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Show 372 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY PUEBLO The army crossed the Rio Grande to the east side early on the morning of November 5th, and directed its course to the north. Good order was maintained on the march, the different divisions keeping in sight of each other, and about sunset a point called Estero Largo was reached, being in the vicinity of some salt marshes. Camp was made here for the night. From this camp smoke could be seen rising in different directions, being the signal fires of sayages who were watching the movements of the Spaniards. The following day the army proceeded to Robledo, meeting with no opposition from the Indians. At this point began the march across the Jornada del Muerto, where for a distance of ninety miles water is not found except in small lakes, fed only by rain water. The governor now ordered a forced march of two toa point seven leagues from Fra Cristobal, days and one night the northern termi- nus of the Jornada. From this point all the soldiers were sent forward except a small camp guard, and the following day the army was in camp on the banks of the Rio Grande. Here the troops were paraded and the friars offered up solemn thanks to God for the safe passage of the desert. The following day the march was continued to Contadero. At this poi ut signs of the Indians were seen, and a force of forty men and some Indians were sent out to recon- noiter. Otermin led this force in person. They crossed the river and visited the pueblo of Seneci.**t It had the appearance of having been sacked. The church and convent were in ruins. The clappers had been taken from the bells in the church and cemetery, and the crosses in the latter and upon the plaza had been burned. In the vestry the head and crown of a crucifix and some ‘‘holy stones’’ were found lying upon the ground, having been desecrated by the Apaches. A small brass cannon which had been used for 881 The pueblo of Seneci was better known than any of the Rio Grande pueblos. The most southerly church and convent were constructed here in 1626. Saint Anthony of Padua was made the patron of the place. So says Benavides in his Memorial, p. 16, and Vetancurt, in his Cronica, p. 309, also makes the same statement, but Says it was founded in 1630. The founders of the mission were Fr. Antonio de Arteaga, a Capuchin monk, and Fr. Garcia de Zufiiga. Benavides was an eye-witness of the events at this time as he was custodian of his order. He left New Mexico in 1628, the mission and church must have been established before he left for Mexico. so Here the grape was first introduced in New Mexico, for Vetancurt says, Cronica, P309: cl ON Y una huerta, donde cogié10 uvas de sus vifias in y haciai vino 1 que repartla & los demas conventos.’’ REBELLION AND INDEPENDENCE 373 the defense of the church, prior to the revolt, had been removed Fr. Ayeta ordered the crosses found and thrown into the cemetery. in the houses, the head and crown of the crucifix, and all the wooden ornaments of the altar to be collected, burnt, and the consecrated stones thrown into the river, so as to prevent their falling into the The bells were taken from the steeples and hands of the Indians. the cannon from the cemetery and placed in the wagons; this all accomplished, the pueblo was set on fire and entirely consumed. That night they re-crossed the river and joined the army at Contadero. From the 26th day of November to the 4th of December, Otermin visited the southern group of pueblos, in addition to Senect, those of San Pascual, Socorro, Alamillo, and Sevilleta. Every one of these pueblos had been abandoned by the inhabitants, the Piros, and all the ranches along the river had been pillaged. Hverywhere were seen traces churches were burned, of the revolt against Christianity; the estufas had been the images were broken, rebuilt, showing a revival of the pagan rites of the savages, and these in turn had also been destroyed, probably by the Indians from the north or by the marauding Apaches. Leaving the army at the pueblo of Sevilleta, Governor Otermin, with a force of sixty men, proceeded to the pueblo of Isleta, where he arrived early in the morning, and seeing that the pueblo had not been THE ARMY REACHES ISLETA abandoned, he began at once his preparations for an assault. He divided and began the attack simultaneously his command from into four parts as many points. The Indians were prepared and when they saw the Spaniards approach- ing, the war-cry was raised. Their resistance was feeble. The Spaniards easily secured possession of the plaza and being told by Otermin that every man would be put to death if they did not sur- render at once, they laid down their arms. The pueblo contained 1511 inhabitants, all of whom formally renewed their allegiance, and many children were offered for baptism. The Spaniards found that the church and convent had been burned and the body of the church had been used as a corral for stock. Otermin caused the entire population to assemble in the plaza, where he reprimanded them severely and gave them wholesome advice. They denied being |