Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-05
Correspondence OF the st Louis Republican.
Army of The West.
SANTA TX, NEw Mexico,
August 9th. 1916

SANIA fE, NEW MENiCO, I
August 2I,h, 1916.
From the heading of my letter, you will perceive that
Santa Fe, and with ii the province OF New Mexico, is ia
ken. Even now, The star spangled banner waves over the
former palace of Gen. Armgo; American sentinels guard
the town; American soldiers parade on the public plaEa-
On the highlands south OF the town, tent upon tent may be
seen. aud their inmates basily engaged in cleaning their
armor, drilling, and attending 10 their various military du-
tics; the cannon Of MAJOR Clark's battalion pointing siVnif.
can;ly with their muzzes towards the town all denoting
that, unless symptoms belle me, the war east OF the Rio
del Norte s ended.
In one word, the expedition OF General S. w. Roarney,
with the Army Of the West. has, thus far. resulted in tho
most successful Triumph which even Tho most sanguine
could have imagined.
Ii | remember right, my last eommunica ion to you was
addressed from Fort Bent. At that place our army re-
manned but three days, camping nine miles east OF the
Fori. near the mouth OF Piqdctway. Some prisoners, whom
we made there, and who, it was supposed. were spies Of
Gen. Annlo, spTead various contradictory TumoTs amongst
"a, but Gen. Keaney. without paying the least regard To
their hostile intentions, treated Them remarkably friendly
sent them about the camp-sh0wed them our entire forces,
and specially our cannon-and then sent them home, with
The request to tell Gen. ArmJo what they mad seen, and that
in less than twenty days we should meet him-not on by.
paihs-nOt stealthily-but boldly, openly, on the highways
Of New Mexico, ready to remove any obstacle which might
present itself IN our way, but ready, also. TO treat all those
who made no hostile demonstrations towards ne, as fellow
citizens OF our Republic. On the I'd Of August, our forces
left the camp, ana at the Fuu crossed the Arkansas, tho
inmates Of the Fort salutng Us by hosting the American
flag.
Our marches were extremely indguing after we left the
Fort; and the sandy soil, the bad quality Of the grass aud
tue want OF good water, Joined Ia an almost insuppOftable
neat and the hot winds. blowing from the west, had the ef.
feet OF damponiDg the spirits Of the men Considerably
To most OF the ammunition wagons Of our artillery we had
already been forced 10 put oxen: they also gave out soon.
and IL was with great dificuliy-such "a Is not easily i'm.
agined-Ihat the artillery proceeded onward Mr.. Glas-
gov, Mr.. Leitensdofier, and other traders, Joined our army
AZ the Fort, and proceeded along with as in the nsr. Capt.
Cook, with several men, was sent ahead Oh a mission Of
peace TO Gen. Armjo. and Messn. Bent and Leitensdorfer
followed him, exploring the country.
On the Sth, We reached the RATION mountains, and on
the 10Th We CUcamDel on the Canadian fink pf tho TnIp-
rod,, having 10 two days gotten successfully through the
most dangerous passes which can be imagined. After We
had passed these mountains, I gave up oil hope Of meeting
an enemy, inasmueh as a determined band Of five hundred
men might have at least delayed our passage through them
for months, perhaps destroyed our entire forces, without
any other arms and ammunition than tho rocks on these
impossible mountains.
On the Canadian Fork we had q rest day, and without
any interruption arrived. on the 18Th, ut tho lower Moro
settlements, and encamped that night at the Sarpnlo. Tho
people were little disturbed at our approach, and rather
haHed It az the delivery from their oppressors, and protec-
ton from the danger threatening them from the surround
ing Indian tribes. We learnt here from Capt. Cook, and
the nows reaching us, that a force Of twelve thousand
MeEicans and PueJlOs. with two thousand armed men
amongst them, had encampod and fortified tho Canton pas.
ses, near Santa Re, which made Gen. Kcarney for a mo-
mont u]pptohend tha, danger had befallon him. On the
next evening VIC uachtd the town Of Los Vegos, a small
place Containing near a hundred buildings. a messenger
from AmIo met General kcarnCy a few miles east Of the
place, giving as frances 20 our commander, that Captain
Cook bad been In Santa Fo, and that his mission had been
duly respected. Some other information, though Of little
importance never ucCnWo luly Known 70 me, Tor which
reason / shall not trouble you with the detail Of the frag-
msnts, which / only learnt. The Alealdo and somo Of
the weather. citizens waited on the General In the eyoa-
ing, and left him, Il seemed, tranquil and assured Of tho
friendly intentions Of our Government towards thom-
During tho uight q ~ messenger reached the camp and stated
thar a large body Of tho enemy had arrived within two
miles Of the placc, end were forifyiug in a dan
Rcrous pass. None seemed more assured that a
battle would onsue in the morning than our General,
aud every preparation was made, and every precanuon
taken, 10 meet tho enemy. Early In the morning, the
troops mlfchcd towards the town, the figs Of each troop
displaying tho stars and stripes; patriotic speeches were
made o. some ui the volunteer companies; tho low matches
were lr, and every heart beat with glowing anxiety for the
moment OF fenconuc. Previously, however, formal pos.
session was taken Of the town; General Koarnoy nomina-
ted the Alcido and two other officers II the plaeo a. Cap
tains, who tbereupon took tho oath Of allegiance 10 tho
Uniicd States Of America, swearing 20 discharge the du-
ties Of their Offices faithfully, and 10 support and protect the
cause Of tho Union against the opposots whomsoeyor-
The ceremony ended, our force marched toward. tho CO.
campmont Of tho enemy tho signal for fr0t was given;
three companies Of infsnty marched on the summit Of tho
hills enclosing the pass-bui. arriving at tho pass, the enc
my had fed, and we had the qualification Of learning MOTH
ing cleo than that the mail from the States had arrived
bringing amonR other news that OF tho promotion III Cot'
keorsy 90 the rack Of Bhgadier General,
Towards the evening wo passed through Taeulots; en-
eamped at night at Santa Rite; passed on the following
morning through 81 Miguel. ani encbmpsd on the evening
Of the 10th Of Sussna. A. most Of these places tho same
ceremonies Of taktng POSSESSION were Rono through a. ai
los Vegos. Capt. Cook had meanwhile arrived, and the
suppo1ihon that Gen. Afmiio would defend cannon pssse.
gained ground each moment.
On the morning Of tho i1th, the son ofGen. saLazGr
was taken prisoner by some Dragons, aud from hin va
learnt tho following facts: Con, ARHuo and sALazAR
Sute famous murderer o. the TeHans) had oncamped At the
Canton with near i've thousand men, but owing TO the jeal
ousies oftho two Generals and the apathy OF Tho soldiers
. mutiny had broken out IN tho army, the result Of which
' was, INST AMMO, with his guard, comprs-d d two u