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Show 242 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN The enemy held out manfully, and poured a HISTORY THE terrible fire upon the up, and opened on the church at sixty yards, the enemy still continuing their deadly volleys. After firing several rounds one of the holes, cut with the axesS, was widened into a considerable breach. The six-pounder was further advanced within ten yards— a shell and three rounds of grape were thrown into the opening, and before the echoes had died away, a party of stormers, headed by Lieutenant Dyer, of the ordnance, and Lieutenants Wilson and Taylor, of the Ist dragoons, Sprang through the smoke and falling ruins into the center of the church. after abandoned the refuge in the houses the neighboring hills, men under Captains The American The enemy fled before them, and shortly whole western part of the town. Some took on the east, and others attempted to escape t0 but were mercilessly cut down by the mounted St. Vrain and Slack. troops were quietly quartered in the houses on the western side of the village; during the night of the 4th of February and early the following morning the old men and women of the enemy appeared before Colonel Price as supplicants, bearing their children, their images and crosses, and humbly sued for peace. Their request was granted on condition that Tomas, the Pueblo Indian, Should be delivered up to him. This was done and Colonel Price then returned to San Fernandez with his command. In this e0gagement the Americans many of them mortally. had Seven killed and forty-five wounded, One hundred and fifty of the enemy were WITH MEXICO 243 killed and the number of his wounded was still greater. The prompt action of Colonel Price put an end to the insurrection. All of the leaders except Cortés were dead, and, althou gh the American forces remained for several days at San Fernandez, no other indications of disaffection were discovered, and the comma nd therefore returned to Santa Fé,174 On the day following the murder of Gover nor Bent some traders, on their way to the Missouri river, were captured just as they were assailants, who succeeded in gaining the cover of the wall on the western side of the church. As soon as the Americans had established themselves, they commenced plying their axes in an attempt to effect a breach. A temporary ladder was also constructed, by the aid of which the roof was fired. Captain Burgwin, and a small party, penetrated into the corral in front and endeavored to force the door of the church. They found the attempt fruitless, and, being exposed on all sides to the fire of the enemy, the party was com pelled to retire to their former position, carrying with them their daring leader, mortally wounded. In the meantime several holes had been cut in the western wall, through which shells were thrown by hand, doing good execution. Lieutenant Wilson now came with the six-pounder, and poured a heavy fire of grape into the town. Between three and four o’clock in the afternoon the gun was abu WAR 174Of the leaders openly engaged in this: revolution Tafoya was killed La Oafiada; Chavez fell at Taos. Tomasito was shot in an altercation with at a Fitzpatrick in the guard-room at San Fernandez, and Montoya was hanged at San Fernandez on the 7th of February. It will be rememb ered that General Kearny Soldier named assumed New Mexico to transfer from the allegiance of the inhabitants of their own government to that of the United States. If this could have been done, which it could not under the laws of nations, the revolulonists were all guilty of treason, and tore have been Justified. Colonel Price Mm this light; but a few weeks later he the United States had disapproved a the execution of Montoya would thereseems to have regarded the matter was advised that the government of part Kearny — transferring the allegiance of the _ Captain Burgwin died on the morning of Ing the fact to the adjutant general of the Dragoons Says: ‘‘Having known long and of the official acts of General Mexican citizens. the 7th of February. In reportarmy, Colonel Wharton of the 1st intimately the late captain, I can- hot forbear observing that for persona l worth and professional excellence in his particular arm of the service the decease d has left no superior behind him. The announcement of his dea—th this morning learned —has cast a gloom over the hearts of all at this post who ever knew him professionally or Personally’? This Teport was made from Fort Leavenw orth, April 1, 1847. In the month of June, 1847, among other Indians raiding, infesting, and “arauding on the Santa Fé Trail were the Comanche and Kiowa Indians; also Some of the Delawares from the Missouri frontier . One Delaware, who made . “scape from Taos, after the battle at that place, had been known to have fin the spring and a part of the summer amongst the Comanch es. At Taos th ought desperately against the Americans and is suppose d ®° gallant Captain Burgwin and three or four of the regulars ela in the assault on the church. After the defeat of the Ade his scape from that country, came out to the Arkansas Cheyennes, told them d five Americans. to have killed who were shot insurgents, he river, where he what had happened at Taos, and that in the He used every effort in his power to induce “yennes to join him in a war against the whites, representing them as a ot elawa lett, and the Tuin of all Indians. This argument having failed, Ut one night and started the next morning for the Comanches. cilia was well known in this country by the name of ‘‘ Big he re- his Nigger, displa oe and went to Westport, Missouri, in the summer of 1847, where he Wag killea” tifle known to have belonged to a man by the name of Sharp, who For 18 in eo June oe and on Walnut complete creek account on the Arkansas with all the river. official reports concerning “urrection, : See : Insurrection agaist the Military Government in New SeSsion “ts California, 1847 and 1848, Sen. Doc. No. 442, 56th congress, 1st CLIC |