The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-04


find in the St Louis Republican letters to the 3lst,
of which gives the following account of the battle
with the Apaches -
the night Of the 26h of March Lieut. Davidson left
Cantonment Burgwin in command OF fifty men, in
pursuit Of the Apaches who supposed to be about
upon the Indians posted upon mountain andfar
exceeding in numbers what had been represented They
numbered at least two hundred There but one al
tentative, they raised the warwhoop upon the ap-
proach of the command and the attack upon them com
menced at once.
After fight of three hours, during which Lieut. Da-
wilson lost twenty 1.-TWO killed and twenty wound
ed twothrds of the command being killed and wounded,
he was forced to retire. fighting his way two miles,
and with the disadvantage of having the wounded
ry with him. Lieut. Davidson received an arrow wound,
not very severe in hand to hand conflict Surgeon
Marruder was also wounded, slightly
Tie victory dearly bought to the Indians
about fifty Of them killed. and nothing but their
vast superiority in numbers gave them the triumph.
Everything safe at Cantonment Burgwn, there be-
ing fty odd there 1t expected that the whole
Of the Generals dspoabe force would be sent out against
the enemy.
Another letter dated the 31st says sThey commenced
firing upon us every shot taking effect either upon the
horses or men. Ii was a sad sight to many
falling dead by my side. We in bad place that
the Indians had great advantage Of and when we re-
tired they all sides of had we stopped three
minutes longer, not would have been saved. The
wounded now in the hospital. Mexican whom
met in Taos day told me that he at the place Of
action yesterday afternoon, and counted sixty dead In
dian bodies.
0hIaior Blake and Thompson, with few troops and
large number Of Mexicans started last night TO bring in
the dead bodies and to attack the Indians If they could
be found'
Tie Santa Fe Gazette gives the following particulars of
another battle =
On the I'd of March, Lieut. Col Cooke commanding at
Fort Union sent out Lieut. Bell with his company of
dragons pursuit of party of Apaches who had com
mitted recent depredatons that post There were
originally, in all thirty three men, besides Capt Sykes
and Lieut. MAXWELL who went along as amateurs but the
first second day out accidentally shot him.
self and three others detached to carry him back
TO the Fort This left twenty nine, six of whom
left with the pack animals and were not in the fight
They struck the Indian trail Sunday morning about ten
O'clock thirty five or forty miles below the crossing Of
when they discovered two mounted Indians, who fled
their approach Soon after they saw look out on hill
him they pursued and captured While conversing with
the prisoner they twenty thirty warriors painted
and ready for fight, coming up at full gaop Lieut..
held parley. He told them his object peaceable,
and evidence of it, gave up the man he had cap
ured but said they must surrender three Of their horses
for the three cattle they had recently killed, and also
their chief Iobo.
This they refused to do denying all knowledge of the
natter wheeupon Bell ordered his to take three Of
their best horses which he pointed out, and Lobo the
chief This made the Indians furious and they showed
every demonstration for fight Lobo in the meantime
making his escape and again placed himself at their head
Lieut.. Bell now determined to attack them which, when
perceived by the Indians they dismounted turned their
horses loose and prepared to resist They drawn
up opposite each other and about thirty PAGES apart
the troops in line and the Indians in semcirce. Bell
charged through them the using Colts pistols in
lodging behind their horses The Dragons wheeled
and charged them again. then they broke and into
deep ravne by inaccessible to horsemen and thus
made their escape Two soldiers killed. and four
badly wounded Of the Indians five killed. including
their chief Lobo and many are supposed to have been
wounded, as much blood upon the rocks and
several were helped away by their comrades. Among
the spells that fell into the hands Of the Americans
the horse bows, arrows lance &c, of the chief Lieut.
Bell the evening" marched for the crossing of the
Red river with his wounded he not strong enough
pursue the Indians and the night after the attack
nd fOrty nnnda n IN he herd Of
cattle belonging to Fort Union and off two
hundred head Lieut. Bell has already been ordered to
safe in.
