Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-30
HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN NEW MEXIC
SANTA FE, Feb. Is, lS47

SANTA FE, Feb. Is, ls47.
SIR: have the honor to submit to you
short account of the recent revolution in this
Territory, and detailed report of the opera
tons of the forces under my command, conse.
quent upon the rebellion.
About the 18th of December last received
information OF an attempt to excite the people
of this Territory against the American govern
ment This rebellion was headed by Thomas
Ortiz and Diego Archuleta. An officer, for
merlv in the Mexican service, was seized, and
on his person was found list of all the dis
banded soldiers in the vicinity OF Santa Fe
Many other persons, supposed to be implica-
ted, were arrested, and full investigation
proved that many of the most influential per-
sons in the northern part of this Territory
were engaged in this rebellion. All attempts
to arrest Ortiz and Archuleta proved unsuc
cessful, and these rebels have, without doubt,
escaped in the direction of Chihuahua.
After the arrest above mentioned and the
flight of Ortiz and Archuleta, the rebellion ap-
peared to be suppressed but this appearance
was deceptive.
On the l4th of January, Gov. Bent left this
city for Taos. On the 10th of the same month,
this valuable officer, together with five other
persons, were seized at Don Fernando de Taos
| by the Pueblos and Mexicans, and murdered
in the most inhuman ma nner the savages could
devise. On the same day, seven Americans
were murdered at the Arroyo Honda, and two
others on the Colorado. The names of the
unfortunate persons thus brutality butchered
were as follows:
1T Don Fernando de Taos.-Chas. Bent,
governor; Stephen Lee, sheriff; James w.
Leal, circuit attorney; Cornelio Virgil, "a Mex
ican,) project; Narcisus Beaubien, (son of the
circuit Judge J Parbleau Harvimeah, "a Mexi-
CAM
At the Arroya Hondo-Simon Turley, AL
bert Turbush, William Hatfield, Louis Tolque
Peter Robert, Joseph Marshall, Wm Austin
1t the Rio Colorado.-Mark Head, William
Harwood
1t appeared to be the object of the insur.
rectionists to put to death every American and
every Mexican who had accepted Office under
the American government
News of these events reached me on the
goth of January; and letters from the rebels
calling upon the inhabitants of the Rio Abale
for aid, were intercepted. It was now ascer
tanned that the enemy was approaching thi:
city, and that their force was continually being
increased by the inhabitants of the towns along
their line of march.
In order to prevent the enemy from recelv
ing any further reinforcements in that manner
determined to meet them as soon as possible
Surprising that the detachment of the neces
sary troops would weaken the garrison O
Santa Fe too much, Immediately ordered VI
from Albuquerque Maj. Edmonson, I'd regi
ment Missouri mounted volunteers, and Capt
Burgwin, with their respective commands, di
recting Capt Burgwin to leave one compan,
of dragons at this post, and to join me witt
, the other. Maj. Edmonson was directed t
remain in Santa Fe.
Captain Giddings, company A I'd regimen
Missouri mounted volunteers, was also order
ed to join me with his company, upon the al
rival of Capt. Burgwin.
Leaving Lieutenant Colonel Wilcox i
} command of this post on the 23d of Januar
| marched from this place at the head of com
/ panies D, Captain McMillin, K, Captain Wi
lams, L, Captain Slack, M, Captain HALEY
and n, Captain Barber, of the I'd regimen
E Missouri mounted volunteers, Captain Ang
ney's battalion of infantry, and a company {
: Santa Fe volunteers, commanded by Captai
e St. Vrain. | also took with NE four mouI
S tain howitzers, which placed under the CON
: mand of Lieut. A. B. Dyer. of the ordnance
My whole force composed three hundred an
fifty three, rank and file, and, with the excel
: ton of Captain st. Vrain's company, were a
dismounted. On the march Captain William
e was taken sick, and the command of Compan
K devolved upon Lieut.. B. F. White. On II
s oath of January, at half-pas /. p. M, our al
vance Capt. ST. Vrain's company discovert
e the enemy in considerable force near the tow
# of Canada, their position at that time being
e the valley bordering the Rio del Norte, Prep
rations were Immediately made by me to a
j. tack them; and it became necessary for Il
is troops to march more rapidly than the ann
l. milton and provision wagons could travel,
d order to prevent the escape of the enemy,
p to Illustrate them in any attempt they mig
.s make to occupy commanding positions. Al
ot entered the valley, discovered them beyol
E the creek on which the town is situated, a.
lie IN full possession of the heights commando
at the road to Canada, and of three strong no
y ses at the bases OF the hills Myaline of b.
tie was Immediately fosmed-the artiller
= consisting OF four l2-poander mountain no,
IN itzers, being thrown forward on the left fial
D. and beyond the creek, the dismounted m