The chronicle=news., 1914-07-11

United States and Mexico From this
poi; he caravan, consisting OF sew
eral hundred wagons and carriages,
proceeded southwest over the then
established trail by way OF the Cim-
arron river Rabbit Ear Mound, to
Santa Fe; entering the settlements
Of Now Mexico near the present
town of Wakrous, 80 miles north of
las Vegas. This Is the route men,
as THE Santa Fe Trail" Afte.
leaving their escort this caravan was
harassed and attacked repeatedly by
the Kiowa Indians.
In 1S13 the United States govern
ment furnished another escort for
the traders, who that year sought
wealth by trade with the people OF
Santa Fe. 1t, like the former. es-
the Arkansas river and the caravan
of wagons drawn by mules. contin-
ued to Santa Fe over the Cinarron
route. These are the only escorts
furnished by our government to pro-
tect the traders with Mexico who
traversed the Santa. Fe trail before
our government acquired New Mex
leo. War was declared between
Mexico and the United States In
April. 1886, and General Scott, COM
manding our forces, determined to
invade Mexico with three armies,
each to enter Mexican territory by
different routes. The army OF the
west. commanded by General Ste
phen w. Kearney. marched west
from Fort Leavenworth over tho
Santa Fe trail to the point where
that trail crosses the Arkansas. II
consisted of two batteries of artil-
lery commanded by Major Clark,
three squadrons of the First United
States dragons commanded by Ma
jor Summer. and the First regiment
of Missouri cavalry, commanded by
Colonel Alexander w. Doniphan.
This small army marched In detach-
ed columns from Fort Leavenworth
in July, 1876. and leaving the Santa
Fe trail at the Cimarron crossing OF
the Arkansas. proceeded up the left
bank OF the stream, and concentrated
on the first day of August nine miles
below Fort William or Bent's Fort).
This detour from the most direct
route was made in order to receive
1.-The report Of spies who were order
ed to meet the army at Bent's Fort,
ind In order that the commanding
officer might avail himself Of such
assistance az William Bent and hi.
associates, and their employees miSht
render. The artillery horses were
in bad condition on account Of the
forced march that had been made
from Leavenworth. and in order that
they might have chance to recup-
crate the artillery was hauled by
oxen belonging to the brothers, VIII
liam and Charles Bent. driven by
their employees. while the artillery
! horses were driven loose and per-
mitted to Craze. The route selected
by the army from Bent's Fort south
lward left the Arkansas a short dis
tance below La Junta and reached
Trinidad by way OF Iron Spring. Hole
lin the Rock Thatcher Station), Hole
in the Prairie. and, crossing the
Purgatoric at El Moro. 1t followed
the south side OF that stream to the
present site of the city Of Trinidad,
and continued south on what Is now
the line of Main street through the
business part of the city to Il point
iwhere Carbon street intcrsocts Main
street thence tho road ran south up
"A small ravinc TO a point east of the
stephens ranch, whence 1t bore west
to the romd now Travelled to Stark
VILE and thence over the Ration
mountain. was informed by one
who drove the yoke of oxen to haul
one OF the cannon. that in the line
Of march the riflemen led the way
and next following them was the ar
|tillery, followed by the dragons,
followed in turn by the commissary
Wagons, and last the infantry. Ny
informant Benz. Y. Wrtgltcr) as
sured mo that the gun carriage haul
ed by the two yoke of oxen that ne
drove was the first wheeled carriage
|
the Ration pass, afterwards known
us "Dick Woctton'x Toll Road" and
that this route was continuously
used ever after that as Il wagon road.
The last camp made by the army of
the west before reaching the site OF
the present city OF Trinidad. was on
the southerly side OF the PurEatorie
river. nearly opposite FL Moro. and
within a few hundred feet Of the
residence of the late James s. G'ay,
| deceased. At this point. and while
! Ikearney's army was cncampcI, two
soldiers belonging to the command
died. Isaac Van Brimmer, who be-
longed to Colonel Doniphan's resi-
ment, pointed out to me the graves
of the soldiers unmarked By name
-. N;ppo 1871 largo nu M =