Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-20
LIEUTENANT ABERTs LETTER.

In addition to the above, we copy from the Re-
publican the subjoined letter from Lieut.. ALERT oC
the U S. Typographical Engineer corps, who accom-
panied Col. Fremont on one Of his expeditions to
the Pacific, and subsequently dispatched BY
the Department, with Lieut.. EMORY, TO make to-
biographical survey of New Mexico For several
months past Lieut.. ALERT has been laboring under
severe indisposon, insomuch that the Department.
at the instance Of his friends has ordered him to be
relieved from duty for time. II will be seen, by
the account Of his trip, that he and the men with
him have suffered great privations and hardships
the plains:
TURKEY CREEK, FEBRpAnr 20, Is47.
On the 10th Of last month"; Gov. Bent, with all the Amei
residing in Taos, cruelty massacred by the New
Mexicans For time outbreak has threatening,
and when was in Santa Fe the troops in Of
scest vigilance, and every lay down with drawn
sabre pistols by their sides Eight Mexicans had been
arrested and imprisoned the most eminent Thomas
Ortiz second in command under Armio; Diego Archuete,
formerly member of the Mexican Congress Nicholas Pine,
Santiago Armijo, Manuel Chavez and others These per-
had arranged plan Of attack upon the city Of Santa Fe
which was deferred in order to extend it TO produce
complete revolution throughout the Department New Mexico
which to have taken place Christmas night but the
arrest of the consprators frustrated this plan.
left Santa Fe the 2Sh December last but received
letters from that place up the eth Of January battle
fought at Brazo the 18th Of December between Col
Doniphans command and the troops from Chihuahua. HIS
gained the field after fight of twenty -four minutes
This victory decided the fate of Ell Paso, of which place COL
Donphan took possession. BY letter from COL Donphan
received in Santa Fe the l2th he states that sezng
the post office Ell Paso he got possession Of letter from
Gen. Tras of Chihuahua, to the commanding officer at III
Paso announcing the advance of Gen. Wool the city
of Chihuahua, with 1900 men, having sent 3, 100 against
Durango.
We shall hear then, of the conquest Of those places
Colonel Donphan will cooperate with General Wool
Colonel Price has ordered Major Clark with six pieces and
100 men, report to Colonel Donphan and Captain Burg
| win. now nj Albuquerque, has Fe for
howitzers.
This late success will doubtless quiet the pertubed spirits
of New Mexico, but little band of men in danger
situation From the official returns that fell into my
hands when in Santa Fe, find the population Of the depart
Of New Mexico estimated al 100 000his includes hs
Puebos, or Indian villages
As the character Of these people, the horrible murder oil
Governor Bent together with the Americans in Taos the
9th Of January last the plan of cruel of a the
Americans in New Mexico the night Of the 25th Of De-
last the battle charge Of the Government troops and
militia at Brazto under black flag, gives faint idea
They entitled only 10 be dealt with outlaws, bandits,
pirates
Near the crossing of the Arkansas lost all my mules ;
they stolen by the Pawnees. We had Indians
for week previous did we any four days sub
sequent the robbery On the evening of the fourth day.
while all the in the traces, aborng TO drag the
wagon Pawnee fork band of Pawnees out and met
they seventeen in NUMBER and had fourteen men
well armed. and met the Partisan, told him
was an officer Of the United States and that the Government
would revenge the deeds Of the Pawnees who had been kill
ing our people and stealing animals They excused
themselves by saying that Of the young men,
whom they had control, guilty of the theft.
On the night Of February st lost four mules, which
frozen TO death snowstorm. February goth, Mr.
Brown, whom met carrying the mail TO Fort Leavenworb,
and who kindly let have carry the luggage
of the men, lost mules, frozen DEATH and the next
morning six had dig of my out Of the
snow that lay above them to the depth Of five feet Of
them dead, another half frozen, but still entertain
hopes Of his recovery We the head OF Turkey creek
the time Of the Storm entirely exposed its fury for thirty
six hours. My obliged 10 leave bedding provi
sions guns and cooking utensils covered up with five feet
snow. We had long and difficult march Of twenty
miles, when reached Cottonwood Fork here found
the from Fort Leavenworh with plenty Of provision
and we arc again all comfortable.