War with Mexico
General Zachary Taylor - General Ampudia's Declaration of Hostility - Attack of American Dragoons - Declaration of War BY United States - Army of the West - General Stephen W. Kearny - Colonel Alex W. Doniphan - Mormon Battalion - Capt. p. St. George Cooke - Governor Armijo - Ambassador James Magoffin - General Kearny's Instructions - Civil Government of New Mexico - Kearny Code - Doniphan 's Expedition - Kearny 's Expedition to California - Kit Carson's Devotion to Duty - Pima Indians - Captain Cooke's March With Wagon Train and Mormon Battalion - Wild Cattle - Game - Arrival at Tucson - Letter TO Don Manuel Gandara, Governor of Sonora - Maricopas - Crossing The Colorado - Colonel Price - Revolt in Mexico - Killing of Governor Bent and Other Officials - Punishment of Revolutionists.
On the 28th of March, 1846, General Zachary Taylor took up his position on
the banks of the Rio Grande opposite Matamoras, and strengthened himself by
the erection of fieldworks. Texas, at that time, claimed' the Rio Grande as
the western boundary of the republic, which not only embraced what is now
known as Texas, but a large portion of what is now New Mexico. The Mexicans
claimed that the River Nueces was the western boundary of the Lone Star
republic. The territory between that river and the Rio Grande - a breadth of
one hundred and fifty miles along the coast - they claimed was a part of
their territory. It is well to remember that Mexico had no army of
occupation in this disputed territory.
General Taylor was notified by General Ampudia of the Mexican Army to break
up his camp and in twenty-four hours to retire beyond the Nueces River. To
this, General Taylor made no reply, and General Arista, who had succeeded
General Ampudia in command of the Mexican army, on the 24th of April,
advised General Taylor that "he considered hostilities commenced, and should
prosecute them." After this notification was received, General Taylor sent a
party of dragoons, sixty-three in number, up the valley of the Rio Grande to
ascertain whether the Mexicans had crossed the river. They encountered a
larger force than their own, and after an engagement in which seventeen of
the Americans were killed or wounded, they were surrounded and compelled to
surrender. Intelligence of this affair raised the war spirit of the United
States. Our country had been invaded; American blood had been spilled on
American soil, was the cry heard on every side. In response to public
opinion, President Polk, on the 11th of May, sent a message to Congress,
''invoking its prompt action to recognize the existence of war, and to place
at the disposition of the Executive the means of prosecuting the contest
with vigor, and thus hastening the restoration of peace." Following this
message, the House of Representatives introduced a bill authorizing the
President to call out a force of fifty thousand men, and giving him' all the
requisite powers to organize, arm and equip them. This bill was passed
through the Senate and the House, and approved by the President on the 13th
day of May, 1846.
The story of the successful campaigns of General Taylor into the heart of
Mexico, and the capture of Mexico City by General Scott, does not belong to
this history. We deal only with that portion of it which ended in the
subjugation of New Mexico, Arizona and California.
War, or its existence, having been declared, the Army of the West was
organized at Fort Leavenworth, in June, under the command of General Stephen
W. Kearny, its mission the occupation of the broad territory stretching from
New Mexico to California, and cooperation with other branches of the army in
expeditions farther south. The advance division of this force consisted of
300 regulars of the first United States dragoons, under Major Edwin V.
Sumner, afterwards a Major General in the Union Army, accompanied by a
regiment of mounted volunteers called out by Governor Edwards of Missouri
for this campaign, and commanded by Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan, and five
additional companies of volunteers, including one of infantry and two of
light cavalry, or a total of nearly seventeen hundred men. The reserve
division comprised another regiment of Missouri volunteers under Colonel
Sterling Price, a battalion of four companies under Lieutenant Colonel
Willock, and the Mormon Battalion, in all about eighteen hundred men.
