Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-13
FROM HISTORY
The Secretary Of War Reviews the
Incidents of the Taos Re-
bellion In l847,
FIERCE BATTLE FOUGHT
A Conspiracy to Overthrow United States
Authority In New Msxico-Likened to
the Present Tagal Insurection In
the Philippines.

Secretary of War Root recently fur
nished an interesting statement of the
in New Mexico in 1S47 and
in California in 184S. In both cases the
rebelled against the author
ity of the United States when it was
asserted in accordance with the cession
by Mexico. The conditions were strlk-
fngly similar to those in the Philip
pines. Judge Magoon, one of the law
officers of the war department, prepared
the information from official records
His review establishes these facts
"The conquest of New Mexico by the
military forces of the United States was
accomplished by the campaign of 1886
In compliance with instructions from
the president, General Kearney, the Of
ficer in command, organized civil gov
ernment for the occupied territory and
filled the executive and judicial offices
by appointment. These civil function
aries entered on the discharge of their
duties in apparent unconscousness of
exposure to more than ordinary peril.
I'm December, 1886, the native inhab-
itants organized a conspiracy to over
throw the United States authority in
Is, l847, the governor. the sheriff. the
circuit attorney. the prefect, and
number Of others, citizens and officials
of the United States and Mexican sup
porters Of United States authority, were
in the town of San Fer
nando de Taos. On the same night sew
en- other American were killed ct Ar
royo Hondo and two at Rio Colorado.
1t was then apparent that the insurrec-
ton was general, and the purpose was
to kill all the Americans and those
Mexicans who had accepted Office under
the American government.
TROOPS TAKE THE FIELD.
"Col. Sterling Price was then COM
mander of the army of New Mexico
with headquarters at Santa Fe. He
learned of the uprising and attendant
atrocities on January 20, 1S47, and that
the army Of insurrection was marching
against Santa Fe. He took prompt and
vigorous action, and marched out to
meet the insurgents with force of
about 400 men. There were many Sc
rious and sanguinary engagements. but
the enemy was no sooner dslodged
from one position than he took refuge in
another, and maintained determined
resistance throughout.
"The losses were heavy on both sides,
Owing to the mountainous character of
the country, and the fact that the cam
American forces suffered many hard
ships before reaching the town of San
Fernando de Taos, where the governor
and party had been foully assassinated.
A particularly severe engagement oc-
Cured at the nearby town of Pueblo
de Taos. which had been strongly forti-
fed The insurgents took position in a
large church, which they had pierced
with embrasures for rifles. The Ameri-
cans battered the church and walls for
two hours without effect, and were COM
PEELED to retreat to Fernando.
"On the following day they returned
and renewed the assault, but the artil-
lery fire seemed to have no effect on the
church walls. Ladders We're then made
and holes cut in the walls with axes,
through which the soldiers, with their
hands, threw fire and lighted shells into
the interior. Another assault was made
on the church door, which again failed
with loss. The artillery was then
brought up to within 60 yards, and, aft
er ten rounds had been fired, one Of the
holes which had been cut with the axes
was widened to practicable breach,
through which a storming party en-
possession Of the church.
1.-THE next morning the enemy surren-
dered. The loss sustained by them was
about $50 killed The number Of wound
ed was not known. The American loss
in killed and wounded was ffty-two.
INSURRECTION GENERAL.
"ITnder date Of January %, Captain
Hendley, commanding at Las Vegas, re-
ported to Colonel Price that every town
and village except Las Vegas and Tee
oloti had declared in favor of insdrrec-
tion; and that the entire population
seemed ripe for it. The insurrection In
eastern New Mexico was inaugurated
by the murder of eight Americans at
Mora on January 20. 1s47. and was con-
tinued in force until the following July,
having been marked with many atroci-
ties on the part of the insurgents.
Thereafter, the insurrection dwindled
into depredations committed by various
bands Of Indians, instigated and led by
Mexicans. Hardly a party, large or
small, traders or soldiers. crossed the
plains of New Mexico without being at
tackled. Many men were killed and large
numbers Of horses. mules and cattle
driven off. In the latter part of 1S47
comparative safety was secured by sta
tioning the troops at various points OF
the insurgent prisoners, fifteen or twen-
ty were executed by sentence of court
martial. The others were turned over
to the civil authorities.
"The events resulting from the insur-
rection did not escape the attention of
congress. That body on July 10, 1s4S.
passed a resolution calling on the pres
ident for information in regard to the
existence Of civil government in New
, Mexico and California, the form and
character. by whom instituted and by
what authority, and how It was main
talned and supported; also. whether
any persons had been tried and con-
demned for treason against the United
States in New Mexico.
Continued on Fourth Page.)