Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-04
INDIAN DEPREDATIONs I'm NEW
MEXICO.

we have been furnished the following ex-
tract of letter from an intelligent and highly
respectable gentleman in New Mexico, which
I've publish in justice to the people Of that Terri
Etory. The same facts are, we understand, COM
tanned in an official letter to the Indian Depart
ment, from the Hon. w. s. Messurvy, the acting
governor Of that Territory, as well as in letters
from several other private citizens. The sugl
gestion contained in the extract to raise addi
tional force for the protection of our remote
and extensive frontier, may be worthy the con-
federation If Congress
!" You will perceive that we are on the eve of
IL universal Indian war; the Navaios are the|
|only tribes with whom we are now at peace
Small parties are not safe in travelling through
|any part q the territory, and God only knows
what Is to become of us, unless the general
government will adopt the suggestion so often|
made, to give US regiment of rangers, noun
ted men, r,ised from the frontier settlements
Iof the west men who know something about
chasing ant killing Indians.
"The Cieyennes, Arrapohais, and otherI
tribes OF tR plain, made descent few days.
ago upon tie eastern frontier of the county oil
San Miguel, and laid waste every thing beforeI
them, fromLos Vegos to the Bosque Rodando,I
in the ValLy of the Pecas, killing some twenty
odd Mexicans, and driving off and destroying
'all the stock found within their reach. Messrs-
Beck and Giddings abandoned their stock
farm at Aqua Negro, and have driven what isl
lett OF Their hocks to point near Santa Fe Il
but even there they are not safe, and we expect
every day 20 hear of their entire destruction.
These geitlemen deserved protection, for, at al
heavy COS, they had brought from the States al
large lot pf fine blooded sheep, an enterprise
bin the success of which every citizen was in
|terested.
"The Hgular force now in New Mexico isl
entirely Inadequate to the protection of the
Territory and when it is cut up into the nu
merous daachments necessary to man the dir
ferent posts there is not men enough at any
one poin to make a successful stand against
the Indians. This fact was made painfully
manifestin the case of Lieutenant Davidson,
who was latay defeated and cut to pieces by the
miserable Jrarilla Apaches a tribe that does
not number TWO hundred warriors.
General Garland is doing all he can for the
defense Of the Territory, with the limited force
at his command, and is determined to make noI
peace with the Indians until they are entirely
subdued or sxterminated.
4 HIS lblAihiHg Iht q ScHSiUie IIlaIl, anu "
trust the means may be furnished him to carryI
out his intention, for nothing short u it will T
give US secsrity against these miserable out !
laws. Some of the subordinate officers COM
plain of the hard service; poor fellows, it is 81
|pity they should be taken from their comfort
liable quarters.
1t would, however, not be very creditablel
Ito the army to find the officers shrinking from
duty.
"The Hon. Y ). Messurvy. the acting
governor has I'd out four hundred militia,
but he has neither guns nor powder to arm
them. Will Congress not grant US FIVE or six :
hundred rifles, to be used on occasions like
the present?
"On the score of economy it would be
Saving to the government to raise one or two
regiments of rangers; for, in service of two
years, such force would be able to chastise
the Indians, and force them to fear and respect
the government, and until they do this all trea-
ties are useless"