The advance of the army left Fort Leavenworth late in June with a supply
train of over 1,000 mules, which was soon augmented by 400 wagons of the
annual Santa Fe caravan. All the companies, except that of the artillery,
encamped at the beginning of August near Bent's Fort on the Arkansas, after
an uneventful but tedious march of some 650 miles across the plains. From
Bent's Fort Captain P. St. George Cooke, with twelve picked men, was sent in
advance as a kind of ambassador to treat with Governor Armijo for the
peaceful submission of eastern New Mexico, "but really," says Bancroft, "to
escort James Magoffin, the venerable ambassador, entrusted with a secret
mission at Santa Fe."
Of this expedition, Cooke, in his "Conquest of New Mexico and California,"
says: "My mission was in fact a pacific one. The general had just issued a
proclamation of annexation of all the territory east of the Rio Grande; the
government thus adopting the old claim of Texas; and thus, manifestly, in a
statesmen's view, a bloodless process would lead to its confirmation in the
treaty of peace; and the population would be saved from the bitterness of
passing subjugum. The difficulty of a half measure remains; it cuts the
isolated province in two! There must be an influential Micawber in the
cabinet. At a plaintive complaint that I went to plant the olive from which
he would reap a laurel, the general endeavored to gloss the barren field of
toil to which his subordinates, at least, were devoted.'
The mission of Magoffin was, in part, successful, in so far that there was
no armed resistance on the part of Governor Armijo to the American advance.
Cooke's party arrived on the 12th of August at Santa Fe, and was hospitably
received by Armijo, who seemed to think that the approach of the army was
''rather sudden and rapid." lie concluded' to send a commissioner, in the
person of Dr. Connelley, with whom the Captain set out the next day on his
return to meet the army. Magoffin easily prevailed on the governor to make
no defense at Apache Canyon, "a point on the approach to Santa Fe, which
might have been held by a small force." He had more difficulty with
Archuleta, the second in command, but by appealing to his ambition, and
suggesting that by a pronunciamento he might secure for himself Western New
Mexico, he at length overcame that officer's patriotic objections, and thus
secured an open road for the army.
Kearny's army left Bent's fort on the 2nd of August. His route was nearly
identical with that traveled by the later line of stages, and differed but
slightly from that of the modem Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. On
the 14th, 15th and 16th, respectively, the army reached Las Vegas, Tecolote
and San Miguel del Vado. At these places Kearny, now a brigadier-general,
made a speech from a housetop, absolving the people from their allegiance to
Armijo, and promising protection to the life, property and religion of all
who should peacefully submit to the new order of things. The alcalde, and,
in some cases, the militia officers of each town, after taking the oath of
allegiance to the United States, were continued in office.
The General's authority for this course has no ampler record than may be
found in the confidential instructions received by him from the Secretary of
War, dated July 3rd, 1846:
"Should you conquer and take possession of New Mexico and Upper California, you will establish temporary civil governments therein, abolishing all arbitrary restrictions that may exist, so far as it may be done with safety. In performing this duty, it would be wise and prudent to continue in their employment all such of the existing officers as are known to be friendly to the United States and will take the oath of allegiance to them. You may assure the people of these provinces that it is the wish and design of the United States to provide for them a free government, with the least possible delay, similar to that which exists in our territories. They will be called on to exercise the rights of freemen in electing their own representatives to the territorial legislature. It is foreseen that what relates to the civil government will be a difficult and unpleasant part of your duty, and much must necessarily be left to your own discretion.
"In your whole conduct, you will act in such a manner as best to conciliate
the inhabitants, and render them friendly to the United States."
Marcy also states: "No proclamation for circulation was ever furnished to
General Kearny."
Acting under these instructions, General Kearny occupied all the principal
towns of New Mexico, and organized a civil government for the territory,
with the following officers:
Governor, Charles Bent, part owner of Bent's Fort, married to a native of
Taos.
Secretary: Donaciano Vigil, a native of New Mexico, of long official
experience in civil and military positions.
Marshal: Richard Dallam, an American mining operator at Los Placeres.
United States Attorney: Francis P. Blair, Jr., in later years famous as
congressman, soldier, and statesman. Afterwards a defeated candidate for the
Presidency of the United States.
