New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-14
TIE WAR IN COLORADO.
Of The N. Y. Tribune.

subject, The Rocky Mountains creates conblder-
able interest not only with the mercantile classes,
but also in political circles. Far removed as we are
| from the seat of Government and the difficulty eX-
perienced of direct communication with the different
Departments it is gratifying to occasionally Observe
an unbiased opinion published with regard to our
condition and rulers. What our Home Government
must think Of the boys play, or inmitable farce no"
being enacted here to the infinite Amusement Of the
few dsloyal ones, we outsiders have no means OF
knowing.
Last Spring our Home Government thought proper
to appoint William Gilpn of Independence, Mo-,
Governor of Colorado Territory. In due time the
regular coach of the c. o. c.. and Z. p. Express
Company arrived freighted with bis Excelency, and
a plentiful supply of bis neomprehensible literary
production on the Rocky Mountains. The people
received him with much warmth, and all seemed
pleased to think we were promised :" Law and
Order Soon, however, the more loyal portion OF
our citizens noticed with regret that bis boon com
panions were not the safest class Of men with whom
TO entrust Administration secrets la fact, many OF
lis former associates have since left the Territory
Joined the Rebel army, and are now III arms against
| the Government
Thus ,bings progressed until the election, which
tran-Tird Oh The 18th Of August, and resulted Ia the
election on tue UNION III ny uil
maiority-our delegate receiving four-fths Of tbe
hole vote Of the Territory. This result seems to
have been wholly unexpected by bis EXcelency, or
at least wonderful change came over the spIrlt
of biz DREAM lie called together the leading men
OF the pary Whom before he bad refused 10 recog-
uizel iuv ed them TO q secluded room, and there
Disclosed volumnols dispatches purportlng TO come
| iron nearly all parts OF New MeXlco ana remote
points oi this Territory conveying the startling intel
ligence that large army OF Texans were actually
/ int. ION nf TAX
possession Of tie country and the " ineXhauslibe
riches and % untold wealth " Of our mines. !
| Now a sane mind, at least one who has any know
ledge Of the country az all must comprehend the fact
hat TO march a very large army twelve hundred
miles perfectly barren country, without sub
eitenCe or forage would be task ae unenylabe as
proltlefs, even to Texan rangers. But an army we
must have, upon some prttext, which, n 1t did not
appear to those of duller yisiDn preteNt must be
made IT any cost. GAN Executive Committee must
be appointed" 1.-THE Treasury il plehoric," and
" Colorado must have her portion quoth his Excel
ency. Tie first move toward this laudabie ~ enter
Prize was tue selection OF officers for the " First
Regiment Of Colorado Volunteers The most amus-
ing feature connected with the appointments made
by bis Excel, ncy exists IN the fact that by some
strange power he seems 10 have impressed the ap-
pOiutecs with the idea thai he clothed with full
powers - confer any title grade OF office known
IN the regular army; thus we see on dler,nt build
ings "Quarternaster General, u. s. A.; "Pay- /
I IL 10 y
j. A. aud this petition is assumed IN all correspon-
ccnce or business transactions. Il
do not wish 10 be understood attempting 10
east odlum upon military organzaiions-by no
means: nor would upon this, but the strange blnu-
ders OF his EXoelleucy who should not be entirely
ignorant Of such matters, are, 10 say the ieast, lndl
crJus in the extreme. Agents and express nders
were dispatched in quick succession 10 nearly all
points where IL Was known United States stores
we're keut-Iarauiie, Fort Wire, Fort Garland,
Fora Leavonworlh, 81. Louis, and Nashiugpu-
clothed with full powers 10 act for the Territory
well ~ the Government at Washington. Arms must
be had AT any cost, aud IN the confusion singular
but undoubted fact was disclosed which caused some
uucaslness among " the rats" The Governor had
giyen letters Of credit and instructions authorizing
the bearers TO dTdU Unlimited dmcEHf Of money
from The Treasury 10 be expended their judgment
dictated for tie benefit Of the Territory.
Bu, all this did not quiet the nerves OF his Excel
lency. He began 10 see treason guiaed " stalking
upon every corner Of streets" IL would require
several weeks 90 Irocnre arms from any United
States poet. Delays were dangerous and 20
ntre Arme In the hAb0- of traitors. happy Thought
slnkes him. lie appoints two agents To buy up al
the -rms in the country, at prices ranging from -
10 So per gun. The Governor could now ENJOY
quiet night, aud the agents who bought the guns
enjoyed tlc joke aud from fueHty 10 my d0"GTs
prDf each musket 30 purchased. And such lot
Of arms could only be collected from the RUNS OF
some ancient fortress Of tho Feudal times-some
without lCcks, rome without stocks, and altogether
IA her a harmless lot OF weapons.
TIE amount 20 expended, however fell into the
hands OF friends, az the few with Southern proclyI-
ties had already left the Territory for a more con-
genial climate. The indebtedness created by this
masterly stroke Of policy amounts to about 500 OCO
During THE time, call made for volunteers. |
Recruiting offices were opened IN every street, ana
through the mountain dislricts. The patriotism OF
tho PEOPLE was appealed 10, and uobly did they re |
rpond. In n short time about eight hundred iine
hardy. looking fellows were enli,ted in the United
States services las they supposed, and stationed IN
and Immediately around our city. Detachments
were detailed 10 guard the Governors Rooms, hls
hotel and the various Offices frequented by bis Of
fcials. Now the great object next sought was TO
keep this army III the Territory and around his EX-
cellency, although The poor fellows were assured
from day TO day that they would be SEM 70 the
States and allowed to fight for their homes, their
iiresiGes and the good old flag Al first nuLlerous
buildings were rented about town for quarters but
this would bot answer the purposes OF az ARA.
huge barracks denomnated fort must be erected,
which is now nearly complete built OF pane boaJis,
costing liz is said over $4,000.
Subsistence must be had, and the Governors
vis!on enlightened by contradictory discovered
scarcity Of -four in market. Another stroke Of policy
was 10 purchase "a seven months supply at 81 per
cwt., while our price currents show that 1t WAS a
drug at So % per cwt at that time. Contracts now
got plenty and with them newly disc yered friends.
Even relatives that had never before made their
bow crowded thick around his Excellency."
Horses for cavalry company, and officers horses
must be procured. One hundred and eighty-one
dollars WIS offered. My Cousin" got it, and pur-
chased Indian ponies at from s25 to $50 the standing
hight for them being thirteen hands, Hay must
be procured Ia chenp article herel 100 tuns was
purchased at SO and the same parties furnish 400 at
SO per tun, while it Ii selling notwithstanding the
demand in the streets to-day for from no TO
Si2 per tun.
have been thus far particular to mention items
about contracts; but will close the subject by saying
that all oihnr contracts lei including beef corn and