Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-03-25
INSURRECTION AT TAOS.

BY the river we have ST. Louis papers four DAYS
in advance of the mail. with accounts from Santa
JF'e conveying important news There has been an
extensive instruction of the MeXicans at Taos-
All the Span'ards who evinced any sympathy with
the American cause had been compelled to escape.
Gov. Bent, Stephen Lee, Acting Sheriff, Gen. Ell
liot Lee, Henry Leal, and twenty other Americans.
were killed and their families despoiled the Chief
Alcalde was also killed. This all took place on
the 10Th of January. Gov. Bent had gone up to
Taos few days before TO look after farm which
he owned in that vicinity.
The instruction had made formidable head, and
the disaflection was rapidly spreading. The insur-
rectlonists sending expresses all the
try to obtain assistance. The number engaged in
the outbreak at Taos was about six hundred. At
its commencement the Alcalde of Taos sent word
down to the Acaldc of Nugus of their movements
and wished him to join them He would not but
sent an express Immediately to Santa Fe, advising
them to be on their guard, the mob, who We're
composed of the lowest rabbe, and whose desire
was plumber, were hurrying to the Puebla Indian
villages and settlements to arouse them, and march
directly TO Santa Fe and take possession of that
place and ali that was in it. The Americans at
Santa Fe had there only about four hundred effect
i've men; the rest were the sick list, or had left
TO join Col. Doniphan Such being their situation,
they could not send succor out rs they were hardly
able to defend themselves. 1t is therefore supposed
that Santa Fe must be captured, rs neither the fort
1t is announced as the intention Of the insurrcc-
tionsts who captured Taos to take possession of
the Government wagon trains, which carrying
forward our supplies, and thus cut Off all commune
cation
The representations made 10 Col. Doniphan that
chihuahua would be an easy conquest, were evil
IDENTIFY intended lure to entmp him. heget a
spirit Of security and lead him far into the interior
where he might be easily cut off. Ii is the univer-
sal opinion in Santa Fe that if Gen. Wool had
gone direct to chihuahua, there would have been
no trouble in New Mexico.
Col. Don!phan had possession OF FL Paso del
Norte oh the 2oth of December. Letters had been
received from the Governor OF chihuahua stating
that Gen. Wool was within three days murch Of
the capitol. This too was doubtless another rusc
to lure Col. Duniphan on in confidence and cut
him OIL from all chance Of escape Of falling back
upon Santa Re, TO relieve it in It's emergency.
The Mexicans are bold in their tone and conf
den; of capturing Col Doniphan and his command,
which consists ofabout six hundred mcn-iive hun
bred 0f them being his OWN troops, the first regi-
ment Of mounted Missouri volunteers } and a de-
tachment CT one hundred men from Santa Fe, I'M
der command Of Lieut.. Col. Mitchell, of the Sc
cOnd regiment, consisting Of thirty men from
Clark's battalion of light artillery, under command
Of Capt. Hudson and Lieut. Krbben, and seventy
from Col Prices reg iment and Col. Willock's bat
talon. They then assert that they will massacre
every American in New Mexico, and confscate all
their goods.
A letter from Lieut. Albert. Of the United States
Typographical Engineers, Of later date, confirms
all the above intelligence. The details Of the bat
tie of Bracito also confirmed The massacre
beyond doubt has been terrible one, of which we
have as yet heard but the beginning, and the nsur-
rection has been kept so quiet until all was ready
for the outbreak, that handful of troops there
must be overpowered before any effort can be made
to relieve them from the most advanced of our
Western posts.
Letters received at ST. Luis state that Colonel
Cooke and the Mormon battalion were three hun
dred and Fl ty miles beyond Santa Fe. They were
generally in good health and progressing slowly.