Treasurer: Charles Blumner.
Auditor: Eugene Leitzendorfer, a Santa Fe trader, married to a daughter of a
former governor, Santiago Abreu.
Superior Court Judges: Joab Houghton, Antonio Jose Otero, and Charles
Beaubien.
A code of laws, founded mainly on the laws of Missouri and Texas, was
prepared by Colonel Doniphan, who was an accomplished lawyer, and this code
of laws was in force in New Mexico as late as the year 1885. This code,
known as the Kearny code, was submitted to Congress, and with it there was
also submitted an organic law for the territory of New Mexico, which
provided for a permanent territorial organization under the laws of the
United States, naming the first Monday in August, 1847, as the day for
electing a delegate to Congress.
After performing this work in New Mexico, General Kearny sent Colonel
Doniphan south with a thousand men, to capture Chihuahua. About two thousand
men, including many invalids, were left in command of Col. Price, to hold
the territory already conquered, and General Kearny himself, with a force of
about a hundred and fifty dragoons, started for California, and Captain
Cooke, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, was ordered to take command of the
Mormon Battalion, and follow General Kearny to California.
On September 26th, 1846, General Kearny, with his small company of dragoons,
commenced his march to California. On the 6th of October, he met Kit Carson
with fifteen men, carrying important mail and dispatches for Washington. He
gave General Kearny the great news of the subjugation of California by
Commodore Stockton and Captain Fremont. Six of Carson's party were Delaware
Indians; he had started with fifteen riding animals; the most of them had
been ridden down and abandoned; others swapped two for one, with friendly
Apaches. Carson had come by way of the Gila River, and advised General
Kearny that no news of the invasion of New Mexico had been received in
California. General Kearny determined that Carson should return with him and
be his guide over the route he had just passed, but Carson resisted this
attempt to make him turn back, and the General did not prevail until he took
upon himself every responsibility, especially the prompt and safe delivery
of the dispatches. This instance furnishes one of the most striking
illustrations of Carson's loyalty to his country. He had just ridden eight
hundred miles over a desert, a very wilderness, where he had met with no
human being except savages, likely to seek his destruction; he had ridden
ninety miles without halting, over a jornada of sand; was on the border of
civilization, near the residence of his family, but at the call of his
country, he turned back for another year of absence. Surely this was no
common sacrifice to duty.
On October 14th, General Kearny once more resumed his march, and, next day,
being about two hundred and thirty miles below Santa Fe, he left the river,
turned westward toward the copper mines on the Gila, and wrote to Colonel
Cooke, assigning to him the command of the Mormon Battalion, and the task of
opening a wagon road to the Pacific. From the copper mines, the General's
route was nearly due west along the course of the Gila River. His train
consisted entirely of pack mules, in addition to which he had two mountain
howitzers, but no wagons. His journey across what is now the State of
Arizona was uneventful. He traded mules with the Apaches headed by Mangus
Colorado, and had several meetings with the Pimas, of whom his chronicler
says:
"To us it was a rare sight to be thrown in the midst of a large nation of what are termed wild Indians, surpassing many of the Christian nations in agriculture, little behind them in the useful arts, and immeasurably before them in honesty and virtue. During the whole of yesterday, our camp was full of men, women and children, who sauntered among our packs, unwatched, and not a single instance of theft was reported."
On the 25th of November, having reached the Colorado River, they forded that
river, some of the horses swimming when its crooked course was lost; they
camped fifteen miles below, at the first well, where only the men got water,
and on the 12th day of December, General Kearny and his column reached San
Diego.
