Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
Joins in Rush for Gold,

Even while Kansas was claiming more
IMAM the ordinary share of attention Tan
pan rowing disposition led him to a still
iarther exploration of the then almost
unknown west. The announcement of
the discovery of gold in the Pixies Peak
region In 1858 appealed to him SO strong
~ that he Joined one of the first over
lana expeditions to the new Elderado.
as what now is Colorado then was called
mere he continued to represent the Trib-
une and some of the first descriptions
OF life in that then terra incognita were
written by him for his paper In addi-
tlon TO his work for the Tribune Mr. Tap
pan engaged in local journalism. He was
an assistant on the Herald, one of the
nrst newspapers of Denver and in that
connection had many rare and thrilling
experiences
When the call came for troops to de-
fend the west against Gen. Siblev's in
vaSlon from Texas. as it did early in 1861,
Colorado responded resolutely There
tnen were only about 10000 people in the
territory, but large majority Of them
were men, and requiSitiOn for two COM
panleS was responded to by enough re-
cruits to constitute two regiments
BY this time Mr.. Tappan had trans
planted the scene of his activities from
Denver to the gold mining section in
oillpln county. He raised one of the two
nrst companies of the LIST Colorado Resi-
ment. affectionately known as "CoIora
dos Pet Lambs All the members of
the Tappan company were mountaineers.
They were Injured to every hardship of
frontier life, and many of them were
| utterly reckless of their lives. They were
good soldiers so long as there was some
thing to do. but they demanded constant
| employment. AS they marched from Gil
| pin county to Denver under Capt. Tappan
| they were armed in the main with re-
| volvers. Doubtless they presented an odd
| appearance when they made their an
pearance on the streets of the capita
| city, and the southern contingent mani
tested disposition to poke fun at them
Praises Colorado Regiment.
| Col. Tappan believed to the day of his
death that the work of the 1st Colorado
| Regiment had failed to receive due recog-
| milton from the country at large II
| fought the battle Of Glorieta almost un-
| aided. To this fight, though of but small
| dimensions when measured by the num-
| Der engaged. he attributed a powerful
| influence in giving direction to govern
mental conditions in the mountain region
Mr.. Tappan was not alone in believing
| that the plans of the secessionists COM
! pretended the seizure of the entire coun-
! try from Kansas to California and this
| opinion was supported by the maneuvers
| of Sibleys command.
/ IeH CiDitS was an experienced officer
| of the regular army and he led a valiant
, force of Texans which numbered / SOC
or 1000 men. Early in the spring OF
| 1861 he headed toward the northwest
from Texas. and he carried all before
| him until he encountered the Colorado
| troops at a little Mexican settlement
| called Glorieta, in the mountains living
| between Santa Fe and Fort Union NOT
| far from the Colorado line, but in New
| Mexico. He had captured Albuquerque
and Santa Fe, both considerable centers,
| and had left Gen. Candy In his rear, ap-
| parently effectually bottled up
| Leaving Santa Fe. Sibley headed north
| ward, supposedly with view of pro-
| ceeding to Denver, Col. Tappan always
| believed that it was his purpose to make
| headquarters in that city. form an alIi-
| ance with Brigham Young, then supreme
| in Utah, and to make conquest of the
| entire country to the coast. If such was
i the purpose it was frustrated at Glorieta
| While the southerners We're hurryine
/ north the Coloradans had been flying
i southwark BY this time the regiment
I had acquired it's full quota of ten well
rounded companies, every man of which
was resourceful fighter. Some of them
had fought Indians and few had taken
part in the war with Mexico. but in the
] main they were undisciplined. There