Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-30
RUINS IN NEW MEXICO.

late numbered the Missouri Republican contained
long article, being Major Carieions Journal Of tic la
petition to the Ruins Of A6o Qaarra and Gran Qa'e~a Nen
Aerico" There has been much speculation as TO the
origin of the huge remains Of ancient Cities temples &C.
which are scattered over many portions OF Mexico by
the ACQUISITION of portion of its territory we have placed
within cur reach the means of investigation. Major
CARLETON is energetic officer in the United States
army and having resolved to explore some Of these ia
nous relics of the past he accordingly started with an
expedition from Albuquerque the l4h Of December
last We copy from the journal of Major CAALEToS:
A SQUADRON of cavalry formed of company H. first
dragons commanded by First Lieutenant Samuel d.
Surgis and company h, first Dragons, commanded by
Breyet Major James Henry Carleton, in all one hundred
strong, with epounder mountain howitzer left
Albuquerque at III o'clock this morning as an expedition
to explore the country around the ruins of Gran Quvra
New Mexico and for other objects connected with the
bands of Apache Indians who often nfest that portion Of
the Territory
sour route for the first forty miles lies down the left
bank of the Rio Grande This part Of the country has
often been described Its principal features easily
The Rio Grande at this point averages about
hundred yards in width and than eighteen
inches in depth It's turbid like those OF the
Kansas; its bottom and banks are composed of sand
The valley along the river is very level and usually not
two feet higher than the surface OF the water In
some places it is than two miles broad. It has
great deal of sand mixed with the SOIL but it Is remarka
bly, fertile From this valley.a second bottom or table
either hand This table lands destitute Of water and un-
commonly sterile The lower level which skirts the river
and which is irrigated from it, is the Of nearly all
the agricultural wealth of New Mexico"
After three days journeying in southwest direction
they arrived at Abo The following is the sketch OF the
ruins at that place:
The ruins of Abo consist Of large church and the
yestges Of many other buildings which now but little
else thanong heaps of stones with here and there por
tons of walls projecting above the surrounding rubbish
There ID yet standing enough of the church to give one
knowledge of the form and magnitude of the building
when in its prime The ground plan Of this structure is
in the form Of cross, its longitudinal direction oeng
within ten degrees Of the magnetic meridian. 1t was,
perhaps situated exactly upon that meridian when the
building erected, the variation of the compass
counting for the present difference The great
was in the southern end From thence to the head of
the cross where the altar doubtless situated it is
one hundred and thirtytwo feet inside This the
of the church, is hrtytwo feet in width The short
Of the cross what in catherals is called the transept
fortyone feet in length and twenty in breadth
The transept Is sixtysix feet from the doorway These
high wind round numbers in feet therefore only
given, without noting the fractional parts of foot
The walls are of great thickness, and their height is
at this day. IN half the structure all of fifty feet
The upper edge Of these walls Is cut into batements.
The church, well the neghborng buildings in
ruins about it, was built Of stra6ed darkred sand
stone such crops along the creek and makes its
appearance along the sides of the surrounding hills The
pieces OF stone do not average and half inches
in thickness and not generally foot in length
Each piece is of the form had when it broken from
Its native bed We saw not single dressed stone about
the ruins These stones laid in mortar made of the
ordinary SOIL from the ground Immediately athand. The
roof of the church evidently supported by beams aud
covered with EARTH in the churches still occupied
Places of worship throughout New Mexico. We saw no
signs Of an arch, nor any indication that those who
planned and built the church at Abo all acquaint
ed with architecture as science. The walls the
doors and windows far could observe had been
supported by beams Of wood When these had become
destroyed these stones which liberated above had
dropped down; 80 that now, each window, there
is rude description of the gothic arch owing its form
not to design but to accident The wood work Of the
church was evidently destroyed by being burnt Where
ever in the walls portions of the beams still remain they
are found charrcd and blackened by fire.
The form of the church alone proves it to have been
designed by christians. Perhaps the workmen employed
in its construction Indians We saw distinct marks
Of an axe in one of the pieces of timber which embed
ded in the east wall of the church six feet from
the ground. Saws also doubtless used but we dis
covered marks of them The stick Of timber marked
with the axe and beams that supported landing
the head of stairway which is made in the west wall
the only pieces of wood about the ruins which were
not burnt much their surface as to obterate all
marks Of TOOLS
The extent of an exterior wall which from the ap-
pearance Of the present heaps of stones surrouaded
the church and the town, about nine hundred and
fdrtytwo feet north and south, with average width
east and west of say four hundred and fifty feet large
population must have occupied this and its neigh
borhood if one judge Of the number of people by
the size Of the church built to accommodate them while
at their devotions.
g We few, If any, unmistakabe signs that the
ground had been cultivated in the vicinity Of these ruins
Nor is there any good arabic land far as we could OBJ
serve at any point than the Rio Grande for up
lands, to be arabic in the climate of New Mexico must
be situated to be capable Of irrigation The stream
Of water at Abo is in deep ravine. 1t is very ncon-
siderable in point of sze and loses itself the sand in
less than five hundred yards below the springs which feed
it, The adjacent country rolling and broken and cover
ed with pnon and cedar The undertaking rocks are Sc
condary red sandstone The SUBMITS Of the mesas and
neghborng eminences composed Of gray limestone
filled with marine fossils.
g 1t was nearly night when reached Abo. There
was keen freezing gale from the northwest and the
whole appearance Of the country cheerless wntry
and desoate The tall ruins standing there in solitude
had aspect of sadness and gloom They did not seem
be the remains Of edce dedicated to peaceful re
gous purposes place of prayer; but rather q
nument of crime, and ruthlessness and violence The
cold wind when at its height appeared to roar and howl
through the rooess pile like angry demon; but when
at times it died away low sigh seemed breathe along
the crumblng batemens and then it that the noise
of the distant brook rose upon the like vail.
In the mystery that envelopes every thing connected
with these ruins were, and why and by whom they
were erected, and how and when, and why abandoned
there is much food for very interesting speculation I'M
be answered without leaving doubt Abo belongs
the regions of and Of fancy and it will be for
the poet and the painter its original beauty
this memorable temple to rebuild its affairs and to ex
hb again unto its ROBBED priests ts burning censers
1 its kneeling worshippers."
Twelve miles further the party came to the ruins Of
Quarra. This point is not important the others
The church of Quarra is not long by twenty feet
| as that at Abo. We found here probably one