New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-10-12
From, View Mexico.

A letter from Barclays Fort, New Mexico, of the
18th ult., to the st. Louis Democrat is follows
Some six or seven hundred recruits, under COM
mand of Col. Crittenden, have just arrived at Fort
Union from the States. Plenty of Comanches and
Ki0was were seen at Bent's Fort.
Between the Arkansas and the Ratone noun
tains couple of soldiers who had genein advance
of the command in search of water, were charged
upon by some so or 10 of the Indians and driven
back upon IA more who were escorting wagon,
but before they could make an attack upon them
the whole command appeared in sight and the Indi-
ans withdrew short distance to consult what was
to be done under this new aspect of affairs. In a
short time one of the chiefs, armed with Govern
ment rife, (probably just received as present
from Bents Fortl came forward and held a short
conversation with the advance guard. and amongst
other items of news informed the command that
his people were at war with the whites.
On reaching the Ratone mountains the carcass of
bear was found near the road, from which the
skin had been carefully removed, leaving all the
claws attached to the hide with the exception of
one leg which was only skinned to the knee and
then cut off, as if in haste. At short distance lay
the hunter who had killed it, in a ravine, stripped
naked and scalped, and upon which the wolves and
ravens were luXuriously feasng. 1t is evident the
hunter killed the bear and had nearly finished strip
ping it OF its hide in scientific manner, when he
beset and slaughtered in his turn by the noble
savages, who cut off the hide of the bear at the
point where it was left by the hunter when inter
rupted in his task. The command did not bury the
| body of the hunter.
party of Americans with three wagons, or
| their way to the States, met the command few
| hours after their rencontre with the Indians, an6
| were advised to turn back, which they did. The
| men (six in number) narrowly escaped DEATH ant
| the women and children who accompanied them
a captivity worse than death, by their timely in
| formation of the danger which lay in their path.
The volunteers raised and now about starting 70
the Navajoe country, will act entirely Independent
| of the military, as they raised and equipped them
selves contrary to Col. Fanntleroy's wishes, urget
to it solely by necessity for selfpreseryation.
| I have no doubt these volunteers will now prove
what can be done by men who are free from the
domination of old fogyism, and the world can ther
see the utter uselessness of placing superanuatet
old rubbish at the head of the military depart
| ment.
We have heard nothing of the command unde
| Col. Porter, which left Fort Union some time snct
| for the Plains in search Of Comanches and Kiowas
| but we have little doubt it will return safely.
Col. Fauntleroy and staff are expected to arrive
| at Fort Union to-day.
Crops in this Territory will be very short, in con
sequence of the unprecedented drouth (Which stii
prevails) and Jack frost commenced his operations
the night of the 18TH thus blasting the hopes OIL
many farmer, that his little crop might still riper
and furnish food for his family.