Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-10-22
From the ~ O. Delta.
THE HEROES OF SANTA FEE AND CHI.
HUAHUA

becue in Missouri on the 10th August. This
speech gives the fullest and most vivid picture
of the operations of the celebrated marching
column, which has yet appeared in print. As
a portion of the history of the war, our read
ers will find that this speech is deeply inter-
esting.
After stating the origin of this war, and com.
menting on it's causes, the eloquent and gal
liant gentleman proceeds -
Forth, then, into the wilderness, plunged
the little army of Missouri, to encounter these
enemies of their country-ther country to
them allrays right. The plains were passed
and the rugged mountains, which, dividing
from the Rocky Mountains, encircle New
Mexico, were reached. Their rapid progress
had outripped the provision trains. Amidst
fatiguing marches, dust, solsttial heats, and
scanty water, subsisting on one quarter OF the
ordinary ration, they rushed onward to Santa
Fe. The army of New Mexico, in numbers
three to one of our force, occupied the impreg-
nable gorge of Gallistro, which covers the ap.
proach to Santa Fe, dispersed in dismay. On
the 18th of August, three months from the
proclamation of war, made at Washington CT,
ty, 1900 miles distant, the State of New Mex
leo lay conquered, and the American flag float
ed over the capitol at Santa Fe.
Occupied until the middle of September in
securing the subjugaton of the country, the
LIST regiment descended the Del Norte 10 the
lower settlements. receiving the submission Of
the towns and people, and returned to Santa
Fe. New Mexico contains 100, 900 inhabi
tants, vast resources, and, by its basin-like
configuration, is easily defensible, and difficult
to be conquered, or long held in subsection
New Mexico is surrounded by powerful
tribes of military Indians The Camanches
toward Texas, the Yutas and Navajos in the
Rocky Mountains, and on their slope towards
the Pacific.
Issuing from the surrounding mountains
these warlike Indians strike down the people
devastate the banks of the Del Norte, ant
drive forth the stock. In years past, they
have plundered from the MeXicans many mil
lions of sheep and cattle. By the submission
of New Mexico, we had become the guard
ans of her people and territory. The piou:
duty remained to tame their savage foes The
infantry, artillery and dragons, remained Il
garrison Santa Fe--a fort was built TO com
mand It's approaches-a treaty was asked To-
and made by the Camanches The list regi
ment, In three detachments, departed for thu
recesSes of the Rocky Mountains late in Sep
TENDER. The one penetrating towards thu
northwest by Canada and the Chamas agains
the YutaS and the NaYal os-another south
west by Albuquerque and Sabilleta-a thrt
descended by the Del Norte, covering tht
American traders bound eventually to Chihua
hua The northern column passed out thro
this denuded country and its devastated villa
ges, to which the fugitive Mexicans returned
under its protection, and reaching the recesse
of the Rocky Mountains by the sources of thu
river Chamas, in one month delivered to thu
authorities Of Santa Fe IS Yutas. incudin:
their chiefs and chief warrors With then
was formed treaty of peace, since faithful,
observed by those Indians This restore,
many thousand families of Mexicans to thei
farms and iresides, and gave quiet to the north
ern frontier.
Supplies having been with great difficult,
collected, this same column prepared 20 pas
the eternal barrier of the Rocky mountains
and scare up the Naval JOS, reposing in securit,
| Der, Gin this climate the depth of winter, indi
Gated by the SHOWS which enwrapped the sur
rounding mountains,) this little force, 90
strong, abandoning their tents and wagons
entered the gorges that lead up to the &c Pas
of the San JUAN" the head of this great river
which flows to the Pacific With US were II
Mexican allies and 100 pack mules, transport
ing provisions. In seven days, contendinE
against snow storms and ice, at an altitude 0
10000 feet, in midwinter, and unpalatabl
water, the passage of the "Great Mothe
Mountain" of the continent was accomplished
| The measles scourged our camp. The Draw
boys, Foster and Bryant, fell prey to its raw
ages. Following for some days the great Sal
Juan, leaving its banks, swarmmg with TIL
sheep and horses of the Nava jos, and crossin!
| towards the south, the impracticable mountain
of TunlCha, (never before trodden by whit
menu we descended into the cavernous region
of Challa, amidst the seclusion of which ar
the forts and Businesses of the Navaios. AS
founded at the appearance of an American
| force where they had trusted it could neve
penetrate, the chiefs rendered presents restored
the horses which had been stolen from New
Mexico, and promised abject submission
Taking with us nine chiefs, commissioned t.
bind the nation, we fastened towards tn
snowy peaks which rose two hundred mile
to the east, and found our return to New Mex
leo. At the western base of these, in the ter
ritory of the Luni Indians, we awaited the ar
rival of the Colonel commanding, to whom
the Navai 10 chiefs swore eternal friendship +
the white man. Marching hence under tn
western edge of the mountain crest, we visite
and smoked the pipe in the city of the Lun
Indians. This people, many Of them Albnos
one OF the lost specks Of the antique Ate
race, nhabit solitary city in the centre @
the immense plain traversed by norther
branch of the ella river. Hence, re-crossn
the - Great Mother Mountain by the Lur
Pass, on the first four days of December, W
descended 10 the Del Norte. Joyously did w
meet again with our fellow soldiers, and 500
the LIST regiment found itself Reunited at Va
verde, $50 miles below Santa Fe, about t
pass onward to the conquest of FL Paso an
Chihuahua.
Thus, since our departure from Santa Fl
had little force under my command, reduce
to peace the Yuta and Navajo nations, 10, 90
strong, accomplished march of 80 mile!
crossed and re-crossed the Sierra Aladre, pa:
sed the Tunicha and Chiuska mountains, an
many rivers. During many successive nights
the cold descended TO the freezing point {
mercury; the streams were frozen solid, th
pasture scanty, and of fuel there was but
stingy handful of evergreen weeds two BRAY
men and many horses had perished-for ii
rest their health was good, and their spiri
always CAV and undaurted. This is the fir
military force of our nation which, crosSin
the Rocky mountains and unfurling the N
: tional Standard upon the waters of the Pacifi
has received for it the Submission of hosti
) people-and this was accomplished in ii
depth of winter
A portion of our little army (the artllier
: and Infantry remained to occupy New Mex