Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-09-19
ARMY OF THE WEST.

FROM THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN SEPT. 10.
We have taken some pains to procure information
in regard to the condition and future prospects Of the "Amy
Of the West" under Gen. KEARsKr, and we acknowledge
that the result of inquiries fills with soctude We
have great confidence in the commander Of the expedition
We know his prudence his perseverance, his ability to
mount great and extraordinary difficulties but satisfied
also that he has to encounter such difficulties and that will
be miracle if he escapes them. Gen. Kearney, it is now
CERTAIN leaves the United States under peculiar and most
critical circumstances He reached Fort Bent with COM
mand of at least 500 men, nearly all Of whom mounted
when they left Fort Leavenwoh the EXCEPTIONS found
in the companies OF infantry, which received into the
service before his departure from the Fort He has been fol-
lowed by battalion Of five hundred infantry, composed Of
Mormons by Col Prices regiment Of mounted men, thou
sand strong and by Major Wocks battalion consisting
five hundred mounted In the of the present
month another regiment Of infantry will be organized and
their way, numbering al least thousand And to
these to be added thousand connected with
the train Of the Should they reach Santa Fe the
command will consist in round numbers, Of forty EIGHT hun
dred and with the and attendants Of the camp
will be swelled to thousand AT least this number will
all events have to be subssted, and that subsistence must
bey ond question, be derived from the United States.
Gen. Kearney arrived Fort Bent the 3Oth Of July
and left the I'd Of August He had limited supply OF
raiions, and these eunted by reducing the TO
half rations But he was not permitted by circumstances
of forage for his horses He compelled 10 take up the
line Of march in order to find food for them the pares
This is the Of his brief stay Fort Bent and de-
the difficulties in his way and in that of the mounted
who TO follow him. To all our inquiries as To the
prospect Of forage for his animals Santa e we have re-
ccved the uniform not TO be had ex-
cep IN very limited quantities. at the rancheros from
twenty and miles from Santa Fe I'm the whole de-
partmen the highest estimate of the surplus whoa, is 600
TO 5000 bushels, and make worth
when it could be obtained at ALL SO so per bushe Such
the prospect presented for the support Of the horses mules
and cattle which accompany the expedition
Now as to supplies from the United States Strange as
may seem, the several detachmens OF wagons upon which
alone troops could rely for provisions dispatched without
military escort and with other Of defence than
few muskets and very limited supply OF ammunition placed
IN the hands Of the oamers Indians suddenly and very
unexpectedly 10 all made their appearance road with
the evident intention of robbng the trains and taking such
things as they wanted The teamsers in a cond
ton to resist them, and this became evident there can
no doubt that the Indians became daring in their
croachments, until il is probable life well property
taken u u known that from fifteen
OIL IN anght there other alternative than TO stop with
altogether lessen the number employed in hauling ohc
teams, 10 get IL along.
These difficulties we're, II is feared only commencing
unless Colonel PRIcE, who in the rear with bis reg
ment undertook TO give the Indians sound drubbne all th
provision wagons were IN danger Of being delayed If
off, and the army left siarve We do not know enough
army matters TO say where the blame belongs but seems
Us that there has been neglect in sending
military guard TO protect the detachents Of provision
wagons.
From the facts which we have stated some idea may
formed OF the probable condition and the prospects Of III
Army OF the West its arrival at Santa Fe UnIes
provisions reach there before the in the main
lance Of the for subsistence be upon the sheep
be found and the limited quantity OF wheat and corn
purchased in that region. This confessed is
very hstieng prospect for an army but no other present
itself to us as In store for them.