Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-09-04
From the Reveille.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES"
A Story of ARM Life in Santa Fe.


Observation-Disclosures"
A Story Of Army Life in Santa Fe.
BY JOHN BROWN.
1.-THE course of true love never did run smooth"
Did 1t!
Late in the fall of 1916, some thought, in
Santa Fe, that the campaign of the Army
of the West" had lost its romance; but
how sadly were they mistaken. The
thought, in truth, was treason to the. service
the fair daughters of New Mexico. The
days of startling glory, indeed, may then,
for US, have been considered as flown for.
ever; but could we not display our ingenu-
ity in providing the "ways and means
which Uncle Sam had failed to furnish;
and could not contrivances for this purpose
bring forth unique events? Not doubt of
it can we tolerate; and when those events
occurred, could we not at least be amused by
their rare character, and smile at their re-
suits! Never was anything more true, not
even "preaching."
Before the horrd massacre in the valley
of Taos, and the campaign of Col. Price,
there was an expedition got up, in Novem-
Der, consisting of one hundred men, as an
escort to a field officer of high rank, who
was ordered by Col. P. to open the COM
munication with Chihuahua. This expe.
dition started, full of expectation and
promise. Perhaps you will say there was
nothing romantic in that; but hold. Few, in.
deed, will ever know, or even hear, the eff
forts made to start that chosen band-an
hundred men, selected from the army then
in Santa Fe, as physically and intellectual
ly" qualified for the service; especially,
however, considered fit for the expedition;
if they could mount themselves on good
horses. AT length the Colonel had all things
in readiness.
Stay moment; let us moralize and illus.
trate. All great undertakings-we may
hazard the assertion--have had beginnings.
Some have been brilliant with new born
glories; others clouded with adversely and
tribulation. A people of whom you have
perhaps heard would not start on an adven-
ture. if, when about setting out, one of the
party happened to Sneeze. The Shepherd
of Salisbury Plain would not venture from
his shelter if particular old-gentleman
sheep turned the neither extreme of his
body to the wind, or, in other words, turn
ed his head from the blast. That .sneeze
it's not important TO know why, was regar.
ded as en- evil omen; the position of his
ramship, as the tale goes, was sure sign
of storm. And there is said to be tribe
of Indians who regard it as most unfor,
tunate .faur pas, for man to tread on the
shadow of his own head, at d-day--"bad
incidence certain harbinger of disease
in the region Of the brain:
Thus strange decisions sway the human mind,
And shape the actions of Gods creatures here,
That cen in nozes, oraces we find,
And shadows, or cen sleeps ta,ls cause to feal
That dire events are crowding still more near!
(Not bad verse-by way of parenthe
sis-though little lame in the closing line,
But none of these affected the Chihuahu;
expedition.
Nobody sneezed, or, if so, nobody paie
any attention to it. 1t did not affect thu
face of affairs at all. No sleeps tail poin
ted to the wanton winds, forboding storm
and tempests, and nobody trod on his head
that we heard Of; or, if so, no one fearet
that many brains would be injured. Nc
indeed; matters more grave than these
matters, in truth, not TO be ''sneezed at
: something more substantial than shadow
or sleeps tails, stood in the way of thi
expedition.
Money was wanted; il was wanted flo
: use in Santa Fe, before starting--for use o
y the road. Those melancholy horses an
!, sober mules all looked as if it would d
them good to take spree, in their wa,
and unt corueJi Rut alasI there yas mr.