Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-20
IMPORTANT FROM SANTA FEE,

dill IS gwen 10 The story. louIS, 0C. g. W. n.
IMPORTANT FROM SANTA FE.
We have been favored by John Black, Esq
(says he ST. Louis Union, April 81 with The fol
lowing highly interesting letter, written 10 hin
by Mr. Robert Cary, from Santa Fe, giving tn
details OF the massacre al Taos, and the subsequer
battles Tough, by our troops:
TERRITORY OF New MEXICO,
SANTA Fs, Feb. l0,b, le47. !
DEAR Sir IL intended some lew days since, 4
have written you letter upon subject to whlcl
your attention is now called, but the crcumsIan
ces Of such an exciting nature, and The diriica.
ties with which was surrounded, prevented me
The time has now arrived, when | deem j. ml
duty TO submit 10 you few remarks, the nature
and subject OF which are too horrible andloo re
voting Tor The pen OF any American 10 place up
on ma per- and throws horror into the mind OF any
man. will endeavor 10 give you The paricu
lars OF a sad and melancholy event, which tool
place in Don r,,.nandtZ &c Taos on the morning
OF the 18Th January. You are already aware tina
Mr.. Leal was appointed the Circuit Auorner toi
the Northern JUDICIAL District Of New Mexico
and was appointed Clerk Of the sa ne District
the Capita Of which is Don Fernandez dc Taos
We left this city on The 22d Oct. last. and arrived
in TAGS on the 9th, when We took up orr board
with widow woman hv The name ri Branch
In this liule town we lived - boarded together
until December last, when | l., the boating
house, ana lived In my Office Blu, ~. Leal cor
tinued 10 the same place.
On the Eth OF January, The business Of my Of
fee called me into the adjacent county, whrn
left Taos in company with Judge Beaub'en, Tor
the perfornancr OF my duty. On the l9h, Tnes-
day. nv business t.:ns completed, was about
returning 10 Taos, but Judge Beau5ier had bust
ness in Santa 'e TO which place he requested |
would CO with him; and on Wednesday morning,
The Goth, we arrived 10 Santa Fe, where the PEG
Die were much surprised 10 see US, asa report had
reached them that Governor Bent and all the
Americans IN Taos had been murdered by the
Meyicans and Indians. We denied The report,
and thought il -! hoax. as We bad but few
DAYS since ef Taos, ard al ihat tune I'll was
QUIET, and The Americans weIe in perfect safely.
There was then no demonstration ~ an outbreak
on The par, ct The Mexcans, "a we cndeavored
10 impress upon the people here tr"t there was
no truth IN such a report; but during The after.
porn ard the next day, anonymous letters were
reCeived, stating The correctness OF The report
III writers Of which we're unknown which fur
tneg lea rs 10 suppose there was no foundation
tar such rumo,; that il was got up tof lie pur-
>,o.e al seeing what action wouid be taken b.
The troops here, as tie Mexicans had, prior 10
This, been conlemp plating revolution, and seye
raj Meyicans had been arrested, and others had
made their escape. But on The night Of the Dist,
Charles Town arrived here from Taos, whence
he had made MS escape, and from him The horri-
bic tale was gathered
[ will not here state the eXten, VI excitemeii;
which prevailed her" amccg the people. THE
whole o. he troops were ready AM anxious -
90 and NEE. The eaemy. Mr.. s.. Vrin applied
10 Col Price for a volunteer company Of mount
ed men, comprising The citizens OF Santa Fe, or
s...e.. as were willing 10 go The Colonel grant
I'd The application, when in short line sky
five men reported themselves reauy. The enc
nv bad left Taos and were making their way
toward this city. On the 22d January, Colonel
Price, in person, marched from this place, with
four .,ow:'zers two comra..,s oil iniantryi to-
eeiher with ST. Vrain's company, making in ali
abou, three hundred men. We marched about
ten miles and camped, and cm Sunday, The I'D,
we commenced the ::arch, for about ttecn miles,
To town called Santa Cruz, al which place lie
enemy we're seen. Capt. g.. Vrains company
being in advance, had already entered The town:
when the enemy were seen al distance advauc-
Ing toward The town, numbering some fifteen
hundred men. The enemy discovered Capt. ST.
