Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-05-02
DIEGO De VARGAS.
How the Spaniards Returned The Re-
conquest OF New Mexico in
1909 and 1893.
CONTINUED from Saturday, April Is, 1891 /

IContinutd from Saturday, April Is, 1891 |
The representations of Vargas made
: great impression upon the viceroy an
the audieDcia at Mexico. Not that the
, esteemed the possession of New Mexic
as OF the slightest value for the Spanisl
treasury. Of that delusion they had beel
cured long ago. But in view of the seri
GUS calamities breaking out everywher
in the north, of the dangers seeming t.
menace more valuable districts, a reduc
ton of the rebels and re-occupaiion o
the territory lost was
AN IMMENSE GAIN FOR TIE MORAL
prestige Of Spanish power. Therefore
every exertion was made to sustain Var
gas in his enterprise always relying, how
ever, upon his offer to bear a large
portion of the expense himself. This
complication in accounts became subse.
quently source of great trouble to Var.
gas himself.
For the recruitment of settlers Vargas
applied to the viceroy, requesting him to
obtain families from the vicinity CT Mex
leo. He felt that the Spanish inhabt.
ants OF Ell Paso we're not sufficiently nu-
merous. Although most of them had left
real estate behind in New Mexico, many
did not care to return thither. He also
made application
FOR ONE HUNDRED SOLDIERS
with whom to garrison Santa Fe. Every
thing was allowed, but matters went too
slow for him st the capital of new Spain
30 that, without waiting for the reinforce
ments promised, he set out with about
300 persons of all ages and sexes, seven
teen Franciscan priests, and about 15O
men at arms, on the
THIRTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER, $685.
The bulk of the settlers and body of
soldiers had been sent ahead under COM
mand of the Maestro del Campo Rogue
Madrid, with directions to wait at the
deserted pueblo of Socorro. Vargas had
remained behind IN order to superintend
personally the transit of the carts carry
ing the main supplies and the artillery,
and he rejoined his vanguard only on the
5th of November. Seeing, however, that
the provisions might not be sufficient for
the number of people that in consequence
of the junction of the forces were now as
sembled, he again divided them, moving
RAPIDLY AHEAD WITH PART OF THE SOL
DIERS
and leaving the settlers and the train be-
hind under the command of his lieutenant
governor, Luis Granillo. His object was
to ascertain at the earliest possible
date the condition in which the
Pueblo Indians were, and their feelings. |
He had along with him a number of |
families Of Queres from Cia and Santa
Ana, which he intended to reintegrate to |
their homes. From these he sent one
ahead to investigate matters with direc-
ions to report to him as soon as possible.
On the 10th of November that emissary
returned in company with three other
Indians from Cia. Vargas was then in
The neighborhood of Isleta, which village
was deserted and in ruins. The mes
'enger brought tidings that were rather
The Cias, Santa Anas,
IS well as those OF San Felipe and the Pc.
'Os were
INxIoUsLY AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE
SPANIARDs.
The former three pueblos were seriously
threatened by the Jemez, Tehuas, Tanos
nd by the other Queres, who were pre-
'aring to attack them on account of their
toward the whites. Most of
he Queres of Santo Domingo and Cochti
lad retired again to the Potrefo Viejo
bove the Canada de Cochiti, all the sup
'lies had been removed from their vii
ages and hidden in the mountains; the
emez had done the same. There was
10 doubt that, with exception of the four
'ueblos mentioned, all the others were
determined upon
BREAKING THE PLEDGE OF FRIENDSHIP I
nd loyalty which they had given during ,
he previous year, and taking up arms
gainst the Spaniards again.
This was serious news. Vargas
fastened his advance, so as to reassure
he faithful tribes and intlmidate if pos
ible the others. He saw now that he
lad been grossly deceived, that the SUBJ
mission Of the pueblos in the year pre-
eding had only been feint, and that in
III probability his return to New Mexico
would become the signal for long and
Indian war. Recede he could
lot, so he resolved upon pushing on and
xhausting every possible means for keep
ng the treacherods pueblos quiet without
esorting to violence.
On the
THIRTEENTH OF NOVEMBER VARGAS
listed the pueblo of San Felipe, the
uins of which are still visible on the .
nesa of that name. The reception ten
cred him was of the most cordial nature. {
he Indians were afraid Of being at
acked by the Jemez, Tanos and other
ribes; their pueblo was small, and COM ,
letely defenseless in case of All attack j
rom the west. Vargas also met there {
he governador OF Pecos who had come to
ee him with five Pecos Indians. All
7ere unanimous in declaring that the
emainder of the pueblos of New Mexico
7ere only waiting for good opportu-
ity Is
TO DESTROY THE sPANIARDs.
Vargas at once sent two Tanos Indians :
tho were in his company to Santa Fe
nd to the northern villages with short g