The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-03-25
From the Philad. North American.
Important Intelligence.
PLTTsDURGH, March 1G.


By river we have St. Louis papers four days
in advance of Mail, with dates form Santa Fe
covering important news. There has been
an extensive Mexican Instruction at Taos
All the Spaniards who evinccd any sympathy
with the American cause had been compelled
to escape.
Gov. Bent, Stephen Lee, Acting Sheriff,
Gen. Elliot Lee, Henry Seal, and twenty
Americans, were killed, and their families
despoied The chief Alcalde was also killed.
This all occurred on the 18th January The
instruction had made formidable head, and
the disaffection was rapidly spreading The
insurrectionsts were sending expresses out all
over the country to raise assistance. The
number engaged in the outbreak at Taos was
about COO They were using every argument
to incitc the Indians to hostlities, and were
making preparations to take possession of
Santa Ee
The Americans at Santa Fe had only about
500 effective men there, the rest were on the
sick list or had left to join Col. Doniphan
Such being their situation they cannot send
succor out, as they are hardly able to defend
themselves 1t is thought Santa Fe must be
captured, as neither the Fort nor Block
Houses are completed.
1t is announced as the intention of the in
surrectonists who captured Taos, to take
possession of the Government wagon trains,
which are carrying forward our supplies, and
thus cut off all communication.
The representations made to Col. Doni-
phan, that Chihuahua would be an easy con-
quest, were evidently intended as a lure to
entrap him, beget spirit of security, and
lead him far off into the interior, where he
might be easily cut off.
1t is the universal opinion in Santa Fe that
if Gen. Wool had gone direct to chihuahua
there would have been no trouble in New
Mexico. Col. Doniphan had possession of Ell
Paso del Norte on the 18th December Let
ters had been received from the Governor of
chihuahua, stating that Gen. Wool was with
in three days march Of the Capital This too
was doubtless another rusc to lure Col. Doni-
rhan on in confidence, and cut him off from
all chances Of escape, or offalling back upon
Santa Fe, to relieve it in its emergency.
The Mexicans are bold in their tone and
confident ofcapturing Col. Doniphan ard his
command, which consists Of about GOO men,
800 Of them being of his own troops, the first
regiment Of Mounted Missouri Volunteers and
adetachment of100 men from Santa Founder
command Of Lieut. Mitchell, of the I'd reei-
ment-consistng Of 80 men from Clark's bat
talon of light artillery, under command of
Capt. Hudson and Lieut., Krbben, and 20
from Col. Willock's battalion. They then
assert that theywi massacre every American
in New Mexico and confscate all theirgoods
A letter from Lieut.. Albert United States
Typographical Engineer, of later date, con-
firms all the above intelligence. The details
of the battle of Bracito are also confirmed
The massacre beyond doubt has been a hor-
ribe one, of which we have as yet heard but
the beginning; and the instruction has been
kept so quiet until all was ready for the out
break, that our handful of troops there must
be demolished before any effort can be made
to relieve them from the most advanced of our
western military posts.