Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-04-25
DIEGO De VARGAS.
How the Spaniards Returned The Re-
conquest OF New Mexico in
1892 and 1893.

| lCOntlnu.u rom SATURDAY, April 10, 1871,
1t is certain that Vargas moved wit
great rapidity and still greater boldness
The Rio Grande Pueblos had been warne
Of his approach, ana they evidently ex
pected to have to bear the brunt of hi
attack, as they were led to conclude fro1
the movements of his professors, Posad
and Cruzate. The Tanos also knew Q
his coming, but they had no thought tina
Vargas would pass by the Tisuas ant
Queres and march directly upon Santa Fe
When therefore he arrived before tina
place, the surprise was akin to dismay
Tact in treating witt Indians on sucl
occasions was one OF the
GOOD AND STRONG POINTS OF VARGAS
character, and it was easy for him tt
make use of their stupefaction to induce
the Tanos to surrender. With the sur
render OF the place, the capture of which
had cost the rebels so much bloodshee
and upon which they looked as the strong
est place (Acoma excepted), the mora
effect of Vargas march was secured
The moral effect was still heightened
by his bold movements over the whole
territory.
WITH THE FALL OF SANTA FE,
the Tanos of the Canada, and their kin
dred the Tehuas, were $50 ipso" cowed
The Picuries were surprised and the Taos
terrified by the (fool-hardy) advance o
Vargas into the canon, thought it polite
to submit for the moment. But in the
case Of the laos, the insincerity of their
allegiance is more clearly developed.
They promised men to Vargas, and failed
to comply at the outset. This should
have been salutary warning to him in
the future. Unfortunately he was not the
man to disbelieve an Indian.
THE PECos SURRENDERED HONESTLY.
They felt the need of the return of a
stronger hand, for they were most ex-
posed to insult by nomadic tribes, had
greatly suffered from them and were, be-.
sides, at war with the Tanos, their neigh
bors. That those of San Felipe, Santa
Ana and Cia had also become adherents
Of the Spanish cause l have previously
stated. At the outset these tribes took
refuge in the mountains also, but upon
Vargas appearance they found it very
to return to their villages in
token of obedience. When Vargas re-
turned the following year he found the
Cias established near the site of
The Pueblo which Cruzate had been
compelled to- wreck. The Santa Anas
had built new pueblo on the spot
where they dwell to-day, and those of
San Felipe were inhabiting the black
mesa where now the ruins OF the church
overlook the Rio Grande picturesquely,
ike a
CASTLE ON THE RHINE"
Il was the influence of the San Felipe In.
lians that prevailed upon the hostile Co.
,hitenos to surrender also, but they were
nconstant people, prone to yield to the
pressure of others.
With the Jemez ii was evidently the
dread caused by the sudden
appearance of Vargas, his rapid move
nents, and the moral effect of the captu.
alton of Santa Fe, that worked upon that
ribe. They in turn persuaded the In
lians of Santo Domingo who were living
With them. Similar considerations pre-
,ailed with the Acomas. At Zuni, the
eturn to
ALLEGIANCE WAS SINCERE,
md it was motivated by their forlorn
position. Their retreat to the high mesa
Vas due to cruel harrassing by the neigh
boring Navajos, and they saw in Vargas
1eliverer from woes that weighed down
lpon them heavily. With the Moquis,
and the representations of 9TH
9rs brought about a submission upon
which they themselves, as the sequel
proved, looked in the light OF temporary
reconciliation only.
If therefore only few of the pueblos
sincerely submitted, if with most OF them
t was only done in view Of getting time
or organized
RESISTANCE IN CASE OF VARGAS RETURN,
n the eyes Of the Spaniards and Of
spanish law that submission entailed
'ery serious consequences. Although
here were indications that the return to
allegiance and Christianity was only ap-
parent. Vargas himself felt satisfied OF
he contrary. If then the pueblos, after
having formally acknowledged the au-
hority of Spain, after their rebellion had
)een pardoned by the Spanish authori-
les and the church had absolved them of
he double crime of apostasy and rebel
ion, broke their vows again, it was a case
If reincidence that exposed
THEM TO SEVERE PUNISHMENT.
10 it is in all cases, and in all countries.
aeincidence is always more severely
punished. But Vargas had no thought
II such possibility even. Well did he
uppose that one or the other pueblo
night perhaps with difficulty bend 10 the
lew order of things he was about to in
roduce, and he prepared himself to meet
many difficulty arising from the con-
act of Indians with colonists difficulties
hat arise everywhere, where two systems
If life, so completely distinct and often
are brought in contact and
,ollision), but as to systematic falsehood
IN the part of the Pueblos, he as little be-
ieyed in it as modern sentimentalists,
WHO WORSHIP THE INDIAN WITHOUT
,ver having seen him, and admire his
ways while at the same time they care
ully shrink from contact with his person.
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