The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-18

Our santa We Correspondence.

Inc NQtdho Expouut0w-Hs SdJe hdWw-lne
Canon Bonito'-7hs Valley of ChaMs-W o~-
des of Gsoiogy-B,llsts a~d Arro,os, a~d the DE-
sceNsSs Ar1wi- Radsksws, Pumpkins axd Para
diss-Gold AVID Silpe, AVID Precious Stones, and
the City Within Rock-Ms~dr and Massacre
Jxt ''the Wonder of an Ho~'-7hs Way Horses
change Orcnes in Nes Merico, Dhich is Matter
of Coxrse--A Fight, Fo~r Warriors Bite the Dust
I'VE Must Drink Wate Instead of Generous
Viw<, Must 1hrow Dopn the Miners Pick, and
gather o~ Herds from Thoxsa~d Hll,, t~to Safe
Ewcioswss-- Wanted, Western Maw for Presi
dent.
DEAR SIR:-In my last letter msdo mention Of
the departure from this territory OF large military
force, under the command of our new commander,
Col. Sumner, against the Navajo tribe of Indians
and expected 10 be able, by this time, to inform
you of brilliant termination to that campaign.
But ell future events uncertain, and often bring
disappointment to those who are sanguine enough
to mistake their hopes for their expectations We,
of this territory, have been somewhat disappointed
at the result OF this expedtion-sone 80 much so
to cast, what the writer believes to be, unjust
sure upon the commander of the expedition. His
motives were good, and his efforts to accomplish
something were energetic and praiseworthy. Suo-
is to beget praise in all things misfortune
is either unaccompsned by sympathy, or followed
by condemnation Justice requires that credit
should be given for whatever good may have result
ed from the expedition.
The country to be trsversed was one of much
Iuggedness and was often, fer many miles, bare of
boldly penetrated into the very heart of the Nsva
no country, to the famous Valley of Chaile
True, this feat has often been accomplished before;
but no previous expedition thher has ever smoothed
the way for succeeding one. The Colonel dashed
bravely into the valley, "beardng the lion in his
den," and often advancing IS he thought proper,
retired from the valley without injury, notwith-
standing the enemy kept up an incessant fire upon
him from the inaccessible crags on either side.
The ignorance Of the savages was such that it
would seem they regarded the Colonies cou ater-
march, in this instance, in the light of q retreat.
That they entertained this ridiculous idea is to be
inferred from the fact that they not only had the
audacity to maintain their ground amosg the cliffs
of the valley Of Chaille, but even to pursue aud
harrass the troops on their return home. One In
dian lost his life from this temerity on their part
The expedition returned without any loss In men,
but, it is said, considerable in horses. But it is
gratifying to know that our loss was net the gain
Of the Indians, as all exhausted horses were shot,
to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy
manding officer established a fort at q beautiful
valley. hence called by the Mexicans "Canon Bo-
nito." The establishment of this post is valuable,
as proving TO the Navahoes that the Americans have
net only the courage to penetrate within their
country, but to take possession Of it, and reside
there
A word, in passing, about this "vallsy of
Chaille or, ss 1t is more commonly called, 'canon
of Chaille" 1t must be, without doubt one of the
most extraordinary geological curiosities in the
known world. The canon is nothing more nor less
than split, or crack in the surface Of the earth,
which is not more than four or FIVE hundred yards
in width, and fully twelve hundred feet in depth.
The length Of this earthly rent the Lord and the
Navahoes only know, as have never heard of .
white mans penetrating more than eight or ten
miller, and that was about the distance that Col.
Sumner penetrated. The walls Of this vast cavity
perpendicular throughout their entire length
at least so perpendicular, that horse nowhere
climb them, nor even q man, save in very few
places Frem these giddy but safe heights the wild
Indians launched their arrows, during the whole
day, at the American army. But arrows and balls
were both harmless-the latter from the fact that
they we're overshot, in almost every instance. The
canon becomes gradually narrower the farther you
advance within it, until Mt length it becomes 50
narrow rs to make it easy matter for the Indians
to exterminate any number Of men who may be
tones upon their heads; or crushing the m, by rolf
rg upon them large boulders down the perPendieu-
ar precipice.
Twelve hundred feet. have said, from the CON-
surface OF the EARTH is the bottom of this great
canon. The bottom is very small, of course, but
level and exceedingly fertile This is the garden
spot, the paradise, of the Navahoes. Here are
found laxurant folds of wheat and maize, orchards
OF delicious peaches, and patches teeming with
pumpkins, melons, &c SO. In the face Of the
orecipices on either side, are the houses, natural
81 We, as artificial. Of the wild Navajo. This is
the Petrea Of the New World, the city 10 a rock,
and II is the stronghold Of the powerful Navajo
nation. This is their only perm anent abiding
place; and it Is here that they have hidden and
stored away. generation after generation, the rich
spois in gold, and silver and precious ,nes that
more refined, but more effeninate neighbors, the
New Mexicans
Indian depredations upon this poor and neglected
territory, could recount you by the hour but they
lessly mentioned as the news of the day, and for
gotten in the self same hour. will therefore, men
lion only the freshest forays only few days ago,
but already rapidly passing into oblivion.
Faith'-tho capital Of the venerable territory Of
New Mexico-at town called Pena Blanca, were
quietly grazing upon the common noble herd Of
horses and mules, some one or two hundred in num-
Der, when, unlike the thief in the night but very
suddenly, when the sun was in the zenith, there
came down q few Navajo warriors, in all their
impudence, and drove them away to the valley Of
Chaille, presume quietly smoking their cigaritos
Again q few days ago some six or seven meri-
cans, portion Of the travelling party Of Captain
Walker, famous and valiant mountaineer, were
attacked, within fifteen miles Of Albuquerque, by
some seventy or eighty Navahoes. The Navahoes
came of "second best" in the conflict, but one
American being wounded, and four Indian warriors
being killed.
The territory is at present in a very depressed
since the Americans came in possession of the
country, the expenditures Of the army have been
about its only resource. Those expenses may have
amo unted to quite large sum; but, doubtless, the
r, sjor portion OF the money expended to support
the few troops stationed in New Mexico, is ex-
pended, not in New Mexico, but in the States,
from whence the substsntials Of life as clothing,
bacon, &c have been brought Perhaps some
$4,000 are thus annually expended in the terri
tory, and this, the people would gladly OK change
Tor peace, that is for good government; since IL
must be obvious TO the most shallew thinker that
ne sixty or seventy thousand inhabitants Of the
territory could yearly add many millions to it's
wealth. II they could WORK their gold aud silver
mines in safety, and herd their focks afar of upon
he luxuriant prairies.
Would that New Mexico we're our own, and not
the Indians; then would a few short years witness
The expectation from her limits Of vast quantities.
Il the finest wine the world has ever produced;
she would furnish millions OF pounds Of wool to the