Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-08
NATIVE DEFENDERS.
Two Survivors of a Pioneer Army
Dramatic Episodes in the Early
History of New Mexico.

1t was announced IN the NEW MEXICAN
a few days ago that the house of repre-
sentatives at Washington had passed a
bill for the relief of the st. Vrain volun-
teers of 1s47.
There are very few members of that
brave little band living at present. Among
those is Hon. Nicolas Pine, of this coun-
ty, and Mr.. Henry Cuniffe, of Las Cruces.
Now that the question for the admission
of New Mexico as state is agitating the
public mind in the states, it has been
charged by some that the native people
of this territory are aliens and that they
have never given any evidence of patriot
ism to the United States, their adopted
country. All history since the American
acquisition
CoNTRADICTs SUCH INFAMOUS CHARGES.
AS far back as 1847, when the United
States government had just taken pos
session of this country, rebellion was
organized in the district of Taos, for the
purpose of killing all the Americans in
New Mexico. The inhabitants of the Pu-
eblo of Taos and many Mexicans and
some Apaches we're so we'll organized that
at the first outbreak the governor of the
territory, Gov. Bent, and many others
were killed; the rebels we're numerous and
in order to suppress them it was neces-
sary to take prompt measures. COM
pany of volunteers was organized under
Ceran st. Vrain, as captain. He was a
! lineal descendent of one of the old noble
families of France. Personally he was
refined, courteous, generous and brave
man, a worthy descendant of his distln-
guished ancestors. The country was new
to the Americans and without the aid of
easiest matter in the world to have sur
prised and ambushed them long before
reaching the pueblo of Taos. At that
time there lived in Santa Fe two young
men, who had already become famous in
the history of their native country, one
as statesman and politician, the other
one as a warrior.
NICHOLAS PINo AND MANUEL CHAyEs
were these young men. Don Nicholas
| L
territory, the youngest member of the
illustrious Pine family of Santa Fe; a son
of Don Pedro B. Pine, who for many
years represented the province of New
Mexico, in the Spanish Cortes in Spain
and who died full of honors and renowr
: in the year 1928 in Santa Fe.
Don Manuel Chayes was the favorit'
son of the country at that time, being
the most successful Indian fighter of hi
day; he was always on the go at the hea'
of volunteer army suppressing lndial
outbreaks. He WAS SO much feared b.
the Indians that the very mention of hi
name would create stampede among
them. They believed that his rifle wa
enchanted for it was we'll known that
: seldom fired without killing an Indiar
Pine and Chaves were great friends an
also intimate friends of st. Vrain. Afte
consultation they agreed that 1T wa
almost providential that the America
government should have taken possessio
= Of this country, as little or no aid wha
ever could be obtained from Mexico, an
! it was but question of time when tt
people of New Mexico would have b.
come exterminated by
THE SAVAGE HoRDEs.
\ Chaves was great-grandson of Dieg
Antonio Duran de Chaves, who came
! this country in 1892 as lieutenant colon
in the Spanish army, and to whom tt
king gave land grant in Bernalil
county in 1902 for his "long and merito1
GUS services to the crown" Boz
Pine and Chaves enlisted as volunteers
the St. Vrain's company, and havir
taken the oath of allegiance became cit
zens of the United States, they accor
panied the Americans to Taos, partlc
pated in all the battles, and we're of tt
greatest service to them throughout Il
campaign. On the first day of the bait
in front of the Pueblo of Taos, when Il
Indians came out to meet the American
desperate fight took place. In Il
thick of the fight st. Vrain and Chav
we're surrounded by group of Indian
who suddenly appeared from behind
clump of wild plum trees. Several I
dams we're killed and the balance retret
ed towards the pueblo; but presently a
n other group of Indians appeared fro
an opposite direction, and started at Fl
run, with lances in their hands, iowa
st. Vrain and Chaves, and
WERE MET WITH vOLLEY,
which endorsed two of them. The b
ance retreated for some distance and
= peated the charge. At this momeE