The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-06
Correspondence of the Revoillc.l
SANTA FE. Anans, 10 1876

h"k ,"S N'''E "o'Oo W tUt 4
pa'ace OF the Armijos, in the capital of New
Mexico! I may not be the first TO communicate
The intelligence, but | can tell YOU how il was
dune.
We left our camp. a, old Pecos, early this
morning, attera night of drizzling rain, which
served To render the reads particularly heavy. |
after a long march Of % miles. The rain still
continued at intervals until 10 o'clock, at which |
time we had reached the entrance tn the canon.
or gorge. which the. Governor had intended Ia
fortify. but which the General had intended To 90
round by another road. if such had been the case.
We there halted until the artillery came up. With
Col. Dnniphan's regiment in the rear, and then
marched on through the canon, which we found
tn he very narrow throughout lis whole extent. |
with precipitinus. rncky sides, and many puints
from which howiizers would pour a deadly fire
on an invading army. ! observed, as we advanc
ed, that the strata Of rocks. which, on the easiern
side OF the mountain range. are all regular as
when first deposited, are. on the western slnpe.
much dislocated and %deranged in places. as il by
some great convulsion and that The same traces
of volcano action are still evident.
Lieut.. Hammund of the Dragons, had been
sent forward at 3 o'clock in The morning, with a
small accommodating party, and had passed the
canon beture we came TO it. As we emerged
into the rolling country beyond the canon, we
found at its western extremity the fremarks of
Gov. Armijo's army, and some trees and brush
which they had collected TO erect a barrier TO our
progress. The point was well chosen and a
disciplined force we'll armed-which the Mexi
cans were not-wilh goud captains, and a knowl-
edge which a people at home would have of the
country, could have offered most formidable resis
lance tn us, if they could have been there without
the knowledge of onr General. and thus have
caught him in the trap. As it was, Lieut.. Ham.
mond found. some distance from the Qualifications,
on a by road, a piece of ordnance taken by the
Mexicans from the Texans, and which they had
been careful Ia spike for safe keeping, before leav-
ing IL. He also saw traces made apparently by
other pieces which had been taken of in a south
ern direction.
1t was now manifest to all that, so far as the pos
session Of Santa Fe was concerned, The fight was
all over; and 0ur only soliciiude was for our wag-
ons and the artillery, which, we feared, would
have difficulty in getting over The heavy, and I'm
places, rocky road-a road running up and Down
hills all the way !rum the canon 10 Santa Fe.
Accordingly, on went the ~dragonns and rangers,
until at length We emerged from the stunned pines
and cedars into full view of the valley in which
the terminus (fur the presently of our long and
%ardnons march is situated. and of the country be
yond To the western range of mountains. Reach
ing a hill, Immediately southeast of the city, and
from which the tops of the public buildings were
visible. the General halted, and waited sumo two
hours for the artillery during which time the
stars and stripes were observed unrolled in the
hands OF the sergeant. and certain inquiries were
overheard to be made of American citizens as To
the best means of hosting il on The palace of the
Armijos.
We also understood that preparations were
making To fit up the palace for the occu pacy of the
General, and that in all probability, his intention
expressed at Bent's Fort, to be in Sania Fe on
The 18Th If August. with his Whole army, would
he made good. The sun, which had been obscur-
red IN the morning. was beaming forth Curious
ly, bui going do,on a great deal faster than the
artillery was coming mp. Some few of the Next
can citizens prompted by curiosity, came in their
white shirts and wide brooches, with ihuse ever
lasting big hats on, and Looked with gaping won
der on the advance corps of the Army Of the
West" Mr.. Ihurston. standing about 6 feet 6 in
moccasIns, and other Americans, including our
never ii 'ng friend, Colonel Owens Of jackson.
were sanding in groups about. while the General
held consultation with that prime old soldier, who
never missed a roll call. Major Summer, and old
Fitzpatrick. with his venerable silver head, and
keen gfey-blue eye, looked on as perfectly at home
as when guiding us over the plains. with never
err'ng memory and sagacily. Horses went To
sleep, tor not a spear ut grass was in sight, and
men wondered what wonld come next-declared
the subsistence wagons iyoutd not come up-and
speculated on the price 0fbread and curds in Santa
Fe.
AT length the artillery appearnd-ihe bugle
called to horse, and intn the Town we marched.
with drawn sabres, and taking as much care of
The little Urchlns in The streets as we would on
parade IN 81. Louisiana, by the way, children
are everywhere line same, when soldiers or any
other show are on the taps. The General iook
his position, with his guard, in the plaza, or great
sqDare, before The palace where he claimed The
capital and country of the Alcalde for the Ameri
can Union, and administered the oath of allegiance,
while MAJOR Summer marched us through several
streets. and the American flag was hoisted over
The palace, saiUied by the deep voices 0f Major
Clark'S artillery from the hill where we had halted
We were then marched out to the hill again, where
we found That the wagons of or company had not
come mp. and that prospect for supper was no Ion
ger d"bio"s. bur decidedly had while our poor
horses, tired beyond measure. had no hope of a
single blade Of grlss to stand between them and
starvation.
Well-supper or not-here zoe are in Santa
Fe-AND New MEXICO is OURS!
In a subsequent letter the writer gives an anu.
sing account OF the inconveniences they had to I'm.
dnre for the want Of rations, in consequences of the
delay of The baggage wagons. A number of the
Dragons were sent of some six miles distant To
find forage for their horses. The letter contin-
ues-
Our camp is now near a Mexican village called
GaIasieo-abput which intended saying some.
thing. but have not room. We came here on the
evening OF the 2Oth. That morning early, Capt.
Fisher. in commanded deiachments from the auil-
iery. with their horses. had arrived at he village for
the purpose OF grazing near it. and found 10 II three
pieces of cannon left by Governor Armijo, Of which
he took possession, and which he has since sent Ia
the General. at Santa Fe.
Lieut.. Col. RnG. with half Of Col. Diniphan's
regiment, and all their horses, is also near ms.
grazing.
We have rumors every day from Santa Fe.-l
Among other things, it is reported To day that the
artillery are to remain TO garrison the place, and
that all the remainder OF the Generals cOmmsn nd