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Show 4 oa re wwse-= _ ed a & 4% 2 +2. SS Se se : ee rn ee ree * eeon diet eee ee ee Pe ed ee oe Po el ee el Pe fee eT Pe Pa ee os ae ated + Peer 7 ee Ce eed oPrper * ani * ye Pe Pas Oo ca é ee I re Ca ‘%.* =. . etat.eer Py Tt be ) ee Cee OS Pedal et ee ae Pe ee en ee ee FNS el Me Cs Bp rd LJ Si Sd * * ee eet ee ee ee ee er ee ee ee aa ee PT 2 ae dt diel 2 Sat FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY TERRITORY During his first incumbency of the office Colonel Viscarra waged Se a ee | LEADING 96 ek i a] war upon the Navajés who were constantly making raids upon the He led the settlers in the Rio Grande and adjacent settlements. forces of the territory in person in all of his campaigns, as did also each one of his successors in office. In the month of February, 1823, he made a treaty with the Navajés, by which captives were restored; the Indians, however, were unable to pay for the many robberies of sheep and cattle which had been committed by them, as they claimed that large numbers of their tribe were dying of hunger owing to A limited time was given a failure of crops in the Indian country. them within which to make settlement for their many robberies. During the administration of Captain Bartolomé Baca more troubles were had with the Navajés and Apaches, but owing to the pronounced activity of the executive they INDIAN FIGHTS — PAT- were soon suppressed. The system of treatTIE’S EXPERIENCES _ ties and bribes was in vogue and the majority of the tribes found it to their interest to remain on peaceful relations with the Mexican people. In 1824, a Kentuckian by the name of Pattie, an Indian trader and trapper, happened to be in Santa Fé with a large company of frontiersmen when news came to the capital of a raid by the Comanches upon the people living upon the Pecos river, east of Santa Fé. It was claimed that a number of settlers had been killed by the Indians, including two Americans; that one American and four Spanish women, one of whom was the daughter of a former governor of New Mexico, had been taken prisoner and were being carried away by the Indians. The whole city was soon filled with great excitement. The narration of the facts in connection with this affair as given by Pattie is very interesting. He says?® that early in the morning following the news of the raid by the Indians the governor came . ar camp and asked if the Americans would not aid in the at vempt to recapture the prisoners who had been taken. Pattie and and a sé the elder congress sengr en gress, oo ie — Sandoval. j Sel, Ar Don Antonio: José : Chavez who served as governor from succeeding Governor Manuel Armijo, was a near relative ° Chav ba grandson of governor Chavez served as delegates | om eothe Four territory of sNew Mexico; Fran o Perea in the J. Francisco Chav rez, in the 39th, 40th and cisc 41st congresses Mariano pia r, 5 Pattie, Personal diy and Pedro Perea in the 56th congress. ’ Governor Ursula, who in middle life married Governor Antoni? Narrative, pp. 78-80, vol. i OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 27 his companions readily agreed to comply with the request of the governor as they were anxious to be on good terms with the authorities and the people, and very shortly the entire force of Americans set off with the Mexican command, the latter consisting of approximately four hundred men, all mounted. Within twenty-four hours the place where the murders had been committed was reached. From the trail left by the departing Indians it was apparent that they were in considerable force and were moving rapidly in the direction of the plains in eastern New Mexico. All night long the rescuing party pressed forward and as they proceeded found the Indian fires still smoking. At eight o’clock on the morning of the 15th of December, 1824, the trail being very fresh, the command proceeded with great rapidity and by noon came in sight of the Indians advancing toward a low gap in the mountains. The governor called a council of the officers and it was unanimously determined that Pattie be given command, the Mexicans promising obedience to him im every respect. Through the gap in the mountains flowed a small stream. The Indians were now entering this gap; immediately a plan was formed by Pattie, by which the Mexican force was commanded to keep in the rear of the Indians. The Americans took a circuitous route screened from the hostiles by a small table-land and endeavored to gain unobserved a small hollow in advance of the Savages. The Mexicans were to close in on the Indians immediately upon hearing the discharge of the American rifles. The Americans succeeded in reaching the hollow, in which they formed themselves Into half circle, the horses being tied in the rear. Every man was ordered to prime his gun; the right flank was ordered to fire first, the left reserving The Indians its fire, surrounding thus giving the the prisoners were right a time to re-load. to be killed if possible by the first discharge, thus preventing the immediate murder of their captives. An hour and a half the Americans waited in their ambush for the approaching savages. Finally they came in sight, the captive women, without any clothing, driving a large drove of sheep and horses. Immediately following were the Indians. When within about forty yards, the order to fire was given. The women Immediately ran toward the Americans; three were pierced by the lances of the savages; the cry now raised was, ‘‘Save the women!’’ A son of Pattie and another young man sprang forward, rescuing |