The Mesilla Valley independent. [volume] (Mesilla, N.M.) 1877-1879, 1877-10-06
FROM GRANT COUNTY.
SrLyER Ci1a u,
Oct. lst. 1877. {

DALAER @eTIat y A1
Oct ist, 1877
EDsfoRs ISDErKxDESr; =
The Las Vegas Gasrtee Is Publishing an
interesting series Of articles under the title
Of '' "Reminiscences of the Late War IN New
Mexico which 50 Tar IS I know are geneT4
ally correct. Article No. xxx, however,
pablished in the Gaaasz Of t.e ssa MI nit, e. con.
tains one paragraph that Is fan Of gross e9-
roEs, it is this: -. Z = z=4
Carleton took command Of The Departraent,
leAEssz tiezaaray Gen. tSekt N eouEnaha q the
EuuIhsrn disEFicI, Hith headquarters also Il Ne
siIls, until one dag, when some u ibe California
Eoys were ordered By Vest 20 police the town,
sweeping streets eie., Que company refused to
eitsn the town for the citizens" West called
out detachment ss,d ordered them to tirc on Tire
corporal, supposed 70 be the rlngieaaev, N tns
opeA streek EiiAent iriai, ana - she danger Of
every pedestrian In that saNn. west thun moved
headquarters 70 Harts Min. near Franklin, Rear
lug the abused company would carry out their
threats % a
"err EVEN wrrH Rra roa FaArr .
Now Messrs. Editors, two ef yOn, at least
were with and of the . California Boysn AsA
you know that the. above statement aisuogts
the truth in every respect, Gsaesmt West
was far from SAUltlsss, but htsl sssas not d
alandy~. % the confSary Nc aHas aharsi,
stern, strict, aisCiplinarian, he gaxoasrry sol ;
dier hIs due, and required strict perform
ance Of duty on the part of every mar ander
his command, hewas neifher dandy in
his dress nor habits, he required his soldiers
to suffer no discomfort or hardship that hc
did not willingly eadurc hssnself. As aia
oEieeF General West May have been sten,s
arhitrakF and nrerhasringg bsis hlls essEEieers
and soldiers givsshim credit for being last 70
them, whaseveE he MIS- n dtAess: al alalt=
officer, and brave man. We u tiie Cali
fornis Column and especially those Of chs
Fffst ffst ffnfantry, disfIkFd at int; hS Wt ter
rible tartar; We all re,6enAber hos he drilled
US and hazed US around. We all know how
unpopular he was with the regiment wAen
We lefft left California, AID how ws came to know
him better, 70 respect, and finally 70 love
him. He knew every man I'm tsse regiment,
and could address him BY nsssr, and when
ewe reached the Rio Grande Vest was the
idol of the regiment, he was stfi as stern, as
strict rs overbearfng as before. but the sol
dhers of his regiment had discovered that he
knew his business, and permitted no soldier
to be deprived of his rights.
In regard to the shooting Of Corporal
Smith at Aesilla, the writer of .ihe above
paragraph displays 8 most profound ignor-
ance Of the sulject he attempts to handle
The California Boys-' were not ordered
by West to police the town. sweeping streets
etc One company did not refuse to clean
the town for the citizens West did not
. call out detachment etc, and he did not
move his headquarters to Franklin because
| he feared any OF the abused company -.
The facts are az follows
There were three companies Of the First
/ California Infantry stationed at Mcsilla. The
men were exposed to all tie demoralizipg in
Auences thai could At that time be found in
any OF onr New Mexican towns. They had
originally enlisted 70 60 10 The Potomac,
they were dissatisfied At being sent to New
Mexico, this dissatisfaction became confirmed
BY inaciion and mutinous spirit VAS aroused
THAI waited but an opportunity b break out
the opportunity soon came. Some men who
were charged with BEING Texan spies we're
arrested and put IN the guard hoasS. Strict