The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-08
MExIoo, Aug. 4, 1886.
VERY LATE FROM sANTE FEE.

VERY LATE FROM SANTE FE.
Mr.. Colburn, the correspondent Of the ST. Louis
Republican, announces to that journal his arrival
at Independence (Mo.) on the 9th Of August in
twenty-four and half days from Santa Fe. This
journey eclipses IN speed any other ever performed
between the two points, and shows that very soon
it will be stripped Of even the character ofnoyely.
Some of the facts stated in Mr.. Colburn's letter
are of interest. We give them as detailed in the
Republican Of September I'd:
Mr.. Colburn left Santa Fe on the Sd of August.
There then only $50 Mexican soldiers sta
1 toned in Santa Fe but the authorities stated that
| they had 1000 men ready to march at a moments
expected from the lower country. How far this
expectation may be realized may be judged Of from
the fact, that Mr.. Kennedy, who had just arrived
from Sonora, reported that they had there only 800
soldiers, 200 at Chihuahua, and 40 at FL Passo.
| When Mr.. G. left Santa Fe nothing had been
heard Of General Kearney's movements for fifteen
days previous. II was not then known that Gen.
| Wool was moving against Chihuahua. About 200
miles on his route home, he met with eight Mex
lean Dragons who had been watching the move
ments Of the American forces under General Kear-
ney. They said they had not seen the troops, al
though they had been in sight Of Bent's fort, and
TO the Simarone. Mr.. Colburn reached the crossing
ofthe Arkansas in ten days, being the quickest trip
ever made TO that point IN wagons. He found grass
and water scarce. He there met Captain Worces-
ter Of the United States artillery, Il. Caldwell and
Charles Bent, only ten days from Independence,
and sent by them TO General Kearney all the news
| Of which he was In possession. From this party,
he heard of the murder, on the evening before, Of
Mr.. w. u. Swan, Of Northampton, Mass. He was
returning, il is stated, from Fort Bent in company
with Major G. Clark, and was shot from his horse,
when within seyenty-hye yards Of their camp, by
| Indians.
On the 18th, he met Mr.. Tury's company Of
three wagons for Taos and also forty-three govern
ment wagons and ffty-four men. They were lay
ing by for repairs They had lost fifteen yoke Of
| oxen; many Of the men were sick, and they had
only two rounds Of ammunition. No guard could
be placed at night and they had nothing with which
| to protect themselves when hunting their oxen.
| The Indians were attacking some Of the companies
almost every night. This detachment of wagons
was then sixteen days behind the army, which, MIR.
C. learned, subsistng half a ration of bread
/ and meat, with neither sugar nor coffee! He ex-
presses the opinion, that hundred Mexican sol
diers could capture all the supplies Of government
stores from the Cotton Wood TO Bent's fort if they
only knew their exposed situation. Ii was also
stated that the dragons had only fifteen rounds of
ammunition with them. Mr. G. says that the In
dams were in Santa Fe, offering their services to
General Armijo, on condition that he should let
them have the spoils which they might take from
the Americans but that he had refused to accept the
proposition. If he had acceded to it, the army
might possibly have been defeated, or their sup
plies cut off, which would have caused great dis
tress Major Clark and himself gave the men all
the powder which they could spare, and left them.
On the l5th he met twenty-five government wag-
ons in charge Of Mr.. Campbell and Mr. Coons, of ST.
Louis. He learned from them that their camp had
been attacked on the night previous and that they
had killed one Indian and wounded another. That
night his camp attacked at Coon creek, and an
| attempt made to run of his stock
he mat aiy xuaOn IOa1e with
merchandise, at Pawnee Fork belonging to Armijo,
Maggoffin, and others. At this point he overlook
ten wagons on their return from Bent's fort.
On the 18th, at Cow creek, met Messrs. Barnes
and Allen, with thirty-one government wagons, and
forty-three men. His camp again attacked,
and an attempt made to drive off the animals--the
guard fired on the Indians, but they contrived to
steal three of Major Clark's mules, which caused
some delay. About o'clock in the morning, they
heard firing of musketry, which they afterwards
| learned was from Mr.. Horner's company of eighteen
wagons at Owl creek Their camp had been attack
ed by large body of Indians, and they were al
most without powder. Major Clarke gave them all
he could spare. A. Little Arkansas river, he met
forty-six wagons belonging to Algueir and Paris
the latter in charge of Messrs. Stillman, Waldo,
and Noand. Two their wagons had been struck
by lightning, and one man was slightly injured.
| On the 18th, met Doyle and Garvey's six wagons,
with goods for the Indian trade and twenty-five
wagons with stores for the United States army.
|
ons with merchandise; and also two companies of
Price's regiment, one Of them under Capt Gddings,
at Cotton Wood, with six baggage wagons.
On the 23d, met two companies of same regiment
at Council Grove, under command Of Capts. Nc
| Millen and HORNE, and also forty-three wagons
loaded with merchandise, belonging to r. Gentry.
Same day met command Of twelve men and four
howitzers.
On the gath, met Maj. spading, assistant pay
master, with twelve wagons and two pieces of ar
All f..,~,
companies Of Prices regiment, under command of
| Caps. Henley, Robinson, and Holloway, with
| train of nineteen wagons; and the five companies
composing the battalion of Mormon infantry, and
some emigrants to California.
| On the 25th, met seven wagons belonging to
Tharp and Lee, with merchandise for the mountains
and Taos, at Switzer's creek. Same day, met
Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell and Major Walker,
paymaster, and the remaining companies of Prices
regiment, together with Colonel Price, at Rock
| creek.
On the 26th, met Armjo, with thirteen wagons
loaded with merchandise, at Hickory Point. Lieu
tenant Oxley was at the same place, on his route,
having been delayed by fall from his horse. Met,
also, thrtyone wagons for the United States army,
| in charge OF Thompson. ............
On the 9th, before arriving at Independence met
four wagons belonging to Miller and Reed, and Mr..
A. Armijo, who had been detained by sickness, and
was then on his route to Santa Fe. ..
| Mr.. Colburn represents trade as being extremely
dui at santa Fe. lhere was heaVy Storm OF
snow in the mountains on the 18th Of June, and on
the 10th of July he saw large banks of snow. On
the Oath Of June, there tremendous hail storm
on the ST. Charles some Of the stones measured
nine inches, and he one house which had holes
cut through the roof by it. ..
The corn crop was very poor. Mr.. Coburn ex-
presses the opinion that the horses of the mounted
men must suffer severely during the winter, as there
was but little surplus grain in the country, prob
ably not exceeding eight thousand bushels of wheat
4 and no corn
The Navajo Indians were committing depreda-
tons on the Mexicans. They killed one man and
wounded another, on the Cd ult., within twelve
miles Of Santa Fe, and were almost daily running
4 off their stock.
i Mr.. Alyares, American consul at Santa Fe, was
in feeble health. Mr.. 9. records the death, in
March last, at Santana, of DR.. Henry Masure; but
this must be mistake, as that gentleman did not
leave here until after that period. Il has reference,
doubtless, to brother who has been In Mexico for
several years.