The Mormon Battalion, which General Kearny had ordered Colonel Cooke to
assume command of, arrived at Santa Fe on October 12th, 184'6. It had been
commanded by Lieutenant A. J. Smith, First Dragoons, on its long march from
Fort Leavenworth. Everything conspired to discourage the extraordinary
undertaking of marching this battalion eleven hundred miles, for the greater
pail of the journey through an unknown wilderness without road or trail, and
with a wagon train. It was enlisted too much by families; some were too old,
some feeble, and some too young. It was embarrassed by too many women; it
was worn by travelling on foot, and marching from Nauvoo, Illinois, where it
had been organized; they had little clothing, there was no money to pay
them, or clothing to issue; their mules were entirely broken down; the
quartermaster department was without funds, and its credit was not good, and
mules were scarce. Those procured were inferior, and were deteriorating
every hour for lack of forage and grazing. A small party, with families, had
been sent from Arkansas Crossing, up the river, to winter at a settlement
near the mountains, which bore the name of Pueblo. After an inspection of
the battalion, its ranks were reduced by the discharge of old men and those
unfit for service by reason of physical incapacity, or youthfulness, from
five hundred, to three hundred and fifty men, and with this number, and five
wives of officers, who were reluctantly allowed to accompany the march, and
who furnished their own transportation. Colonel Cooke, on October 19th,
1846, started upon his expedition. Before leaving Santa Fe, the battalion
was paid by checks, not very available at that place. Using every effort,
the quarter-master could only undertake to furnish rations for sixty days,
and, in fact, full rations of only flour, sugar, coffee and salt. Salt pork
could only be furnished for thirty days and soap for twenty. It was
absolutely necessary to take with them pack saddles, so these were added to
the equipment.
Upon this expedition Colonel Cooke had a large wagon train and his
expedition was, as far as the country through which he passed was concerned,
of more importance than that of General Kearny, because it demonstrated the
fact that wagons could be used in crossing what is now the State of Arizona.
Twenty-two miles from Santa Fe, Cooke turned south, continuing in a
southwesterly direction some twenty-five or thirty miles to the Santa Rita
Copper Mines, crossing of the Mimbres River a little north of where it
sinks; thence continuing southwest through a small range of foothills, where
water was obtained by digging.
Upon this expedition, Colonel Cooke had the services of several guides, the
chief of them being Leroux, and another Pauline Weaver, of whom further
mention will be made later on in this work. Leroux thought the country to
the west was an open prairie and a good route to the San Pedro River, if
water could be obtained in sufficient quantity. Colonel Cooke, however,
continued his route in a southwesterly direction, to a point about fifteen
miles north of Fronteras, Sonora, Mexico, thence in a northwesterly
direction to the headwaters of the San Pedro River in Arizona. He followed
this river about forty miles in a northerly direction, and from, thence
struck off to the northwest to Tucson, from which point, still going
northwesterly, he struck the trail that General Kearny had made to the Pima
Villages, and followed the Gila down to its junction with the Colorado.
In this march, which was made in the winter of 1846, the command suffered
much hardship from lack of food and water, and also suffered from cold at
night and heat by day. It met with no hostile forces of Indians or Mexicans
but it was harassed a good deal by the wild cattle near the old abandoned
ranch of San Bernardino, of which St. George Cooke says:
"The ox, in a perfectly wild state, abounds here; the guides have shot three or four. As we descended from the high ground, an immense red bull rushed by in front at great speed; it was more novel and exciting than the sight of buffaloes."
On December 3rd, the command passed the day at San Bernardino and was disappointed in not obtaining mules from the Apaches. Along the San Pedro River, Colonel Cooke found bands of wild horses, herds of cattle and antelopes. Following this stream, on December 11th, the command had quite an engagement with bulls. Of this the Colonel says:
"I had to direct the men to load their muskets to defend themselves. The
animals attacked in some instances without provocation, and tall grass in
some places made the danger greater; one ran on a man, caught him in the
thigh, and threw him clear over his body lengthwise; then it charged on a
team, ran its head under the first mule and tore out the entrails of the one
beyond. Another ran against a sergeant who escaped with severe bruises, as
the horns passed at each side of him; one ran at a horse tied behind a
wagon, and as it escaped, the bull struck the wagon with a momentum that
forced the hind part of it out of the road. I saw one rush at some pack
mules, and kill one of them. I was very near Corporal Frost, when an immense
coal black bull came charging at us, a hundred yards. Frost aimed his
musket, flintlock, very deliberately, and only fired when the beast was
within six paces; it fell headlong, almost at our feet. One man, charged on,
threw himself flat, and the bull jumped over him and passed on.