VIains company, and scattered toward the noun
tains. and our company retreated back TO Col.
Prices command, and reported The i2cis. Inc Col.
ordered The whole command 10 prepare Tor battle.
A small creek was passed, when The enemy were
discovered urcn the tops OF the mountains. The
howizeis began 10 fire cpon them, doing, how
cycr but iule damage. Alter some length OF
time spent in This manner, having wounded some
FIVE or six OF our men, The Col. ordered charge
TO be made, when one infantry company mace
charge, supported by Capt. ST. Yfain's company
The position of the enemy was on the tops oil The
mountains, and our men were obliged 10 charge
up steep hill. The ..axety Of our men to NEE
them, and the excitement which prevailed in our
army made them ascend The bill with reTiec
ease, and meet The enemy, when both parties
onened fire, but in lew minutes The rasca'iJ
towards were seen making tracks through Inc ac
iacent hills, entirely cn, of reach, and suon dis
appeared. We rc.uued 10 the town, having los
one man, and one DANGEROUSLY wounded; while
the enemy lost forty killed, and the same numbe
wounded, together with some fifty prisoners
We camped :. The town, which ended The hrs
battle On Wednesday morning, The command
Started toward Taos, TO again whip them.
camp was made a, l;'tle town OF Los LuceTas
where a company Of U. S. Dragons, company
G. came up under command OF Capt. Rurguin
together with one sixpounder.
On Friday, again, lie command moved, anc
about IL o'clccs reached The mountains and hav
icg travelled some Two miles, the advance guarc
returned with the news thatlhe enemy were near
The mountains were Sc h:ca, and SO full OF rocks
that il was Impossible 10 see the number OF I'M
enemy. Blu! SO eager we're our men 10 charge
upon them, that without The necessary orders
Captain ST. Vrain's company rushed in upor
them and opened fire, while The Dragons made
a charge in different direction, and 30 powefiui
" did cur men fire, tina, they fed among ,ht
mountains, and again escaped our reach
In this action we ,os! one man killed ant
one WOUNDED, (Dick, Guys.nor Benl's servant
The enemy los, sc-,e iwe'.:y or lhIiy killed ant
wounded. This battle was fought neal small
town called Lambada, pronounced Lamoath'
On ! lIuay, lhe 29,h January.
The command again marched for Toas, being
then twenty-five miles distant The greater portion
of which was through The most rugged noun
iains in all new Mexico. Without nnch dill
Guilty we arrived al Taos =" Thursday, The Al
february, the place OF my res.-snce, and where
The horrible bu,chery took place, Z. which nov
give The particulars as gathered them from tb'
inhabitants.
Early on Tuesday morning some two bunu4ct
MeAicans and Indians, came into Taos, and wen
directly 10 the residence OF Stephen Lee, (lhe She
rifi) where they found him in the bed, and made
him 60 10 the Jail 10 release some prisoners
While there he was killed, together with the Pre-
tect, Cornelius Vigil. They then proceeded IL
Gov. Be-.'s house, who was yet in bed; but haT
ing time TO dress hiulseii and procure his arms
his house was well barred, which prevented III.
mob from enierlng. They went upon the Top o
the house and made an entrance. The Gov
was making his escape through hole, when n.
rece;vsd Two wounds, but succeeded, however, IL
make his way in - tue street, when be was ,hcf,
killed. Thus fell, as good and as gems; .. . .4.s
as ever crossed the plains we'll as The best ant
the most iee.-,. go: TO the .scxicans and lndi
ans, who ever resided in this Couairv and al
brave, too, as he was generous. The mob,,.>.. plo
ceeded 10 the residence of Judge Beaubien, WHIT
was absent, bur found there his son, young maj
Of nineteen years, 80 had JUS. completed hi
education =, the College Of 81. Genevieve, an'
who bid fair 10 make man Of some importance
to ,S;s country His name was Marcus Beau
hien. Tile rnch found Elm hid in his fathers sta
bic, and took him ou., when uno- =: h
p.., ed Tor his life. He told them that he was I
Mexican, and Catholic. Without listening Il
his prayers, issJ I'D him. together with