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Show 412 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN NEW HISTORY graph was put into operation and Fort Sumner was abandoned. During the administration of Governor Mitchell occurred the fatal encounter between Chief Justice John P. Slough and Colonel William L. Rynerson. Judge Slough had made some very bitter and slurring remarks concerning Rynerson, who, at the time, was a member of the legislative assembly from Dofia Ana county. These were reported to Rynerson who immediately proceeded to the Fonda, or Exchange hotel, called upon Judge Slough, demanding a retraction. Instead of giving him any satisfaction Slough endeavored to draw a derringer which he carried. At the same moment Colonel Rynerson drew his own weapon, firing and killing Slough instantly. This affair occurred December 15, 1867. A coroner’s jury, after a full investigation, fully exonerated Rynerson, who was also afterward tried in the district court and acquitted.3?8 During the administration of Governor Mitchell, Brigadier-General Christopher Carson passed away. He died at Fort Lyon, Colorado, May 23, 1868.3%° he practiced his profession in the courts of the territory; he assisted in the He served as a memprosecution of the murderers of Governor Charles Bent. from Taos county, in 1852, and was speaker of the house oo ° legislature of representati ves of the 2d and 34d sessions of the legislature. From 1861 to He died at Ocaté, New Mexico, in 1875. attorney. was United 1866 338 heWilliam Logan States Rynerson was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, a few the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, in 1836. tis wow to California late in the fifties, walking across the plains over a portion of the Oregon trail. He engaged miles from im mining in California and also read some law. When the lst and California volunteer infantry was organized at San Francisco, he enlisted He was made first sergeant of Company C of the regiment, January 1, 1862. was promoted to second lieutenant February 5, 1862. In April of the same year he was promoted to a first lieutenaney of Company B, the same regiment. oe adjutant - captain. pointed assistant 9, 1864, August until of the regiment when he was ap- Early in 1865 he was transferred to the staff as captain and quartermaster of volunteers and served until he was mustered out in 1866. He then settled in Mesilla, Dofia Ana county, later moving to Las Cruces. He was admitted to the bar and practised his profession in the third district until the time of his death. representatives and was later elected a New Mexico assembly. He was the party for the delegateship in congress of mseee of district attorney for his He served as a member constitutional convention of 1889. ca f eo Ape (Kit) Carson was of the house of member of the legislative council of the nominee of a faction of the republican He received the apbut was defeated. district several times and was a member He died at Las Cruces, July 4, 1893. in born state the of Kentucky the in year Later his parents moved to the state of Missouri, where, at fourteen years of age, he was apprenticed to David Workman. He ran away from Workman and Joined a caravan bound for Santa Fé, in the year 1826, the party being in charge ok aes, i s & r south mines. oS “ Vrain. The caravan reached Santa F% in the fall of that year the Tollowing two years Carson traveled as Chihuahua and west to the Gila river. Carson’s first Indian fight was while over New Mexico, going 48 He worked at the Santa Rita under the leadership of Ewing MEXICO DURING THE CIVIL WAR 413 Mitchell’s administration was far from harmonious. He was succeeded in 1869 by William A. Pile, afterward minister to Venezuela. The feature of Governor Pile’s administration ADMINISTRATION OF was his alleged sale of a large portion of the WILLIAM A. PILE Santa Fé Archives as waste paper. His action in this regard raised a stormy protest at the time. In truth he did dispose of a great many of these ancient documents, but it is not generally believed that they were actually used Young. A party of American trappers and traders had been driven into the settlements, with the loss of most of their property. Young organized an expedition for the purpose of punishing the Indians and trading and trapping in the northwest. On this expedition fifteen Indians were killed, the whites losing none of their own number. During this trip Carson distinguished himself in many ways. The party returned to Santa Fé in 1830. For the following four years he led the life of a mountaineer and trapper and there were few parts of the entire Rocky Mountains from Montana to New Mexico that were not visited by Carson. From 1834 to 1842 Carson was ‘‘hunter’’ for the Bents. He was expected to supply the fort on the Arkansas, which had a force of forty men, with fresh meat by his rifle. He had no trouble in so doing, for he was a dead shot and game was plenty. During this time he married an Indian girl, who died within a year after the marriage, leaving him a baby daughter. In 1842 he returned to Missouri, visiting St. Louis, where he met Colonel John C. Fremont, who engaged him as guide for his first expedition. In 1843 Fremont again sent for Carson. This time he was required to lead the expedition to the Pacific coast. They reached Salt Lake in August, turning thence to the northwest, making their way across the arid regions to Oregon, and thence southward through the Sierras to the valley of the Sacramento. The passage of these mountains was made in the depth of winter; the men were compelled to eat their saddles and the mules were eating each other’s tails before the valley was reached. The mountains were as new to Carson as they were to Fremont, but the former’s skill was invaluable in many emergencies. He saved Fremont’s life. The party reached Sutter’s mill March 6, 1844. Carson had known Sutter years before in Santa Fé. Under their very feet were the golden sands which five years later made California famous. The expedition returned and reached Fort Bent in July, 1844. Carson now determined to establish a ranch, but had barely begun when Fremont again sent for him to guide another expedition to California by a more direct route. He accepted and in 1846 participated in the taking of California from the Mexicans. Carson had been sent east with despatches; coming across by the southern route he met General Kearny and command; Kearny ordered him to return to California, sending the despatches on by another express by way of Santa Fé. Having reached California and the vicinity of Los Angeles and San Diego, Kearny met the Mexicans in force. Kearny ordered an attack upon the Mexican advance, the command being under Captain Johnson, with CarSon as second officer. Johnson’s party of fifteen was reénforced by Captain Moore with twenty-five men. Moore ordered an attack upon the enemy’s center, hoping to create a division and create confusion in the ranks of the enemy. The American loss in this engagement was thirty killed and wounded. The Americans were compelled to retreat. The following morning the march toward San Diego was resumed. Towards nightfall the Mexican attack was renewed. The Americans retired to a hill a short distance away. The situation was desperate and a council was held as to the best course to pursue. Carson took part in the council and volunteered to try and pass through the lines of the |
