Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-10
From the New Orleans Nationsh
col. DONIPHAN AND MS MEN.

The arrival Of Col. Doniphan aud his regi'
men, In this city has created an unusual degree
Of interest, although il has for the last fifteen
months been wrought up to the highest pitch Of
excitement by military novelties. A full and
carefully written history of Col Doniphans ex.
petition would form a volume Of rare interest,
and develope not only strange military adven-
ture, but call the attention Of antiquarians and
others. to nations living on our continent, of
whose existence we have been heretofore igno-
rant. and whose manners and customs fl the
mind with astonishment While listening to
the details Of these stern Missouri warriors, we
have felt for moments as If some ancient Span
ish grave had yielded up o follower OF Cortez,
to recount his adventures and persanal expert.
ence as he progressed towards the capital Of the
Montexumss. 1t presents wonderful picture.
THE marching Of few hundred men through
popuIous states, conquering their inhabitants in
pitched battles, and occupying their cities and
towns as gsrrisons. Men, who, up TO the time
they enlisted under the banner Of their country,
were employed exclusively in the arts Of peace,
using the ri1e only IS source Of amusement.
and looking TO the annual return Of the militia
muster, ssa subject of ridcule. Yet when a
demand is n,sde upon them, they seem easily to
put on the full panoply Of the ancient crusader,
and to 60 forth copquerng ss IL they had been
schooled in the camp. and been disciplined from
youth amidst the cIamor of war. Of such ma.
terials is composed this mighty race Of North
Americans, who seem destined to overshadow
the greatness Of all nations Of times past and
who are called upon 10 enacta p.r iu the PIE.
sent aud future. more satlimely grea, than has
ever yet been accorded by Providence to any
people.
Coloael Ooniphsn is man of giant frame, of
that loose carriage peculiar to the west. that de.
ceives the eye as to proportion and strength
We can imagine that his gigantic arm must
have wietded his huge sabre in the heat Of bat.
| tie with force, that not only struck down his
foe. bot literally snnihilsted him thai, in rsch
successive sweep, opened wide avenues for his
advance. as did Cortez among the crowded
ranks Of the warlike Tlascalans. His officers
and men have a strange vOccuth appearance /;
piece meal, the ill-nadc clo,hine Of the volun.
,cers have fallen from them. and they have sup.
! Piled it's place with what chance and the x,ld
beasts of New Mexico have thrown in their
way. Their sun-barat faces, grizzly boards,
and wthal, their devii.may care air. is perfect.
| ly irresistible. Yet beneath those rough exte.
riors, are concealed minds OF educated and high.
toned sentiments, full Of lofty thoughts, and love
Of fliberty; minds that are destined 70 be fe.t in
the councils Of the nation, and play prominent,
part in the stirring events of the times.
Col. Doniphan's command mustered into service
He starts for Santa Fe-News of the Ene.
my-Order Of battle-No fight--Possession
taken of Santa Fe-Gen. Kearney starts for
California Expedition against the Nsvsios
Maj Giipin's March.
Col. Doniphsn's command was mustered into
service on the 18th Of June. ls46, at Fort Lea.
venworth. On the 22d of June a portion Of the
command started for Bent's Fort, on the Arkan.
sae, and on the 2s,h Col. Doniphan lett with the
1
tion. From Bcn.'s Fort the command proceed.
ed together to Santa Fe. which 10 eight hundred
and seventy Eve miles from Bents Fort. On
the 18th day Of August Col. Doniphan arrived a,
Santa Fe. At Los Vegos. the fret settlement
in New Mexico, information was received that
the enemy had collected about two or three
thousand strong, at pass ten miles Ia the ad.
vance. The order Of battle vas formed, the in.
fan,ry being passed over the mountains. 20 as
to attack the Mexicsns in the rear; the enemy
fell back without giving battle, until they arri.
we'd within fifteen miles Of Santa Fe, at one of
the strongest passes in Mexico, where they cu,
down timber and raised Notifications. To this
strong pass the Governor came from Ssnts Fe,
bringing with him seven pieces OF artillery, one
Of which was six.pounder that had been taken
from the Texan Rangers in the celebrated San.
ia Fe expedition, and an sdditioosl force, aug.
men,ing the one already al the pass to the mum.
Der Of about four thousand.
Col. Doniphan encainped within three miles
OF the enemy. and the next morning resumed
the order Of march. end found they had deser.
ted their works and fled. On the same day the
Americans took formal possession of Santa Fe.
Ins few days they were enabled to capture the
artillery, which the Mexicsns were attempting
to smuggle of, and the whole of New Mexico
fell into our possession without gun being h.
red
Gen. Kearney's proceedings at Santa Fe are