The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-05
LIEUTENANT EMoaY's JOURNAL.

from Santa W., which we have now the opportunity
Of lsyiag before ouF readers 4i III st4l
September 1.-The day passed away IN preparing
for tomorrow's march, and listening 70 the thousand
rumors about the force we are 10 encounter not a
word Of which do believe. ~ s4a.4 &
September 2---Marehed at 3 o'clock out of SAINTS
Fe, taking no one OF my party but Mr.. Bessor. We
descended the valley OF the SANTA Re riyer nearly
west for i've miles when we let the river, which IA
here dry, and struck across plain intersecIed by
arroyas. (crceks.) in southwesterly coume; Tween
ty-three mIles brought US 10 Gastea creek, which
at this time barely running. The bed 10 sand
and pebbles OF primitive rock, and lies between
steep clids of clay and limestone, irayersed ocea
sionally by uap-dykes, which in one place are 80
regular as to resemble walls pierced with windows
From this place to its mouth, there Is scarcely a
sign Of vegetation, AT its dry mouth, and directly
on the Rio del Norte, ID the town Of santa Do
mingo. L.. stN
September 4.---This was great day. The general
received some days since an invitation from the
Pueblos 20 visit their town of Santa Fe From
height 10 height advanced We could see horse
men disappearing al full speed, As we arrived
abreast Of the town. the general told by guide
poatsd there for the purpose, that this was the road
for santa Domingo.
He sent the chief part Of his command and the
wagon train along the highway, and with his staff
and Capt. Bsrgwin's squadron Of Dragons, wendes
his way along the middle path nearly due west TO
the town. We had MOI proceeded far before We
met ten os fifteen saehemy looking old Indians,
well mounted, two Of them carrying goid.headed
canes with tsases, the emblems OF ofiee m New
Mexico, that NO dandy, nor even an alcalde, or
other magistrate dare sport.
Salutations through, we logged along, and in The
course OF conversation, the aealde. grave and
majestic. looking old Indian, said casually, we shall
soon meet some Indians mounted They arc
young men OF my town, friends, come 20 receive
you, and I wish you caution your men not to hre
upon them when they ride towards them.
Sure enough, when within a few miles OF the
town, we saw cloud Of dust rapidly advancing,
and soon terrible yell the real Florida war-whooP
over again. ~ ..a -A
The first thing hat caught my eye through the
column Of dust, was fierce pair Of Buffalo horns
overlapped with long shaggy hair. As they APP
preached the sturdy form OF a naked Indian revealed
itself beneath the hnrns, with shield and lance dash
ing at full speed a white horse, which, like his
own naked body, was painted all the eolors Of The
rainbow, and then, one by one, his followers came
o. painted 10 the eyes, their heads and their horses
covered with all the hdeous looking things that the
brute cuention could afford, IN the way OF horns,
SOULS, feathers aud claws.
As they passed US, one rank on each side, they
fired voiley under horses bellies from the right
and from the left My horse, a fresh one, had
never before smet gunpowder, and long will my
friend DIR. Decamp recoleet that fact, for he jump
ed against him, and the end Of my pistol struck
his knee, right on what the children call the
singing bone. A pure American "God d-n,
came perhaps for the first time from the doctors
lips. | mutiered some apology, but il was lost Ia
the noise that made to the right and to the left
of the passing Indians.
Our well-trtned Dragons sat moionless on their
horses, who went along without pricking an ear or
showing any signs Of excitement.
Arrived in the rear, the Indians circed round,
dropped into a walk hanks until their horses
recovered breath when of they went at full speed,
passing to our front, and when there, the opposite
ranks met and each selected his adversary, and
kept up a running Eight, with masked lances, and
bows and arrows. Sometimes fellow wonld stoop
almost the earth 10 shoot under his horses belly
al fil speed, or to shield himself from an impend.
ing blow. so they continued 10 pass and rep IS, all
the wa TO the steep cliffs which overhang the town.
Here they sled on each side IF the road which at
this place descends through deep CANON and halted
on the peaks of the cliff. Their motionless figures
projected against the clear blue sky above, formed
studies for an artist In the cafon we were joined
by the priest, hearty looking end old white man,
which, with the idea Of the locality, occasioned
several of say Well, this ID really canonical
meeting We werl taken first to the PADRES, OF
course, for here, yerywhere in New Mexico, the
padres are the mo-. intelligent and the best to do
10 the world and when the good people wish to pul
the best foot foremost, the PADRES wines, beds
and meats have to suffer The entrance to the por.
tai was lined with the of the place, all dress
ed alike, and ranged in simple files. They looked
ruther fat and unnteresting.
We were shown into his reverence's parlor, Ia
pestred with curtains, stamped with the likenesses Of
all the Presidents OF the United States up TO this
time.
The cushions were of spotless damask, and the
couch Of the luxuriant old saint, covered with q
white Navahoe blanket, worked in richly colored
flowers.
The air was redoent with the perfume of grapes
and melons, and every crack Of door and window
was gstenng with the bright eyes Of the women oil
the cassa. The old priest was busy talking to
the general in corner and little did he know of the
game of signs and signs the young fellows were
carrying on with the fair people Of his house We
had our gayest array of young men out to-day, and
the women seemed to me to drop the usual subdued
look and timid motion of the eyelsh for good hear.
ty wrinkles and signs of unaffected and cordial well
come. Signs in this group was the only CONVERSE
ton, as neither party could speak the language oil
the other sn
This little exchange of the artillery Of the eyes
amused me good deal; but ! was very glad to see
the padre put stop to it, by advancing towards the
table and removing the pure white napkin from the
grapes, melons, and wines. We were as thirsty as
dust and heat could make us, and, whatever was the
quality of the wine we relished IL highly. Ills
sponge-cake was irreproachabe, and would have
done honor to Mrs. Ronkendorff, on Pennsylvania
avenue Indeed, whenever we have been Toasted
we found the sponge-cake in profusion and of the
best quality.
The general now went forward on the portal, and
delivered speech to the assembled people of the
town, which was interpreted into Spanish, and Their
into Pueblo. He was very happy to-day in wha
he said and almost every sentence was responded
to by grunis of satisfaction. will not report the
speech, rs am not qnite sure thatit would be prop
er, or expected of me to do no. as
The population Of the town was impossible to ar
rive at, but should Judge it TO be 1000; and the
quantity Of ground under tage, for their support
about 500 acres. ba
The valley Of the s'Del Norte" is here quite mar
row, and the soil sandy. The river itself was
viewed by me- for the first time, with strange int
rest. The harashps trials, and perseverance, OF thu
gallant Pike, and the adventures of the pious and
brave soldiers Of the crossthc monks and early adj
ventnrers--came to my mind; and as kneeed dowr
TO drink of It's waters, my thoughts were of them
The little episode, too In my own dog.trot life, II
relation to this river not forgotten. Being sta
toned at Washington when the annexation o
Texas was determined on, was ordered TO comp''
a map Of that country Instead Of going to the has
ty compilers, and romantic voyagers OF the day,
went back to the original explorers themselves.
1lvy ornl lNh