought | recognised a singular resemblance be-
tween The large and beautiful flag that waved over
the fort, and the flag which, in the days Of "auld
lang syne," waved on the Polk stalk in ST. Louis
over the devoted heads Of the Immaculate hard dsc-
pies Of the democratic church. What struck me
as a singular coincidence, while | stood watching
the folds OF the beautiful banner opening them
selves to the waiting Winds was, that | afterwards
learned Mr.. +. p Blair, Of your city, had been
chiefly instrumental in doing corps the honor Of
this salute though, aside from all invIdous thoughts
and illusions created by the spur Of the moment,
the display Of nations banner in this western
desert, called forth a sincere and enthusiastic
response from us, we passed cheerfully by,
ready die in defence Of the flag that seemed to tell
us glory must attend the expedition Of so many
gallant hearts, who fought for the triumph Of those
stars.
Our marches were extremely fatiguing after we
left the fort and the sandy soil, the bad quality of
the grass, and the want of good water joined to
almost insupportable heat and the hot winds, blow
ing from the west, had the effect Of dampening the
spirits of the men considerably. To most Of the
ammunition wagons Of our artillery we had already
been forced to put oxen: they also gave out soon,
and it with great dfculty-such is not easily
imagined-that the artillery proceeded onward. Mr..
Glasgow Mr. Letensdorfer and other traders, Join
ed our army at the fort, and proceeded along with
us In the rear. Capt. Cook with several men, was
sent ahead a mission of peace to Gen. Armljo,
and Messrs. Bent and Leitensdorfer followed him,
exploring the country.
On the 9Th, we reached the Rattoon mountains, and
on the 10th we encamped on the Canadian fork of
the Colorado having in tvyo da
through the most dangerous passes which can be
imagined. After we had passed these mountains,
gave up all hopes of meeting enemy, nasmueh
as a determined band of five hundred might
have at least delayed our passage through them for
months perhaps destroyed entire forces without
any other arms and ammunition than the rocks on
these impossible mountains.
On the Canadian fork we had rest day. and
without any interruption arrived on the 18th,
at the lower Moro settlements, and encamped that
night at the Sarpillo. The people were little dis
turbed at our approach, and rather hailed it the
delivery from their oppressors, and protection from
the danger threatening them from the surrounding
Indian tribes We learnt here from Capt Cook,
and the news reaching us, that a force of twelve
thousand Mexicans and Pusblos, with two thou
sand armed men amongst them, had encamped
at and fortified the caiion passes near Santa Fe,
which made General kearney for a moment appre-
hend that danger had befallen him. On the next
evening reached the town of Los Vcgos, small
place containing near hundred buildings. A mes
senger from Armijo met General Kearney few
miles east of the place, giving assurances to our
commander that Captain Cook had been in Santa Fe,
and that his mission had been duly respected. Some
other information, though of little Importance
became fully known to me, for which reason shall
not trouble you with detail of the fragments,
which | only learnt. The alcalde and some of the
weather citizens waited the general in the even
ing, and left him, it seemed, tranquil and assured
NT
them. During the night messenger reached the
camp, and stated that large body Of the enemy
had arrived within two miles Of the place, and were
fortifying in dangerous pass None seemed more
assured that battle would e6sue in the morning
than our general, and every preparation was made,
and every precaution taken, to meet the enemy.
Early in the morning, the troops marched towards
the town, the flags of each troop displaying the
stars and stripes; patriotic speeches were made to
some of the volunteer companies; the slow matches
were lit and every heart beat with glowing anxiety
for the moment of the rencontre Previously, how
ever, formal possession taken of the town;
General Kearney nominated the alcalde and two
other civil officers of the place captains, who
thereupon took the oath of allegiance TO the United
States of America, swearing to discharge the duties
Of their Offices faithfully, and to support and pro-
ect the cause of the Union against their opposers
whomsoever. The ceremony ended, our force
marched towards the encampment of the enemy;
the signal for rot was given three companies of in
fantry niarched the summit of the hills enclosing
the pass; but, arrived at the pass, the enemy had
fed, and we had the qualification of learning
nothing else than that the mail from the States had
arrived, bringing among other news, that of the
promotion of Col. Kearney to the rank of brgadier
general.
Towards the evening passed through Tacu-
lota; encamped at night at Santa Rita passed on
the following morning through st. Miguel, and en-
camped on the evening Of the 18th at Susana. At
most of these places the same ceremonies of taking
possession were gone through as at Los Vegos
Capt Cook had meanwhile arrived, and the suppo-
sition that Gen Armjo would defend caiion pass
es gained ground each moment.
On the morning Of the 17th, the son Of General
Saazar wes taken prisoner by some OF the dragoons
and from him we learnt the following facts: Gen
Armijo and Salazar (the famous murderer Of the
Iexans) had encamped at the caioB with near five
thousand men, but owing to the eaousies of the two
generals and the apathy of the soldiers, mutny had
broken out in the army, the result Of which was,
that Armiio, with his guard, composed Of two to
three hundred dragoons had fled towards the south
the Pueblos returned to their homes, and Salazar
fed to his home. The young man pledged his life
on the assertion that enemy would meet us in the