Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-09-26
ga' s. ARMY OF THE WEST. ia, 3.
CAMP AT SANTA FE, New MExico, ,
Head Quarters Co. &c" M. Nj. Volunteers,
ID t' g. eHta AICAueust Odd. 1876. .i ~

M6SSTS. DENSON w hnNS oV
length arrived at the place Of our destination,
after tedious and toilsome march Of forty FIVE
days duration and taken possession of Santa Fe,
without firing IA gun; indeed, we have not even
seen an enemy but upon one OCCASION When we
were within three miles Of Lusbagous, the from.
tier town, an officer Of the Mexican army met
Gen. Kearney with letter from Gov. Armijo,
perempprly ordering him not to invade the coun.
try any farther, nnd,al informing him that their
forces had taken possession Of pass, in the
mountains, six miles west Of the above named
town.. at which place we pitched our camp for
the night, and sent forward a detachment OF
spies to ascertain the truth Of the received intor
nation, who returned before morning, reporting
tina, the enemy were certainly there. The next
morning the "Reveille" sounded at an unusual
early hour; orders were received, and carried
into execution, for all arms to be Immediately
made ready for use At o'clock we took up
the line Of march, passing through the town,
taking possession Of it in the name Of our glo.
rious Republic and the oath Of allegiance adj
ministered to Its inhabitants Alter leaving the
town the army was halted, all arms ordered to
be loaded and the line Of battle formed. We
now advanced with slow and regular pace,
with 'hgh confidence" 10 meet our enemy; but
when our advanced guard reached the pass, the
Mexcans scattered in confusion and took refuge
in the mountains. Had the enemy maintained
their position, at this place, fortified by nature
as i, was, do not believe that we could have
passed them without great difficulty and consid.
cradle loss. 1t was not sufficiently wide for
more than eight mounted men to march abreast,
protected on either side by perpendicular lodges
of rocks, rising to the height Of from one to two
hundred feet; the length Of the pass being about
half mile. .....
Without any further interruption we contin'
ued our march and arrived at Santa Fe on the
evening Of the 18th, upon whose public square
was planted the 'star spangled banner" where
it long will wave, protecting beneath its fostering
folds much abused and injured people.
Gov. Armjo left the city on the 10Th inst,
with one hundred and fifty regular troops, (he
remainder Of his forces being citizens, have le
turned to their homes) taking with him a few
pieces Of artillery, (Which have since FALLEN into
our hands) considerable stock and. ualuabes
Whittier he has gone, no DIE can-discovcr, though
the inbabtants say he will retr. and surrende
himself prisoner opwar believing that HI
would receive better treatment at our hands thai
from his countrymen. The people general,
have received US with open arms, extended 10 u
every courtesy and attention in their power ant
look to US for protection. .s....
cannot let this opportunity pass without Civ
ing the volunteers Of Company "G'' that prais
they so justly merit for their gallant conduct
On the morning OF the expected engagement
every man was at his post; the sick mounted thei
horses shouldcrcd their arms and reported them
selves ready for duty others, who were leading
horses, when ordered out Of the rank, turned lhei
led horses loose and resumed their places il
line. aa,s.." -r
| have Just learned that half of our Regimen
will be ordered to California, though as t.
which companies will be selected for that service
| am not able TO say. ! am in hopes that Com
pany sc" will constitute a part Of this corps
The remaining Battalion will be divided intt
two squadrons, one Of which will be sent to Taos
the other to Ell PaSSo, whilst The regular troop
and infantry will remain in Santa Fe, where
they are now quartered.
The Americans, at this place, seemed 10 be sur
prised at the apparent insignifcance Of our force
and say if they had known that we only mum
bered seventeen hundred, thoy would have flee
the city several days before our arrival. They
as we'll as the Mexicans, had been informed lha
we were five thousand strong, and their spies
who had seen US upon the plains, coroboratee
that news, which in all probability accounts 70
their being panic struck, when we came up Il
them at the pass.
A report is current in the city that one of tn
Mexican Generals is marching against us lror
chihuahua, with an army Of five thousand mer
This is merely report, cannot vouch for il
truth In haste, .... ......
Your friend, .-s.
-a. THOS. ]. BARTHOLOW,
G., sc" NJ NJ "