OCR Text |
Show 318 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN TERRITORY HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO 319 In this campaign the regular troops were aided by a large foree of volunteers, including many Pueblo and Ute Indians. The raising and employment of the volunteers caused a great deal of confusion. Governor Rencher called upon Colonel Fauntleroy for arms with which to equip the volunteer troops, which had been organized pursuant to an act of the legislative assembly for the purpose of waging This Colonel Fauntleroy refused to do. war upon the Navajés. Later on troops having come from Utah and the expedition pe been organized, the people, in a meeting at Santa Fé, called on the governor to raise a regiment of volunteers. He refused, and at al- other meeting it was resolved to take the matter in their own hands, although Governor Rencher, in a proclamation, issued in August, warned the people against such action. The action of the people was very annoying to Governor Rencher and he placed the blame upon Don Miguel A. Otero, delegate in congress, who had declared, in a speech in congress, that the people of New Mexico were fully capable of taking care of themselves in Indian matters. During the years 1859 and 1860, according to the report of the Indian agent for New Mexico, nearly three hundred citizens had been killed by the Indians ; In one locality alone, on the Rio San Juan enemy were seen in force on the hills on the north and near the a pir C was ordered to be formed for the purpose of attacking them. rie ae formed it was fired at from the crest of the hill on the east side. rai a Lieut. Hildt to deploy the company immediately. Both Captain a ae Lieut. Hildt were then ordered to clear the heights to the e a ie Dickinson was thereafter immediately ordered with Co. B to scale ieee hill on the east side; and after a short but brisk fire the enemy were nf she from their position, whence they had hitherto fired with impunity, owing ip : oohe oieast protection afforded by the rocks. On ascending the crest of the hill shot and seen to be carried away as Co. B scaled the crest of the rocks on the east side of the garrison. Blood was discoverable in several places, not in the same line, about Co. C wood-pile, and which was traceable up the side of side I observed a cloud of dust rising from a hollow behind the hi : . : sent north, and in which direction Captain Johns and Lieut. Hildt we bie, * ; with Company C; therefore about twenty men, with 1st Sergean rr Tight Co. B, were ordered to join Captain Johns. Not being hose yet to see well, some of Captain Johns command began to a a directly on the right and under Lieut. Hildt; consequently this ae their had to halt. This unavoidable delay enabled the enemy to get away — after, enough horses much better than they otherwise could have done. A few ee * thet Judging it to be sufficiently light, Captain Johns’s command, thus ee while, and numbering about 100 men, was ordered to advance, and ee . flee in the enemy got within fire, which caused them all in that eaptnee ith his confusion, leaving one of their number, a chief, dead on the sro ies pony standing at his side. This command pursued the enemy the wane had further and they returned bringing to the post the dead chief, but t ie him. O10 to be killed the return east side. on account of his of this party, Lieut. Whipple, wildness Company B and was the difficulty withdrawn of securing from i its pe the after with Co. C, could have pursued the ene! “put he dawn as they retreated west up the mountains south of the nT wisely refrained, considering that it would leave the post too a the pur The conflict from the beginning at four o’clock until the return ' those be parties, continued about two hours. Our loss proved fore stated. Although there was a brisk fire with fire-arms by to be on yo yet it is the ore eae gut Somewhat singular suing that all the injury was done by arrows. he ceeded in robbing the sleeping apartments of everything which Mr. Kennon and Mr. McBride, had, their loss being about $100 each. The dead chief is known to have lived the Se Chelly, had several wives and was a large propertyabout holder of both Sheep. The Indian left dying on the ground behind the sutlet young and robust looking, and, although shot through Bail clerks, P clothing 2 nyon de none an store was ne nart 0 the neck, vn fo the spine torn away, lived for some minutes. One Indian, en of darkbadly wounded, must have been dragged up the mountain under Te was hess, as the marks of his draggling feet were readily traced. One the mountain. Blood was also discoverable on the crest of the rocks on the east side of the post; and there is reason to believe that the pursuing party under Captain Johns wounded one or more in the pursuit, besides killing the chief. The loss of the enemy must have been very heavy, judging from the fact of their leaving two of their number on the ground which is well known is never done if it can possibly be avoided; what injury that portion of the attacking force suffered who began the attack and were stationed in the ravine through which flows the rivulet of the post, could not be ascertained. Was evident, however, that a large force was there and were driven away by Lieut. Whipple. In fact the attacking force on all sides, could not be Teckoned at less than a thousand warriors, consisting probably of the whole A available force of the tribe, and may, therefore, have been two thousand. veptive Navaj6 woman brought here to-day by a party of Mexicans reports that the Indian dragged up the mountain-side, before spoken of, was killed, aud that he was a nephew of Sarcilla Largo; that besides the two left dead on the ground here, six have already died and that more were so badly wounded 48 tO be unable to survive. It should be borne in mind that all the attacks ave been from the beginning growing bolder, better planned and executed, and this too, in the face of the command being on the alert and prepared. the Navajés are perfectly aware that this garrison is now not more than half the war began on the 17th of January last. Sixty-three as when “8 Strong nen have been discharged, and died since that date; and Company G, 3rd inwithdrawn to the Ojo del Oso; and every mail wagon takes down oo are service, the in while men, The men. a ‘wenty-five more discharged nl and prompt in their courage, but appear glad to get away when their The duty is harassing, and danger is imminent, and both are a xpire. There has not been the slightest exaggerated coloring in ba oe increasing. mich port® Of the condition of things here with the Indians, in fact, they I shall not fail at all times ght Possibly be accused of being understated. “aril a better system of defense than was thought necessary before this been here would know how deficient ihe anyone who : but, defense, aplace er excepthas by ever considerable force. The post ought me oe until a lasting peace is beaten into these Indians, who a — we are afraid of them, judging doubtless, of our inaction - no assum} “ta he the offensive. At each return of planting and green-corn season, peaceable, but their peace will end unless they be well chastised. It 7 23rd of “en my opinion all along and was so expressed in my report of the ” January last that if two more infantry companies had been sent here |