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Show ae dt tke tale —" s ss ypee — ee ee oe oe ee BE REY ¢>8 8 +2 bball oe Bt oe pea Olt 1 Ot4 om Nm ee end r= yu are de desllemeh ee ee ed . Pistia Pty 6Oe¥ 6-84 MA oh A MO EE eee 44 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY Ce ee peree yee and down to the time of Governor Perez, these Savages ravaged the country with impunity, murdering and destroying just as humor happened to prompt them. It was the custom of this tribe when the spring of the year approached to propose terms of peace to the government at Santa Fé, which the latter never failed to accept. This arrangement enabled the cunning savage to sow his crops at leisure and dispose of the property he had stolen from the Mexicans during the marauding excursions in the winter; when the crop season was Over, upon some slight pretext, hostilities were invariabl y renewed and the game of rapine and destruction played over again.*® In 1835, it seems that Governor Perez, who was also comandanteprincipal, endeavored to reorganize the military forces of the territory, but with very poor results. BATTLE WITH NAVAJ6S — Toward the close of this year, a DEATH OF CAPTAIN HINOJOS corps of militia was organized by Perez, in which were enlisted almost all of the leading men of the territory, so acute had become the condition of affairs with the Navajés and Apaches, for the purpose of carrying 2 oe fi * aPeer ee res cI ’ ner ae ad ee Se ot ay * a a ee ee 2 el *--8 te Oe A nd Sk are het ee ee ee eee the war into the very home of the Navajés. The Indians were well posted as to the purposes and route of the Mexican forces, and having selected a large band of their most valiant warriors, went forth to meet the Mexicans, and, if possible, intercept them in a mountain pass. In this the Indians were successful. The Mexicans, utterly unconscious of the reception that awaited them, soon came Jogging along in scattered groups, indulging in every kind of boisterous mirth. Suddenly the Navaj6 war-whoop, loud and shrill, followed by a volley, threw the Mexica ns into a state of speechless consternation. Some tumbled off their horses, so great was their fright; others fired their muskets at random; a terrific panic ensued, and some minutes elapse d before they could recove r their Senses sufficiently to betake themselves to their heels. Several Mexicans were slain in this “ngagement, if such it may be called, the most Prominent of whom was Captai n Hindéjos, who was in command of a Tegular troops accompanying the volunteers. Don Donaciano of New Mexico, was a sergeant with this Vigil, .afterwards g Overnor expedition.3¢ i Gregg, Josiah, Commer ce of the Prairies, i, p. 289. Gregg, Commerce of th € Prairies, i, p. 290, but fully authenti says of Vigil: c aneedot € may not ‘A very curious be inappropriately inserted here, in which Don José Chaves, Governor of New Mexico Collections of New Mexico Historical Society |