"A bull, after receiving two balls through its heart, and two through the
lungs, ran on a man. I have seen the heart. Lieut. Stoneman was accidentally
wounded in the thumb. We crossed a pretty stream, which I have named 'Bull
Run.' "
The Lieutenant Stoneman mentioned, was afterwards a general in the Union
Army, and Governor of California. His son, Geo. Stoneman, is now a resident
of this state, and one of its leading layers.
On December 14th, Colonel Cooke rode in among four or five Mexican soldiers,
cutting grass, their horses, arms and saddles nearby. The sergeant in
command of the Mexican party said that reports had been spread which alarmed
the people who were about to fly, and he was sent by the commandant to
request the Americans not to pass through the town (Tucson); that he had
orders to prevent it, but that the Americans could pass on either side.
Colonel Cooke told him to return and inform the commander of the garrison,
that if it was very weak, he would probably not molest it, but to tell the
people that the Americans were their friends and wanted to purchase flour,
etc. He soon left. Before reaching Tucson, a commission was received by
Cooke from the Commandant at Tucson, authorized to make a special armistice.
"After a rather long conference, they were dismissed with the proposition
that a few arms should be delivered as tokens of a surrender, which only
required them not to serve against the United States during the present war
until exchanged."
At the last camp, about sixteen miles from the town, a cavalryman, well
mounted and armed, was met, who delivered a dispatch refusing the terms
offered. He was allowed to retire without answer. The battalion made ready
for engagement, when soon thereafter two Mexicans were met, who gave the
information that the post had been evacuated, and that most of the
inhabitants had been forced to leave by the military, who had also carried
off two brass cannon. About a dozen well mounted men met and accompanied the
battalion into the town, some of whom were said to be soldiers. The command
encamped about half a mile beyond the town. About a hundred of the perhaps
five hundred inhabitants had remained. The barracks were situated upon high
ground, enclosed by a wall with abutments and battlements in bad repair.
Some provisions were brought to the camp for sale. The battalion was now
without salt and only three bushels of that commodity could be obtained
there. A quantity of wheat found in the forts was used for food, and as much
as could be carried was ordered to be taken both for mules and men.
A note was left to be delivered to Captain Comaduran upon his return,
enclosing a letter for the Governor of Sonora, at Ures, Don Manuel Gandara,
who was said to be well disposed to the United States. It is here given:
Camp at Tucson
Sonora
Dec. 18th, 1846.
Your Excellency:
The undersigned, marching in command of a battalion of United States
Infantry, from New Mexico to California, has found it convenient for the
passage of his wagon train, to cross the frontier of Sonora. Having passed
within fifteen miles of Fronteras, I have found it necessary to take this
presidio in my route to the Gila.
"Be assured that I did not come as an enemy of the people whom you
represent; they have received only kindness at my hands. Sonora refused to
contribute to the support of the present war against my country, alleging
the excellent reasons that all her resources were necessary to her defense
from the incessant attacks of savages; that the central government gave her
no protection, and was, therefore, entitled to no support. To this might
have been added that Mexico supports a war upon Sonora. For I have seen the
New Mexicans within her boundary trading for the spoil of her people, taken
by murderous, cowardly Indians, who attack only to lay waste, rob and fly to
the mountains, and I have certain information that this is the practice of
many years; thus one part of Mexico allies itself against another.
The unity of Sonora with the States of the north, now her neighbors, is
necessary effectually to subdue these Parthian Apaches.
Meanwhile I make a wagon road from the streams of the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean, through the valuable plains, and mountains rich with
minerals, of Sonora. This, I trust, will prove useful to the citizens of
either republic, who, if not more closely, may unite in the pursuits of a
highly beneficial commerce.
