Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-09-21
Tho Santa Ec ARMY.

kfsH IA ~ LSsts kPuAioas-
We have taken some pains 10 procure accurate inGurm,.
uon IA regard to the condition and future prospects of the
" Army Of the West" under General keaney. and ~,
acknowledge that the result Of our inquiries fills US win
s~ulicitude. We have great confidence in the commander
OF the expedition. We know his prudence, his perseve-
rance, ms ability TO surmount great and extraordinary diff
culues, but we arc satisfied. also, that he has tn encounter
such difficulties, and that it will be a miracle if he escapes
them. Gen. kearney, it is now certain, leaves the United
States under peculiar and most critical circumstances. lie
has reached Fort Bent, with n company of nj least 1880
men, nearly all OF whSm were mounted when they left
Fort Levenworth-the exception 10 to be found in the COM
panlcs OF infantry, which were received into the service
before his departure from the Fort. He has been followed
by a battalion OF five hundred infantry, composed of Nor
mons-by Col Prices regiment Of mounted men. n thou-
sand strong. and by Maj. Wilok's battalion, consisting of
hive hundred mounted men. 10 the course OF the pr, sen,
month, another regiment of infantry will DO organized. and
on their way, numbering at least one thousand men. Ard
10 these are To be added a thousand men, at least, connect
cd with the train OF the army. Should they ever reach
Santa Fv, the command will consist, in round numbers. of
iorty-Cight hundred men; and with the teamsters and AT
tendants Of the camp, it will be swolled to six thousand
At least this number will, II all events, have To be subsist-
ed, and that subsistence must, beyond question, be derived
from the u. States.
Gen. KKAKNEY arrived at Fort Bent on the Goth of July
and LETT on the 2d OF August. lie had a limited supply OF
rauons, and these were eTfenuGfed, by reducing the men
10 halfra,ions. Buthe was not permitted, by circumstances,
10 stop there and await supplies, for he was in absolute
want OF forage for his horses. He was compelled to take
up the line OF march in order TO find food for them on the prai.
ries This Is the true cause of bis brief stay at Fort Bent,
and denotes the difficulties in his way and in that Of the
mounted men who were 10 follow him. To all our inqui
mes as 10 the prospect OF forage Tor his animals at Santa
Re, we have received the same uniform answer; il was
not to be had, except IN very limited quanuties-at the
%rancheFos from ten 10 twenty aud more miles from Santa
Re. In the whole department., the highest estimate Of the
surplus wheat is 1000 to 5000 bushels, and corn was SO
scarce as TO make IL worth, when II could be obtained nj ali.
$3.50 per bushel. Such is the prospect presented for the
support OF the horses, mules aud cattle, which accompany
the expedition.
Now, as to supplies from the u. States. Our Inquiries
up to the Presen. moment have satisfied us, that nothing is
exaggerated in the report of the condition vi the baggage
wagons, on the route TO Fort Bent, as published by US last
week. That account is true TO the letter. Strange as IL
may seem, the several detaehmenis OF wagons, upon which
alone the troops could rely for provisions. were despatched
withouIa military escort, and with no other means Of de-
fence than a few ~muskets, aud 4 very limited supply OF am
muniton, placed in the hands Of the teams,crs. Indians sud
denly. ind very unex. ectedly to all, made their appearance
on the road, with the evident intention Of robbing the trains,
and taking such things rs they wanted. The teamstors
were not IN a condition TO resist them, and Is this became
eyideGi, there can be no doubt that the Indians became
more danne in their entertainments, until, it is probable.
life as well as property was taken. Its known, that from
one team fifteen oxen were run of in a night: there was
no other alternative than To stop with it altogether, or les
sen the number employed in hauling other teams. to get
1t along. These difficulties were, II isfearcd, only com
mencing, and unless Col. PRicE, who was in the rear with
his regiment, undertook 10 give the Indians n sound drub-
bling, all the provision wagons were in danger OF being de.
layed, II not cut of, and the army left 10 siarye. We do
not know enough OF army mnit,r rs to say where the blame
belongs, but 1t seems To us that there has been gross neglect
IN not sending n proper military guard TO protect the vsri-
Gus detachments OF provision wagons. Certainly great in.
convenience has been experienced from the neglect. if no
So
more serious results follows. Withal, we doubt whether
all the provisions on tho way will reach Santa Re before
tho winter commences, even II no unusual delay is intcrpo.
sed. The grass Is eaten down along the road, and diff.
Gully will be presented in obtaining forage for the subsis.
tsnce Of the animals employed IN hauling the wagons.
As TO the regiment Vi lnii.try yet to leave Fort L,ayen-
worth, and The whole Of which will not get of before the
last OF the present moath. we have still greater fears for its
ability to get TO Santa Fe before next spnng. When Con.
molly and Glasgow. and others, lett Independence about
this time IN September two years ago, Tor Santa Fe, they
suffered incredible ~hirdships. Ram and sleot aud snow
overlook them, and In one night lhoy lost two hundred
mules, killed by the sleot and want Of food. They were
familiar with all tine difficulties before them, and were pre-
pared to encounter tion. No; 50 will It be with this regi-
ment of infantry, and NC fear that sad udings will be heard
from them before they reach Santa Re.
From the facts which VIC have stated, some idea may be
formed of the probable condition. and the prospects, Of the
Army Of the West" on its arrival at Santa Re. Unless
provisions reach there before winter sets in. the main reIi-
Gnco OF the men for subsistence must be upon the sheep
TO be found, and the limited quantity Of whca' and corn TO
be purchased, IN ihat region. This, IL must be confessed,
is not a very ilsitering prospect for al army, but no other
presents itself 10 us az In store for them. Where such diff
cuues are obviously to be encountered, all intelligence from
that quarter, for months To come, will be looked for with
great interest.