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Show RF) eS F ¥ ¥ fo Bat A ee Dot ee x LEADING FACTS OF NEW HISTORY that an name would have come down to us had it not been narrathe us to ved preser tion expedi his in humble soldier e becaus lives do Corona . ations explor early tive of those Castafieda wrote his Relacton. Se MEXICAN More than two hundred Franciscans labored for the conFrayles Marcos de version of the Indian in New Mexico. Niza and Alonzo de Benavides are remembered because they made reports in writing. General Zebulon Montgomery Pike will live forever as the American officer whose publication of the account of his travels first attracted American attention to the Spanish Provinces. Others have been leaders of great armies, have conquered great nations; the crimson glories of great battles have come to military men in every age. Xenophon and his Ten Thousand are among the immortals. Xenophon wrote the Anabasis. Alexander W. Doniphan was as great as Xenophon, and yet the story of his exploits and the deeds of his One Thousand Missourians would scarce be known had it not been that John T. Hughes, a soldier in his regiment, wrote Domphan’s Expedition. In the Nineteenth century New Mexico produced abler men than Don Pedro Bauptista Pino. He lives where greater men are forgotten. He wrote the Hxposicion. Pattie was only a trapper and mountaineer, no better qualified than hundreds of others who pursued the same calling. He will live while others are not mentioned. He wrote a Personal Narrative. Captain William Becknell, William Bent, Ceran St. Vrain, Dr. David Waldo, and Dr. Josiah Gregg were early traders over the Santa Fé Trail. Gregg wrote the Commerce of the Prairies and achieved immortality. General Christopher Carson was no more courageous than dozens of his type upon the frontier; and yet he lives PREFATORY NOTE when Bent, Bridger, and Wootton are only memories. is the idol.of the romance magazine writer. xl He General W. W. H. Davis was ‘‘one of them literary fellows’’ who will live when even the names of abler secretaries of New Mexico cannot be recalled. He wrote El Gringo, and the Spanish Conquest of New Mewico. There have been many governors of New Mexico. General Lew Wallace, soldier, governor, would have been forgotten, but so long as the English language is spoken the Far God and Ben Hur will be read by the children of men. In the military history of the great southwest we find the names of soldiers whose exploits in the service of their country entitle them to everlasting fame. Only one or two have followed the example of General Xenophon. General Nelson A. Miles will live where countless capable captains who gave their lives to civilization are forgotten. General Miles has written several books. New Mexico owes something to the memory of those who have contributed to the productive scholarship of the State. To the living, to Bandelier, Prince, Lummis, Hewett, and Read, a grateful people should render acknowledgment. Men who accomplish things the country always produces, but they have all been careless of what record has been made of their achievements. Our pioneers, soldiers, and state-builders owe something to their ancestors, to posterity, to history, to patriotism, and to themselves. There are many now living in New Mexico whose duty it is to make record of important events which have occurred during the past century. This can best be done by contributing papers to the Historical Society of New Mexico. With some pleasure the writer makes mention of the fact that all of the illustrations in this book are by New Mexicans. He tenders his thanks to Messrs. Clarence Batchelor, of Las Vegas, K. M. Chapman, of Santa Fé, and W. R. Walton, of Alburquerque, for their assistance in reproducing |