'With sentiments of esteem and respect, I am your Excellency's most obedient
servant,
"P. St. George Cooke, Lieut. Colonel of United States Forces,
to his Excel 'y Sen. Don. Manuel Gandara. Governor of Sonora, Ures, Sonora
On the 18th, the march was resumed, and on the 21st they struck General
Kearny's route on the Gila, and there went into camp. Here they were visited
by many Indians from the Pima villages, which were eight miles away. The
Indians flocked into camp, some being mounted, bringing small sacks of com,
flour, beans, etc. One brought letters from General Kearny and Major Swords,
quarter-master-general, which mentioned eleven broken down mules and two
bales of Indian goods left for him with the Pimas. Of the mules five had
died, and the rest were, with the bales of Indian goods, turned over to the
Colonel. The principal chief of the Pimas, Juan Antonio, stated to Colonel
Cooke that the commander of Tucson had sent to demand the mules and goods
left with them; that he refused to surrender them and declared that he would
resist force with force. "He said I could see they were poor and naked, but
they were content to live here by hard work, on the spot which God had given
them, and not like others to rob or steal; that they did not fear us, and
run lile the Apaches, because they made it a rule to injure no one in any
way, and therefore never expected anyone to injure them. In fact the Apaches
do not molest them; but it is owing to experience of their prowess."
Colonel Cooke says: "The Pimas are large and fine looking, seem well fed,
ride good horses, and are variously clothed, though many have only the
center cloth; the men and women have extraordinary luxuriance and length of
hair. With clean white blankets and streaming hair, they present mounted
quite a fine figure. But innocence and cheerfulness are their most
distinctive characteristics. I am told the Mexican officers offered every
persuasion, and promise of plunder, to excite hostility toward us. A few
bushels of sweet corn were bought, and issued as rations."
Continuing, he says: "Several miles short of the village, groups of men,
women and girls were met, coming to welcome the battalion. These last, naked
generally above the hips, were of every age and pretty, walking often by
twos with encircling arms; it was a gladdening sight, so much cheerfulness
and happiness. One little girl, particularly, by a fancied resemblance,
interested me very much; she was so joyous that she seemed very pretty and
innocent; I could not resist tying on her head, as a turban, a bright new
silk handkerchief, which I happened to wear today; the effect was beautiful
to see - a picture of happiness."
"The camp is full of Indians, and a great many have some eatables, including
watermelons, to trade; and they seem' only to want clothing or cotton cloth,
and beads. I am sorry they will be disappointed. It reminds me of a crowded
New Orleans market. There must be two thousand in camp, all enjoying
themselves very much; they stroll about, their arms around each other,
graceful and admirable in form; their language certainly sounds like ours,
their honesty is perfect."
From this picture of the Pimas, it will be seen that the first Americans
received from them a warm welcome, and that friendship has been continuous
to the present day.
The march was resumed on the 23rd. The colonel stopped for a few moments at
the house of the chief and told him that among the many Indians he had seen,
the Pimas were the happiest and most prosperous, and that as long as they
adhered to their principles of industry, honesty, peace and cheerful
content, they would continue so; that while they never injured their
neighbors, their true safety lay in uniting to resist vigorously every
aggression; that wishing them well he desired to add to their comfort and
welfare by introducing sheep among them, and gave him for the use of his
people, three ewes with young, which was the best he could do.
At this point a letter was received from General Kearny, written at Warner's
rancho, California, indicating that his arrival had been very important, not
only to the welfare of California, but to its conquest.
The next camp was made at the village of the Maricopas, of whom this is
said: "Notwithstanding a different language, all that has been said of the
Pimas is applicable to them. They live in cordial amity, and their habits,
agriculture and manufactures are the same, as also their religion, which
consists in a simple belief in a great ever ruling spirit. This seems to
have proved a foundation for a most enviable practical morality. Don Jose
Messio is their governor, and their population is estimated as high as ten
thousand. Their dwellings are domed shape wicker work, thatched with straw
or cornstalks, and from twenty to fifty feet in diameter; in front is
usually a large arbor, on which is piled the cotton in the pod for drying;
horses, mules, oxen, chickens and dogs seem to be the only domestic animals;
they have axes, hoes, shovels and harrows. The soil is so easily pulverized
as to make the plow unnecessary."
