Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1864-04-02
FoRr WiSGArErN. NJ.
March 20, 1854.

Adlutant General
Of the Dept. Of New Mexico,
Santa FG n. NJ.
SR;--I have the honor to herewith re.
nit you a copy of the order by which was
oldered to thia Post
In compliance with which have 10 re-
port to you that on the llth of February
1864 started from Fort Whipplc, Terri.
tory Of Arizona, with four wagons and very
lean mules. The snow having fallen for
three days, it reached n depth Of "a inches
and by the 18th Inst had scarcely travel.
ed 26 miles which made it necessary for
me to encamp there until tie snow shonld
disappear and. the road become practicable
After having remained there ten DAYS |
! sent a Sergeant with six soldiers to re.
connoitle upon or close to the San Fran.
cisco mountain. At the same time | sent
to Fort Whippe for ten days ratous 6orc
Upon bis return the Sergeant reported that
the snow was yet Is inches deep but somr
places were found in which the animals
could he grazcd,
| proceeded from there on the lst of
March. With much dilfcuIty ! passed the
SCrra, marching day and night until | ar.
rive at the OuevaS de los Uoninos, where
there was no snow. Here | found some
indian trails throughout the whole road
indicating that they were spyeing for
travellers to rob them Ia tIe night Of the
9th travelling lion the Uucvas to the RIO
Colorado Chiquito, | discovered fire to
the front and in the direction of the road
which | believed to he in the camp OF
freighterS going to Whipple, but seeing
there was no change in it sent party to
examine ii. The soldiers found that it was
an Indian fire, which they in hasty fight
abandoned leaving foot prints in their trail.
| think these Indians were Coninos,
On the south bank of the Colorado Chi
quito there was seen The trail of about fifty
Indians Oh foo, for the distance of 30
miles going from above Iam,of the op.
inion that it was Navajo campaign
against the Moscoleros
During the whole time of my march the
weather was vrry.cold Nevertheless,
marched at night for the safety of my AMI,
mails and 70 pasture tlcmi ! day and arriv.
ed here to day, the 20, having lost only
one mule which died in Zuhi 1t was
eaten by the Indians; such Is their want
They told me that the Nayajos had killed
an Indian boy and stolen young animal
belonging to Jose PayeG Zuhi Indian.
was greatly surprised to see the OK.
cessive exertions those Indians have to
put forth to gain aliving. Abonta thon.
sand. indians, in squads breaking the
ground and planting with hoes, is very
hard thing but they give themselves up to
it with pleasure. Some of them told me
that they wanted the Government to fnrn.
ish them with oxen 10 enable them to sup,
ply the forts with forage. At present they
are divided and planting in various places,
such as Aqua Calente, Peias Negras, ol
Pereado ard las Nutrias.
! marched for six days without rations
using rice only. had hothing else for
myself or my men, however, arrived
here in good health. All of which | have
the pleasure to report to you for the infor-
nation of the General Commanding the
Department.
remain very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant.
RAFAEL CHACON,
Capt LIST N NJ, Cav Vols.
Commanding Arizona detachment.