Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-10-09
CAPTURE OF SANTA FE.
1cur OF GOVERNOR ARMIJo.

Nom Merico-1he Star Spdngled Banner
Fg,Gno from the Governors PaLace-ReSlS-
lance threatened, &C.
An express had arrived at Fort Leavenworth,
bringing the gratifying news OF the entrance OF
Gen Kearney into Santa Fe, without the firing
of a gun, or any opposition from the Mexicans
whatever, The st. Louis Republican has re-
ceived diary from an officer of the Army of
the West, from which we make the following
highly interesting extracts:
Monday, august 17th-Started at the usual
hour Our picket guard took prisoner, the
son of the noted Salazar, well remembered by
the Texan prisoners for his crueltles 10 them'
He stated that the Mexican army had lett the
cannon and gone home The General told HIM
he would keep him a prisoner, and if he found
that he had told him falsely he would hang
him We soon met others from Santa Fe, who
CONGRATULATED the General on his arrival in the
country, and their deliverance from the tyran
ical rule of Armiio
They further said that Armijo had taken one
hundred dragons and his cannon, and gone
this morning towards Chihuahua.
An American gentleman has ust arrived in
camp from Santa Fee: he left at p, NJ, to-day,
and saws that after the Governors abdication,
the AlCades held a meeting and gTdCeiy discus
sed the proprety of tearing down the churches
to prevent their being converted into barracks
and that the American citizens interfered and
assured them that they had nothing to fear on
that subject, and thereby saved the churches
A lady also sent for him this morning, and
asked him if he did not think it advisable for
her to leave the town. with her daughters, to
save them from dishonor He advised her by
all means to remain at home, and assured her
that she and her daughters were in no danger
from the approach of the army.
Most of the respectable people OF the town
have left, and many country people are gong
to town for protection.
TuesdnV, august 18h.-Started as usual,
and at six miles came to the cannon, where the
Mexican army had been assembled. There
had been 5000 troops there, but it seems that
the nearer we approached them, the fewer they
became; and when we passed this they had all
gone. The position they chose was near
the lower end, and 1t was one OF great strength.
The passage was not more than forty feet wide
in 'front.' they had made an obstruction with
timber, and beyond this at 300 yards distance,
was an eminence in the road, on which their
cannon had been placed; and 1t was thought
by us, that their position was equal TO 5000
men. We reached the hill which overlooks
Santa Fe, at P. NJ Major CIark's artillery
was put into line, and the mounted troops and
infantry were marched through the town to
the palace, (as it is called,) on the public
square, where the General and his staff dis
mounted, and were received by the acting Co.
vernon and other dignltarles; and conducted to
a large room.
The General stated, in few words, the OBJ
iect of his visit, and gave assurances OF safety
and protection to all unofending Citizens
While this transpired, the stars and stripes
were hoisted on the staff which is attached to
the Palace, by Major Swords, and as soon as
it was seen to wave above the buildings, II
was hailed by national salute from the bat
teries of Captain Fisher and Weightman, under
the command of Ma or Clark. While the Ge-
neral was proclaiming the conquest of New
Mexico as part of the United States, the first
gun was heard There" said he, ''my
guns proclaim that the flag of the I. States
floats over this capitol" The people appear
satisfied The General slept in the palace, 1--WE
democrats must call it the Governors house
One company of dragons was kept in the city
as a guard, and the business of the day was
ended.
NUS Ill lnc SIlOlI SpdCC VI III Hos OIL
army been marched nearly 900 miles, over a
desert country, and conquered a province OF
80, 900 souls, without firing a gun-a success
which may be attributed mainly to the skill
and ability with which Gen. Kearney has
managed this arduous and delicate business
In explaining his object in coming into the
country, and the kindness he felt for the III
habitants, he was mild and Courteous bu
then, he would add, claim the whole of New
Mexico for the United States. put my hand
on it from this moment, bringing his hand
firmly down on his thigh,) and demand ODE
dience to its laws.
Wednesday, august l9M.-The General ad-
dressed the whole people to-day more at length
than he had on other occasion, and took par
ticular care to give them the most positive as
suranCes of protection in their persons, pro-
perty, and religion Many families had fled
on his approach, and he told their friends tc
bring them back, and to say to them that they
would be more safe under his administration
than they had ever been. He stated that il
taking possession of New Mexico, he claimed
the whole of it for the United States, withou
reference to the Rio Grande He absolveC
them from all their allegiance to Mexico anC
Governor Amijo, and proclaimed himself Gov
ernOr of New Mexico, and claimed them as CT
tizens of the United States The acting Gov
ernOr and Alcaldes then took the oath of allie
glance to the United States, and the people
with a simultaneous shout, exclaimed, g VIZ
la General"