Here, eight mules which had been abandoned by General Kearny, were picked up
by the Maricopas and delivered to Colonel Cooke, who says:
''The hospitality and generosity of these allied tribes is noted; they feed
and assist in every way travellers who are in need; fortunately, perhaps,
these have been few. I observe them parching grain in a basket, by throwing
in live coals and keeping all in motion, by tossing into the air.
"They have the simplicity of nature, and none of the affected reserve and
dignity characteristic of other Indians, before whites. At the sound of a
trumpet, playing of a violin, the killing of a beef, they rush to see and
hear, with delight or astonishment strongly exhibited. About a half bushel
of corn was procured for each animal, and three days' rations of corn meal."
On the 8th day of January, the battalion reached the mouth of the Gila. Four
or five days were spent in crossing the Colorado, where the command lost a
large portion of their flour.
Pushing on it arrived at Warner's rancho on the 21st, and bore its part in
planting permanently the American flag upon the soil of California.
While General Kearny and Colonel Cooke were on their respective marches to
California, Colonel Price, left in command of some two thousand men, many of
them invalids, at Santa Fe, received information that efforts to excite a
general revolt in New Mexico were being made. A former officer of the
Mexican army was arrested, and a list of all the disbanded Mexican soldiers
was found on his person. Many others, supposed to be implicated, were
arrested, but the two leaders, Ortiz and Archuleta, made their escape to the
south. A full investigation revealed that many influential persons in the
territory were involved in the insurrection, but the prompt measures taken
were effective in crushing it before it assumed proportions which would
render it a menace to the United States. In this revolt, however, the newly
appointed governor and other of the officers appointed by General Kearny
lost their lives, and of this portion of the history of the newly acquired
territory, St. George Cooke says:
"Charles Bent, the Governor, appointed by General Kearny, was an able man; amiable and married to a native of the country, he was considered quite popular; January 14th, he left Santa Fe to visit his family at San Fernando de Taos, near the Pueblo de Taos, about seventy miles north of Santa Fe, and near the top of the great southern promontory of the Rocky Mountains. There, January 19th, the governor, the sheriff, the circuit attorney, the prefect, and two others were 'murdered in the most inhuman manner that savages could devise.' The same day, seven Americans were also murdered at Arroyo Hondo, and two others on the Rio Colorado. The prefect, Vigil, was a New Mexican, and the intention was apparent to murder everyone who had accepted office under American rule."
Immediately upon receipt of this news, Colonel Price commenced an active campaign against the insurrectionists. He bombarded the town of Cañada, one of their strongholds, and also had engagements with the enemy at Embudo and the Pueblo of Taos. The loss to the enemy was so great that they sued for peace, which was granted by Colonel Price on the condition that the leaders of the insurrection should be delivered to him, which was done. Of the fate of these leaders, Colonel Cooke says:
"The principal leaders in this insurrection were Tafoya, Pablo Chavis, Pablo Montoya, Cortez and Tomas, a Pueblo Indian. Of these, Tafoya was killed at Canada; Chavis was killed at Pueblo; Montoya was hanged at San Fernando on the 7th instant, and Tomas was shot by a private while in the guard room at the latter town. Cortez is still at large. This person was at the head of the rebels in the valley of Mora."
The campaign was vigorously prosecuted by Colonel Price, and the insurrection was effectually quelled, with great loss of life to the rebels, and some loss to the Americans. At the end of this chapter describing this insurrection and campaign, St. George Cooke says: "And New Mexico then submitted."
Notes About Book:
Source: History Of Arizona Volume 1, By Thomas Edwin Farish, 1915, Printed
and Published by Direction of the Second Legislature of the State of
Arizona, A. D.
Notes about Online Publication: This manuscript has been ocr'd and heavily
edited. Many of the Native American words have been reproduced as clearly as
online publication will allow us, but not all are exactly the way they were
in the original work. The structure of this manuscript has been changed to
allow better online presentation.
