Democratic banner., 1847-07-12

souri,. You moved forward in February.
and the battle Of the Sacramento, one Of
the military marrels of the age, cleared the
road 10 chihuahua, which was entered with
out further resistance. 1t had been entered
once before by a detachment of American
troops; but under circumstance how differ
ent! In the year 1907, Lieut.. Pike and his
thirty brave men, taken prisoners on the
head ofthe Rio del N1rte, had been marched
captives into Chihuahua; in the year lS47,
Donipllan and his men entered it as con-
querors. The paltry triumph of a Captain
General over a Lieutenant; was effaced in
the triumphal entrance of a thousand Mis-
s%ourians into the grand and ancient capital
of all the INTERNAL Provinces! and, old
men, still alive, could remark the grandeur
of the American spirit under both events
the proud and lofty bearing Of the captive
'thirty-the miljness and moderation Of the
conqucring thousand.
chihuahua was taken, and responsible du-
ties, more delicate than those of arms, were
to be performed. Many American citizens
were there, engaged i trade; much Ameri-
can property was there. All this was to be
protected, both lives and property, and by
peaceful arrangement; for the command was
too small to admit of division, and of leaving
a garrison. Cancellation, and negotiation
were resorted TO, and successfully. Every
American interest was provided for, and
placed under the safeguard, first, of good
will, and merit, of guarantees not to be vio-
lated with imPunity.
Chihuahua gained, it became like Santa
iFe, not the terminating point ofa long ex-
Ipcdition, but the beginning point Of a new
one. Gen. Taylor was somewhere-no one
knew exactly where-but some seven or
eight hundred miles towards the other side
of Mexico. You had heard ii at he had
been defeated--that Buena VIska had not
been a good prospect TO him. Like good
Americans, you did not believe a word Of it;
but, like good soldiers, you thought it best
to go and see. A volunteer party Of fourteen,
headedb by Collins, Of Boonville, undertake
to penetrate to S%altillo, and to bring you
information of his condition. They set out.
Amidst innumerable dangers they accom-
iPlished heir purpose; and return. You
march. A vanguard of 100 men, led BY
Lieut.. Col. Mitchell, led the way. Then
came the main body, if the name is net a
burlesque on such a thankfully commander
by Col. Doniphan himself.
The whole table land Of Mexico, in all its
breadth, from west to east, to be trarersed.
A numerous and hostile population in towns
~treacherous Camanches in the Mountains
were TO be passed. Every thing was to be
neutrality-suspicious., transportation,
fresh horses for remounts, and even the
means Of v~ictory-and all without a mill
tary chest, or even an empty box, in which
government gold had ever reposed. All
was accomplished. Mexican towns were
passed, in order and quet: plundering Cam
anches were punished: means were obtain
ed from traders to liquidate indispensable
contributions: and the wants that could not
be supplied, were endured like soldiers of
veteran service.
say the Camanches were pushed. And
here presents an episode of . novel, extra
ordinary, and romantic kind-Americans
chastising savages for plundering people
who they themselves CANE t. conquer, and
forcing the restitution Of captives and Of
~Plundered property. A strange story this
to tell in Europe, where backwoods charac-
ter, western character, is not yet completely
known. But to the facts. In the musket
forest Ct the B kson de MGpimi, and in the
,~sierras around the beautiful town and fertile
district of Parras, and in all the open coun-
try from hundreds of miles around about,
the savage Camanches had held dominion
ever since the usurper Santa Anna disarmed
the people; and sally forth from their fast
ness to slaughter men, plumber cattle, and
carry of women and children. An exploit