Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-14
LOST CANNON.
Major Teel, Who Buried the COnfed-
crate Pieces Thirty-twO Years
Ago, Again on the Ground.

Among the visitors to Santa Fe during
the past few days was Major T. 7. Teel,
of Ell Paso, Texas. Major Teel came
primarily on business with the land
court but incidental to this was mis-
sion of great interest not only to himself
but also to those who we're on either side
in the late civil war--the location of
DOZEN cANNoNs
buried within mile of Santa Fe by Ma
jor Teel's command during the campaign
of the Confederacy in New Mexico.
Thirty-two years ago last March Major
Teel paid his last visit to Santa Fe. 1t
was very different place then from
what it is now. There was not a single
brick building in the town and the evil
dences of modern enterprise so abundant
now were then almost entirely wanting
In other respects this former visit was
very different from the present one. 1t
was day that tried mems souls; aud as
Major Teel told of these incidents in the
past his voice showed something of the
enthusiasm which characterized the brave
men on both sides of that terrible con-
fiict. "Yes," he said to representative
of the NEW MEXICAN, II remember my
last trip to Santa Fe as though it were
but yesterday. We had just finished our
engagement with the federal ..
TROOPS AT GLoRIETA
where we had met Gen. Canby's division.
From that point we came on to Santa Fe
for the purpose of getting provisions for
our forces. We had left about 200 mon
at Albuquerque and had about $500 alto
gether at Santa Fe, most of them being
of Gen. Sibley's brigade. Our
headquarters were near the present
and my battalion was stationed
near the site of the present federal build
ing. After having been here only three
or four days we received information that
Gen. Canby's division was about to be
reinforced by the Federal troops from
Fort Union under Coils. Slough and Paul.
Accordingly we decided to leave Santa Fe
Immediately and to
HASTEN TO ALBUQUERQUE
for the relief of our garrison stationed
there. had with our battalion twelve
brass pieces, six 12-pounders and six G.
FOUNDERS that we could not carry. Rather
than leave them behind to be captured by
the enemy determined to bury them.
Accordingly, the evening before we Left
little after dark, I had the pieces trans
ferred with si1-mue team to point
about three-quarters of mile from town
out on the Tesuque road. I carried along
a guard of about forty men, and station
ing portion of these along the road as
watch, We went up the side of one of
THE FOOT HILLS
near an arroyo and there buried the
pieces about two or three feet below the
surface. The weather was intensely cold
and the next morning when we we're on
our way south, the whole country was
under blanket of snow"
While here Major Teel, Lieut.. Littell
and a member of the New MEx1oAN's staff
went out with the view of locating the
point at which the guns were buried. On
account of the change in the land marks
Major Teel found some difficulty in locat-
ing the spot, but finally found point
within an acre of which he is certain the
guns will be found. On his return to Ell
Paso he will forward Lieut.. Littell a
memorandum, made at the time, showing
the exact location. Lieut.. Littell will
then exhume the pieces and it is very
probable that they will, if found, be used
as
ORNAMENTS FOB THE PLAZA.
The existence of these cannon has been
known in Santa Fe for many years and
great desire has been expressed to regain
them on account of their value as relics.
The Confederate troops while in New
Mexico buried, besides these, eight at AL
buquerque and four at San Marcial.
Those concealed at Albuquerque were
located by Major Teel and dug up about
two years ago, while those at San Marcial
have never been found.