Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-02-11
AFTER OUR HOwTrzERs.
Colorado Trying to Get Them for State
Capitol Grounds.
A LETTER FROM H. A. Z. PIcKARD.

Yesterday Cecil A. Dean, custodian Of
the hail Of war relics In the state capitol
building, through a letter addressed to
Congressman Sbatroth In Washingt NJ,
made the request Of the secretary OF wal
for four brass howitzer guns. with which
to decorate the state capitol grounds.
says the Denver Republican.
The cannon in question will be priced
very highly by the state. as they we're
buried on March 2s, 1862, on Pigeons
Ranch, New Mexico, at the instigation Of
Gen. sibley, to prevent their capture by
Col. j. NJ. C~hiyingtOn, when the former
retreated before the advance OF the latter.
The guns remained buried for thirty. two
years, having been exhumed in 1894. The
soldiers who buried them never returned,
and no one knew Of their whereabouts
until 1894, when one OF the men who
helped to hide them visited Pigeons
ranch and showed the authorities where
to dig for the ordnance.
The following letter concerning the
guns IL Of interest. Il was sent with the
letter written by Custodian Deane To
Congressman ShairOth:
Albuquerque, N. NJ, Jan. %, 1885,
Jacob DOwnIng-Dear Major. Ths bat
terry which Is here when irst uncovered
IA the old town where IL vas buried ON
the retreat Of Sibley In front OF the Col
OradO First cavalry, Consists OF eight
pieces, q inch brass hOwitzers In good
shape, but ~dismOunted IA markedly ~
anything you ever saw. The caissOns.
wheels, etc, are all gone, no one knows
where that | can find any knowledge OF.
The pieces we're not spiked, aud one Is
still loaded with a charge OF grape and
canister for the special benefit OF you
Colorado soldiers.
"When the battery was uncovered the
United States commissioner here took
possession Of IL In the name OF the Unit
ad States, and 40 reported 10 the govern
ment. and II Is now considered ~ the
property Of the war department, but they
are not taken care OF by any u here
particularly. Yours truly,
II. A. h. PICKARD.
LETTER TO sHAFROTH.
The following is a portion Of the letter
Custodian Dean wrote Congressman Shat.
roth asking for the guns:
"HOn. j. Y. Shafroth, House Of Repre-
sentntiyes, Washington, ID. C.-Dear Sir:
The enclosed resolution OF our state cap
itol board, together with the letter OF
Mr.. Pickard, will explain themselves. The
Colorado soldiers were poorly armed aud
equipped, but they drove back Gen, Sib-
ley's confederate troops and repealed an
invasion which, II successful, would have
caused serious disaster 10 the cause OF
the Union. II the four guns can be pro.
cured II IL proposed To mount them IN
our capitol grounds, and no act Of the
honorable secretary OF war could give
more satisfaction 10 the surviving mem
bers Of the Colorado troops than TO allow
our state 10 procure these trophies OF
their yalor. At the battle OF Pigeons
Ranch. N. NJ, Colonel j. NJ. ChiyingtOn
VI the First Colorado cavalry, captured
and destroyed General Sibley's ammuni-
tion and supply train, and the limbere
and caissOns OF these guns were used to
remove the wounded on their retreat to
Texas. Very respectfully,
"CECTL A. DEAN, Custodian"