Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-20
IMPORTANT FROM NEW MEXICO.

The ST. Louis papers of the 9th instant furnish
the following important and distressing intelligence
from New Mexico
There has been an extensive instruction at Taos.
All the Spanards who evinced any sympathy with
the American cause had been compelled to escape.
Gov BENT, STEPHEN LEE, Acting Sheriff, Gen.
ELLIOT LEE, HENRY LEAL, and twenty other Ame-
ricans, 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 Toas few days before to look after farm
which he owned in that vicinity.
The instruction had made formidable head, and
the disatieclion was rapidly spreading. The in
surrecuonists were sending expresses all over the
country to obtain assistance. The number engag-
ed in the outbreak at Taos was about six hundred
At its commencement the Alcade of Taos sent
word down to the Alcalde of Vagus of their move
ments, 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 were composed Of the lowest rabble, and whose
desire was plumber, were hurrying on to the Pueba
Indian villages and settlements to arouse them, and
march directly to Santa Fe and take possession of
that place and all that was in it,. The Americans
at Santa Fe had there only about four hundred
effective men the rest were on the sick list or
had left to join Col. DoNIpHAN. Such being their
situation, they could not send succor out, they
were hardly able to defend themselves. 1t is there
fore supposed that Santa Fe must be captured, as
neither the fort nor block-houses are completed
1t is announced as the intention of the insurrec-
tionsts who captured Taos to take possession of
the Government wagontrains, which are carrying
forward our supplies and thus cut off all commu-
nication.
The representations made to Col. DoNIPHAN that
Chihuahua would be an easy conquest, were evil
IDENTIFY intended as lure to entrap him, beget a
spirit of security, and lead him far into the Interior
where he might be easily cut off, 1t is the unver-
sal 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 2sth of December Letters had
been received from the Governor of Chihuahua
stating that Gen. Wool was within three days
march of the capital. This too was doubtless
other ruse to lure Col. DoNIPHAN on in confidence,
and cut him off from all chance Of escape or Of
falling back upon Santa Fe, to relieve it in its
emergency.
The Mexicans are bold in their tone and conf
dent of capturing Col. DoNIPHAN and his command,
which consists of about six hundred men---fve hun
dred Of them being of his own troops, he first regi
ment of mounted Missouri volunteers,) and detach-
ment of one hundred men from Santa Fe, under
command of Lieut.. Col. MITCHELL, of the second
regiment, consisting of thirty men from Clark bat
talon Of light artillery, under command of Capt.
HUDSON and Lieut.. KRIBBEN, and seventy from
Col. PRIcE's regiment and Col. WmLocK's batta-
lion. 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 battle of
Bracito are also confirmed. The massacre beyond
doubt has been terrible 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
outbreak, that handful of troops there must be
overpowered before any effort can be made to re-
lieve them from the most advanced of our Western
posts.