The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-09-26
Army of the Wesl,

We have taken some pains TO procu,
curate information in regard to tho coDd,T
and fhture prospects of the "Arny ", IL
West" under Gen. Kenrney-and' No
knowledge that the result of our ipmaF
ellis us with solicitudc. We have grea,
fdence in the commander of the cXped,T
We know his prudence, hisperseverance
ability to surmount great and eytraodr
di1iculties but we are sntistied also, lhn
has TO encounter such difficulties, and ii,
will be miracle if he escapes them. G
I[enrney, il is now certain, leaves ,he en- i
States under peculiar aud most critical
cunstapces. He has reached Fort hi
with n command ofat least 1900 men, MI
all of whom were mounted when tlrv
Fort L,eayenworth--the exception is n
fhund in the companies of infantry nj
,vere received into the service before his,
narture from the fort, He has been follow
by n battalion of five hundred inhn'y cnI
posed of Mormons-by Col. Prices regim.
| ofmoInted men, thousand strong and
Mai. Wiok's battalion, consisting ffeh
drcd mounted men. In the course Of N
present month, another regimcntof miami
will be Organized and on their way urobo,
inr Mt least one thousand men; UA nUosI
nre 10 be added thousand men, al Ieca, ccl
nected with the train of the army S.u
they everreach Santn Fe, the command g
consist, inrolid numbers, oftorty eglth
dred men--and, with the teanlsters and
PENDANTS of the camp, il will be sweIled@
thousand. AT least provisions for thsar
her will, at all events, have to he dcu
/ from the UnitedStates.
Gen. Kdarney arrived at Fort Beut on
Both ofJuly, aud left on the I'd Of Angus
had limited supply of rations, and do
were erienudiea byreducing the men 10 d
mtons. But he was not permitted, by Il
cunistances, 10 stop there aud await sun
/ for he was III absolute want OF forage r
horses. lie was compel ed TO take up th.
loftnarcl, in order TO find food for them
praires This is the true cause of lis
stnv Mt Fort Bent. and denotes the Difficult
in his way, and in that ofthe mounted ri
who were TO follow him. To all our ia1a
es rs TO the prospect of forage for his amin
at SANTA Fe, we hive received the samew
| form answer: it was not 10 he had, except 4
very limited quantities. at the ranchensl io
| ten TO twenty and more miles from Santa 4
In the whole department, the highest rTErI
of the Surplus WHEAT is 7000 TO S0C0 M.haI
land corn was so scarce as TO mas worth
! SO. so per hushel. Such is the prosl PIE.
scented forthe support ofthe horses Wae'
and cattle, which accompany the eXpcaao
Now, as to supplies from the UnitedScm
| Our inquiries up 10 tue present moment w
( satisfied us, that nutlung is aggeratedmH
report ofthe condition ofthe baggage va
/ ons. on tle route 10 Fort Bent, as pubIl,
I by us last week. That account Is true TOT
/ letter. Strange as il may seem, the Sow
! tietachmcnts of wagons, upon which #a
! the troops couldrely for provisions, We're d
/ patched without military escort, and "
no other means of defence than few m
kets. and very limited supply ofamnmnil
placed i'm the hands of the teamsters. In
| ans suddenly, and very unexpectedly 10
I made their appearance on the road WIN
evident intention Of robbing the raius, N
taking such things MS they wanted. Thewal
siers were not ma condition TO resist ihe
and MS this becnnG evident, there can be
| doubt that tho Indians bccane more daring
their ehcroachmcnts, until it is probable
as well MS property was taken. 1t is hno'
that from one team. fifteen oXenwcrc w9
! i'm night; there was no other alternative
/ 10 stop with it altogether, or lessen the m
Der employed in hauling other teams, 10 e.
along. These difficulties were, il is fear
only commencing, and unless Col. Price,
| was in the renr with his regiment, UNDER
to give the Indians Il sound druhbinC, MI
| provision wagons were in danger ofbeing
layed, ifnot cut off and the army left 10 sta
| We do not know enough ofarny matter
say where the blamebelougs but it seems q
! that there has been gross neglect in moi Sc
ing proper military guard TO PROTECTING
rious detachlnents ofprovision wagons.
tainly great Inconvenience has been exp
enced from the neglect, ifno more serious
suit follows. Withal, we doubt whether
I the provisions on the way will reach 81
Fee before the winter commences, even i
UNUSUAL delay is interposed. The grass Is
ten down along the road, and difficulty
be presented in obtaining forage Tor the 5
sistence of the animals employed in haul
the wagons.
As to the regiment of Infantry yet TO lie
Fort Leavenworth, and the whole of wi
will not gel off before the last of the pres
month, we have still greater fears offs al
tv to get to Santa Fe before next spr
When Connolly and Glasgow. and others
Independence about this time in Scptcm
two years ago, for Santa Fe, they suhe
incredible hardships. Rain and sleet I
snow overlook them, and in one night q
lost two hundred mules, killed by the s.
and want of food. They were familiar "
all the difficulties before them, and were
pared to encounter them. Not so will It
with this regiment of infantry, and we
that sad tidings will be heard from them
fore they reach Santa Fe.
7 From the facts which we have stated, 81
idea may be formed ofthe probable condit
and the prospects, ofthe "Army ofthe we
on its arrival at Santa F'e. Unless provisI
reach there before winter sets in, the II
reliance of the men for subsistence must
upon the sheep to be found, and the linn
quantity ofwheat and corn TO be purcho
in that region. This, it must be confesse'
not very fiattering prospect for an ar
hut no other presents itselfto us as in store
them. Where such difficulties are obvio
to be encountered, all intelligence from