Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-09-15
The Lone STAR


ric guns, the "Sacremento' and tn
''hickapoo," which were captured b
Col Doniphan from the MeXicans dun
lag the war of lS46-1S4S, was reminde,
of another famous gun, the Lion
star, which also figured in the Mex
lean war, and belonged at diileren
times to three epublics-Texas. Mex
co, and the United States. This gut
was brass siX-pounder, cast il
Springfield, Mass. and presented .b
the ladies to the republic of Texas
then engaged in Il struggle for indie
pendence. 1t was beautiful piece o
artillery, bright as gold, and well pro
portioned. 1t had the figure of a sta
cut on the breech.
This gun was part of the equipmen
of the daring and romantic Santa +,
expedition, which nearly fifty year
ago started on a crusade for the cap
ture of New Mexico, then claimed as
portion of the republic of Texas. 4
full account of this ill-fated EXPEDITION
was written by George w. Kendell. O
The NeW orleans Picdyyne, who accom-
panied the expedition in their Ions
and dreary march. Those who hav,
read Kendall's book will remembe1
that after reaching the little village o
Anton Chico, thirty or forty mile.
southeast of Santa Fc, the Texans
through the treachery of one of theil
officers, were induced to lay dowr
their arms, and TO surrender as prison
ers of war to Gen. Armiio, the govern
or of New Mexico.
Instead of being treated rs prisoner,
of war the Texans were subjected t(
most inhuman and barbarious indigni
ties. They were placed under an es
cort commanded by Capt. Salezar
and marched on foot long distance
and then compelled to work as slave,
in the mines. On the march through
Mexico they were furnished with the
most mcager rations, Il single eal
of corn being allowed each man
When one of the prisoners died under
this cruel treatment the brutal Salezal
caused his ears to be cut off and pre-
served rs proof that no one escaped
Many of the hardy Texans died on the
route, and were left on the roadside tC
be devoured by the wolves and vul
lures.
But TO return TO the Lone Star. =
This trophy was kept by Armiio a
Santa Fe, and when the war between
the United States and Mexico com
menced, in 1876, it was brought out fol
use against los gringos. When Gen
Kearney, with few regulars and Mis-
souri, volunteers, approached Santa Ft
the first opposition he encountered
was in the narrow canyon Il short dis
tancc west of Las Vegas. There Arm
ito collected his army, and the "Lono
Star was placed in position anc
loaded to fire upon the invaders. Arm
iiO's position was llankcd. however
and the gun fell into the hands of the
Americans, but in disabled condition
for on retreating the MeXicans built a
fire under it and burned the mount
ings. Gen. Kearney captured SAINT;
Fe without the loss of a man, anC
passed on to California. leaving the
Lone Star" behind in charge of Col
Doniphan.
The following year Gen. Sterling
Price was in command of New Mexico
and with portion of his forces started
southwark for Chihuahua over the
same route that Doniphan had march
ed few months previously. In one o.
the batteries was the Texas gun, the
"Lone Star" and it was used will
good effect in the last battle of tn,
Mexican war, fought at Santa Cruz dc
Rosale', sixty miles south OF the city
of Chihuahua, March 10, lS4S. Peace
was made soon afterward, and Price
returned to Missouri, and his volun
teers were mustered out at Independ
ence in November, 1913. John A. Lo
gan was a lieutenant in an Illinois reg
iment, and performed his first military