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Show THE WAR WITH MEXICO 201 for New Mexico. On the 31st day of July, at Bent’s Fort, General Kearny issued the following proclamation, which was distributed as the army proceeded: ‘‘The undersigned enters New Mexico with a large military force, for the purpose of seeking union with and ameliorating the condition of its inhabitants. This he does under instructions from his government, and with the assurance that he will be amply sustained in the accomplishment of this object. It is enjoined on the citizens of New Mexico to remain quietly at their homes, and pursue their peaceful avocations. So long as they continue in such pursuits, they will not be interfered with by the American army, but will be respected and protected in their rights, both civil and religious. All who take up arms or encourage resistance against the government of the United States will be regarded as enemies, and will be treated accordingly.’’ At this point Kearny despatched Lieutenant De Courcey, with twenty men, to the Taos valley, for the purpose of ascertaining the disposition of the inhabitants in KEARNY SENDS DETACHMENT that portion of New Mexico, with TO TAOS VALLEY instructions to report to him en route. This officer joined the column August 11th, on the Ponil, a stream in Colfax county, bringing in a number of prisoners who gave exaggerated accounts of the Utes St. Louis, Missouri, July 11, 1875. He graduated from Princeton in 1841. He was a law student in the office of Lewis Marshall and began the practice of his profession in St. Louis. He came to the Rocky Mountain region, a health-seeker, in 1845; he joined the Army of the West under Kearny and marched overland to Santa Fé, where he aided Colonel Doniphan, Willard P. Hall, and Dr. David Waldo in the preparation of the code of laws promulgated by Kearny. The latter appointed him United States attorney and in this capacity he drew the indictments for treason found against certain New Mexicans engaged in the revolution of 1846-1847. In 1847 he returned to MisSouri, Colonel Sterling Price, then in command at Santa Fé, having abolished the office of United States attorney. During the Civil War, Blair was a strong Union man. Shortly after the battle of Wilson’s Creek he was commissioned a& major general by President Lincoln; he participated in the Vicksburg campaign in which he commanded the second division of Sherman’s corps. He was twice elected to congress. He commanded the 17th army corps and marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. In 1866 he was appointed a commissioner of the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1868 he received the democratic nomination for vice-president. From 1871 to 1873 he was a senator of the United States, having been appointed to the position by the governor of Missouri. He was a man of great courage. On the day of his funeral the city of St. Louis was black with mourning. General Sherman characterized him as ‘‘one of the truest of patriots, most honest and honorable of men, and one of the most courageous soldiers this country ever produced.’’ |