Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-09-19
INDEPENDENCE, Missouri
Saturday, Aug. 90, 1916.


DEAR SIM: AS every portion OF intorma'
ton relative to our affairs IN Mexico is Gag
ery sought for by our fellow.ctlzens, Will
cheerGully comply with your request and
make plain statement, of what | have OBJ
served during my sojourn in Santa Fe.
~ Without going into any details OF my
Journey TO The Spanish country,l will mere
ly record facts and make my remarks as
brief as possible.
When lett Independence lastsprng, !
did not give credence TO The various re-
ports of war between the two countries,
but looked upon them as nothing more than
a war of words. Ga entering the capitol
OF New Mexico, was told that our troops
to the amount Of 5000 men were on their
march TO chaslise the natives for their re-
peaied insolence to flag. Yet, nllho'
tie Mexicans believed the report they be-
haved with their wanton courtesy to the
Americans, and stranger would fancy them
on the most friendly footing, and none
showed a more kindly disposition to our
fellow-citizens than the governor himself,
who on all occasions, displayed a respectful
attention TO their wants. entered this
town during the festival OF St. John, whilst
| ltlc NltAICdnS WSlD IeNtlIiup Ill ui Spiio VI
paslimcs, and found full employment for
| my pen and pencil, both of which ! assure
you kept in constgnt employment. The
troops were dressed in their holiday suits
aud looked Is miserable @ set OF scarecrows
rs ever my eyes fell upon--herealter ! will
give a iull description Of them. They,
lp5pr devils, thought they were, making q
magnificent anioyerpoweging display, well
calculated TO impress US barbariGus with
| their GREATNESS. They appeared to me like
50 many superhuiiieraries employed TO rep.
resent an army on the stage, and was con.
,nuaily rePeaAi9g 10 m! self the words OF
I'aislal, when he looked at his soldiers.
"djd any one ever see such scareciows!
| I'll not march through coventry with them,
hats Hat" They f15urishea about for
some days TO my great amusement, but as
soon as our wagons went on to chihuahua
they DOTTED their gay trappings and then as
sumed an appearance more in accordance
with their true character, tina. OF brigands.
They amountto something lesssIs belieye,
pearance is against them, belieye they will
| fight, provided they have commanders in
Ewhomalbey can place complementary are
used to fighting, and are better fitted to en-
dure the iatigues o! war than we are apt 10
give them credit for. a Mexican soldier
will start TO his destination unincumbered
with baggage OF any kind, taking with him
only small bag Of pHrched corn ground in
10 meal, on this he will subsist for month
or six weeks, and will be content to dis
pense with a ,ent. They are all good horse
luen. and expert with the sword and lance.
lbnt situated as they are, and having no con-
I Gience in their officers, do not believe
they would face our brave fellows. During
my stay, | learned that some one in council
proposed to the governor to confiscate the
goods OF our traders but he instantly rejec.
ted it, and was informed that permission
was asked to rise and slaughter the Ameri.
cans. This he refused, and when party
Of Indians came INTO town to ask leave to 90
out and rob our troops he would not re.
ceve their chief but dismissed them in
scorn. A great meeting OF the legsla ture
wasnow called, to decide upon what meas
ures should be taken in the present emer.
gency. His Exceilency asked for seventy
five thousand dollars and Ten thousand men
to enable him 10 meet the invaders, but al
though all the rich men Of the state were
there, not a cent was forthcoming; food
and men were promised, but no money
Frequently he sent to chihuahua for troops
but none came. Spies were constantly
sent out towards our troops, at length some
returned and reported the advance oil Gen
Kearney. Indeed that brave officer ad
dressed letter TO the governor informing
him OF his intentions, the amount OF men
provisions, &c. aud furnished the MpXicaL
spy with fresh mule. At the same time
Col. Samuel Owens, Of Independence, wrote
to governor Armijo, that he was coming or
with certain amount of wagons, and eT
pccied TO pay the duties as hsaetolore. This
last, the governor shewedto the American
merchants Of Santa Fe, and remarked, that
''l3'. CgenS must certainly look upon him a,
q fool 10 teljere qRy such thing" Ia the meet
ing Of the nothbles above alluded to, many
were for letting things take their course
and quietly giving up the state without fight
ing, but the majority decided on war. The
Priests, who,are,l or ought to be men o
lpeace, with only one exception, went iol
lighting, and the exception was n Jolly old
fellow who sprees as much as any wicked
las man. He is The Priest OF Don MGuel
land has more common sense than the res
! Of his tribe. This man told the council tha
they had better surrender at. once, for the
Il Americans were without number. Mex
lmurnHr their decision was made known
and the troops in Santa Fo underwent {
more rigid discipline. In short time we
heard no more, and concluded that madame
rumor had deceived US. now decided or