We have not heard of thing, for long time, that
much satifaction the defeat Of these In
dams, and the death of the scoundre Lobo This small
band of Apaches have caused trouble for the last
three or four years than all the other Indians in the
Territory. They do not number than one hundred
men, all told, and band Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
the plains. They not only at with the Americans
cep few Euahs who ion them in their robbing excur
sions 1t these rascals who captured Whites party,
and they have been guilty Of all the depredatons
mtted in that Part Of the Territory for long time
Too much praise cannot be given TO Lieut.. Bell and
the brave men under his command, for the gallant
the matter in hands he would be Capt Bell to-
morrow lie has given the first defeat to this daring
follow II mp until he entirely wipes them out or whips
them into submission. We understand he killed In
dian with his hand and that Capt Sykes and Lieaf
Maxwell behaved with great bravery and each brought
down his soldier cleft asunder the head of an
Indian, with his sabre, from his crown to his chin and
afterwards anced and killed by another Indian The
field well contested and nothing but the courage of
Lieut. Bell and party gave him the victory.
a well merited compliment to General Garland and
Lieutenant Colonel Cooke. Since the former has
been in command in this military department
his course has been marked by great activity in
SURPRISING Indian depredatons and Furnishing the
offenders. He has shown desire to assist the civil
trast with the conduct Of previous commanders
Lieut. Col Cooke has also exhibited commendable zeal
titled to much credit for the prompness with which he
has acted in the last difficulties with the Apaches.
We copy the following from the Santa Fe Gasets =
The expedition in search of the Utah Indians who stole
the inals from Taos about three weeks ago.
turned after absence of eleven days Saturday the
18th March, They followed them about hundred and
forty miles, but failed to overake them They travelled
up the valley of the Del Norte until they struck the In
dian trail about ten miles above the mouth Of the Trim
cha-es thence through the Sand Hill Pass the head
of the Heurfeno down the same ten miles and turned
the North fork into the valley of the Wet Mountains
They returned by the head Of the Sangre de Csto Pass
and Fort Massachusetts, They many indications OF
Indians and at one place counted than hundred
lodge marks They followed the trail until II Joined the
main village, which is encamped further to the
north in the valley Of the Vale salado and numbers
is supposed three hundred warriors The detachment
crossed the trail of Col Fremont in his recent survey for
railroad and found large quantities Of snow sufficient
to render the route impractcabe.
His Excellency David Menwether Governor Of New
Mexico, accompanied by his son. Mr.. Raymond Mer
weher, and Mrs Louis Smith left this city on Monday
March 20, for the United States Governor Merwethcr
time viii visit Washington in order bring before the
administration many matters Of importance to this Ter
ritory. We consider his visit at this time the fede
raj capital highly important and believe it will result
in much good TO New Mexico.
We have been informed, by good authority that Mr..
Fitzpatrick, the Indian Agent has given permission to
the Indians Of the plains to take the animals Of Next
can buffalo hunters they meet with They have already
taken some eighty head, and sold them to a trading
house near Bents Fort If this should be true hope
the government will take notice OF it in the manner it
demands.
We learned while in the Rio Arriba last week that
three or four had been killed in the Indian Pueblo
of Nambe, for the crime Of witchcraft. The Catholic
priest at Canada states that deputation Of Indians
waited upon him with written charges against four of
their number, then in confinement accused Of having
eaten up the little children Of the village He ordered
them 20 be berat there cause to keep them
confined One OF the dcputation appeared satisfied and
said he would not have anything more DO with the
matter, but the others objected aud seemed ben, on
having them executed. Two three DAYS afterwards
the priest inquired Of from the Pueblo what
had become OF the prisoners, and told they had all
been put TO death We presume this matter viii BIO ju-
doially inquired into at the coming term Of the santa
Fe Court.