Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-10-24
CONSPIRACY
OF YEAR |846
Manuel Chaves and Companions
Were Tried for Treason and
Acquitted.
SECURITY PROMISES
Chaves Subsequently Proved Hi
loyalty by Saving Life Of Captain
St. vrain at Taos.

6GlCIS luG tIOOpo VI IAC oAAeS"
States reached what was then the
Territory of New Mexico in 1916, and
when it was definitely known, how
ever, that the United States forces
were en- route to New Mexico, some OF
the leading citizens of the Territory
held a private meeting in the city OF
Santa Fe, then as now the capital OF
New Mexico, to decide what steps
should be taken to prevent the United
States forces from taking possession
of the country. The meeting was held
in the house of Don Miguel Estanislao
Pine. a son of Den Pedro Pine, a
prominent citizen who had represent
ed New Mexico in the Spanish-Cortes
at Madrid. The meeting was attend
ed by prominent citizens from all ov-
er the Territory but the principal char
acters We're the Pine brothers, Miguel
E.,Nicolas and Fecundo Manuel Chaves
Tomas c. de Baca, Diego Archuleta,
and Padre Martinez of Taos. 1t was
decided that the thing to do was to
organize a volunteer army under the
command Of Don Manuel Chayes OF
santa Fe, a prominent citizen, cour'
ageous and successful Indian fighter
He was known as the bravest and most
daring man in New Mexico. The prln.
cpal officers under Chaves were to be
Miguel E. Pine, Nicolas Pine. Tomas
c. de Baca and Diego Archuleta.
After the adjournment of the meet
ing a proposition in writing was pre-
sented to General Manuel ArmlJo,
then the governor OF New Mexico set
ting forth the proceedings of the
meeting and asking the governor to
take action in accordance with the
wishes OF the meeting. This paper
was presented to the Governor by his
nephew, Manuel Chaves, who promised
the Governor that If he was appointed
commander as proposed to meet the
American army of occupation, that the
destruction of the Americans would
surely fellow as the Mexicans would
have great advantage and would
surprise them in the mountain passes.
The Americans were in strange
country without any knowledge of the
surroundings and the Mexicans would
profit by this circumstance. Don
Manuel thought that he would be able
to stampede the cavalry horses and
the mules of the Americans, first and
then attack them in some dangerous
canon and destroy them.
Governor Armijo was well pleased
with this plan and promised to give an
answer soon However he took no ac-
ton and at the last moment informed
Manuel Chaves and his companions,
that he needed no volunteers but
would start out and give battle to the
American forces with his Mexican
dragons The result was that Ar
milo marched few miles out of Santa
Fe with his dragons and then like the
King of France marched back again
and left Santa Fe, the American
troops entering the city without firing
a shot. The American commanding
officer, General Kearny, Immediately
ordered the arrest of the four men
named considering them very danger
Gus and they, Manuel Chaves, Miguel
E, Pinos Nicolas Pine and Tomas G. de
Baca, were so arrested and placed un-
der a strong guard. This excited the
people greatly as these men were all
descendants of old and influential
families and known leaders.
A drumhead court martial was con.
vened and the trial of these four men
was had Immediately on charge OF
treason; the evidence was strong
against them consisting of papers
signed by them and much oral testi-
mony. An officer, Captain Agnew, was
detailed to defend the prisoners; the
defense was that the prisoners had
been guilty of no treason, quite the
contrary that they had simply entered
into combination to defend their
country from INVASION and that it
would be an everlasting disgrace to
the American army and crime to
convict men and shoot them for being
thus patriotic. The defense was we'll
conducted and the prisoners were &C
quilted.
Immediately after their acquittal
lhaves and the Pine held a meeting
to determine whether to stay at home
and remain loyal to the United States
or go to Mexico. Just then General
Kearney's proclamation appeared,
promising protection to life and prop,
erty to the people of New Mexico and
they concluded to remain. They de-
clared themselves citizens of the Uni
ted States, took the oath of citizen
ship and only three days thereafter
there happened an occurrence, that
gave Manuel Chaves and Nicolas
Pine an opportunity to prove their
loyalty to their adopted countrF. The
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