New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-15
FROM THE NAVAJO WAR.
Corresponderce Of Tae Santa Fe Gazette.
ELI THAYBR.


FORT DEFIANCE, n. NJ, Sept. %, 1858.
The principal guide of the troops is Il Pueblo Indian
from Zun. Ii was with some difficulty at first that
any one of the Pueblos could be- obtained. Finally,
this consented. He is small, erect, well formed
Indian, and wears his thick raven hair hanging down
to the middle of hls back. He now is dressed up IN
citizen costume including hat and shoes, and is wliha
n rather noted parsonage. 10 the scout To Canon de
Chelle oi the prisoners taken, was handed over
to the MeNicaDs aud the guide to be disposed o. IL
was agreed that Zuni should be the e1ecutoneI. The
Navajo placed at n short distance of, wheo
Zuni raised ns Old flint lock iusee to do his duty.
Navajo appealed" don't Kill me-, my friend y Ianl
very gruvely respopded--" P0r que, por gue -
"why not why not p This very rational aud reason
able question not being satisfactorily answered to
ZuIis notions Of the ethics Of war, took deliberate
aim, ard sent eaden messenger through Mr. Navajo 3
brain.
On the evening of the day the Indian brought in
tie dead body Of what they falsely stated the
murderer, two Navajo women were on the 81 ourbs
of the garrison mounted on ponies. Zunl and Jose,
Navajo Interpreter at the garrison espied then and
in great haste captured the horses. They brought
them into the garrison much delighted with their spols.
When asked by Major Brooks what tuey did u for,
they responded that war existed Oh course they
were u ade to returE them TO the squaws.
At Canon de Chelle large trees of s,ldiGei wood
seen by the officers, and many others in pre-
resceDt state. The silex seemed to De exceedingly
suphurc and freely emitted sparks when struck with
iron steel. Immense quantities OF broken pottery
also seen, and other evidences Of tne existence
of another Of people at one time IN this c9u try,
who doubtless were destroyed by volcani, aud earth
quake actions.
Yesterday en- Indian boy rode into the garrison,
doubtless in tie capacity Of spy and wa, captured
by Capt. Hatch. He gives the number Of the killed
on the Cheie scout four five than reported
III NY last. lie says that the Navaos taking their
stock as far West es they possibly can.
l noticed III my last that Capt. Elliott, Mounted
Rifles, and Lieut.. Willard Sd Infantry with their COM
panies, had been detailed to meet Capt. Lindsay and
al Iun i,f..n
Ell route tor this place with Government stores. The
tram was met Bear Springs Cspt Elliott i'm.
media.ly returned with his company 10 the garrison.
Lieut.. Willard remained with Capt Lindsay, and both
arr we'd here late last evening.
This train contained important stOres-goois essen.
tial to the Ot the army in the campaign being
waged against these Indians. notwithstanding this
fact II has been on the road from Fort Union 10 this
place. distance 0f about 20 miles since the
llth Of August, i3 days, average Of little over
five miles day. The wagons are old and totally
fitted for nse, breaking down every few miles ind thus
causing the utmost annoyance and great retarmcnt ia
making the time. As the Government pays hbe-
raj prices for transportation, is IL not the
duty Of contractors TO furnish sufficient means
to fulfill their contracts especially iu important
emergency Ike this The whole plan aud object OF a
campaign might be defeated By such miserable nefi-
cheney snd lethsrgy. c0mpanyof mounted rifles
detained with the rTain for twenty-five days as al
escort and this too, when it desirable consid-
ereton that the force should be t. take part in
the hostile operations nVw n progress. VIII the Gov
err nient tolerate this
One OF the primary causes Of war, being the deliv-
cry Of tine murderer of Maj Brooks boy, and the de-
Inand having been made i'll pretty much the terms
here used, II is a question Of speculation how and
when the will be closed IL u reduced almost 10
a certainty that the murderer per viii u1t b. given
up. But after the troops have visited Chusco and
Tuncba-et the Iesnt be u regular 6ght or merely
random shots az fugitive psrtes-suppose the Indians
send il white flag ana say that the murderer
been killed. Can such al assurance be relied upon
They have attempted To deceive occasion
and were guilty Of most criminal aud brutal murder
to do so.
Capt. Hatch, with Company Of rifles and Lieut..
Wbipple, with Company OF infantry. with which
Lieut.. Dickinson VIII AFRO 20, will leave tor ght at "A
o'clock for I.agnana NegIa. Two more gallan, aud
Efficient officers not in the service, but whether
they will be able 10 accomplish anything is altogether
questionable. The Indians do not seem disposed to
meet troops-at least, no tendency that way n "a
vet been manifested.
On the -sth or 29th Col. Miles with the entire com
mand except small defense for the garrison, will
leave here for Chusco and Tuncna. We Will look for
from this command with the most intense inter-
est. II the Indians stand and muster their whole
force an obstinate and bloody battle may be expected
The command will consist Of Col. Miles, commander;
Lieut.. W. B. Lane Adjut.nt DR.. j. G. Mckee, act
ing Assistant Surgeon; Company M3noted RITES,
Capt. Elliott; + Company Mounted Rifles. Lieut..
Ayelelle; | Company MO9uted Rife, Capt. McLane,
II Comp ny Mounted R.Aes, Capt. Lindsay; y Cog.
peny 81 Infantry, Lieut. Whipplei Company sth
Infantry Lieut., Willard; guides and spies Capt. Bias
Lucero Total, 3l0 men.
Last evening Lient. Willard, as officer Of the day.
e1ar the guard hOuse, and found the two Nav
aio prisoners piece OF scythe about Is inches long
fled ior saving home t-made caisel about T. inches