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Show 228 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY THE joyment of the luxuries and hospitalities which almost caused them to forget the hardships they had endured, they remained for several weeks, without the occurrence of any incident of extraordinary moment. Doniphan and his army evacuated the city on the 25th of April, 1847. In the tattered uniforms which they had worn from St. Louis and Fort Leavenworth, Colonel Doniphan and his men presented themselves before General Zachary Taylor at Walnut Springs on the 26th of May, having marched over plain and desert from the capital of the Internal Provinces. They were desirous of seeing more service under the command of Taylor, but he was unable to gratify their wishes. Here they left the artillery which had been brought from Santa Fé, and taking with them the captured guns, they marched to the Rio Brazos, where they embarked for New Orleans. Here they were mustered out of service and returned to Missouri, having traveled, during their absence, more than six thousand miles; nearly two thousand miles more than the famous march of Xenophon and the Greeks in their retreat from Asia. The retreat of Xenophon and the expedition of Cyrus against his brother Artaxerxes form the only parallel to Doniphan’s expedition recorded in the history of the world.1® Colonel Sterling Price of the 2d Missouri volunteers, who remain- body of their lancers reforms and prepares to renew the attack — but — they are soon sent after their flying companions. We are about congratulating our selves on a victory, when— bang goes a cannon, and a ball bounds amongst us, knocking the saddle blanket off the mule of one of our company, from which he has this instant dismounted. A cloud of white smoke curls gracefully up- ward from a hitherto masked battery to the right upon yon high mountain, as shot after shot falls among us. Two of our six-pounders are at once placed in one of the deserted entrenchments and commence a well-directed fire, which Up charges Mitchell at the head soon dismounts one of the enemy’s pieces. of his company, and takes the position; yet down, with headlong speed, dashes an officer, waving a Mexican a moment him— flag — one he would and roe arer.Colonel Mitchell’s Roderic . Numerous skirmishes occur Weightman dashes on with the of our gunners the while as pursuit cavalry colonel takes toward points his cannon 7 but his horse have been no more, the is himself the city. place is recognized, the standard of Looking resistance. over his shoulder, he sees his howitzers halted on the hillside instead of following him, and galloping back, he shouts ‘On with that battery! If I knew who had The officer who had done so said not a word. you I’d cut him down.’ _— But the battle is won. And gradually we assemble on the battlefield. The a are fast disappearing in the distance, baffling pursuit.’’ - 163 Connelley, W. E., Doniphan’s Expedition, at pages 427, 428, 429, os 1, 482 and 433 March gives the full report of this battle as made by Donipham, 4, from the City of Chihuahua. WAR WITH MEXICO 229 ed in command of the troops at Santa Fé after the departure of Kearny and Doniphan, was not a DISAFFECTION AMONG THEINstrict disciplinarian. He was a good HABITANTS OF NEW MEXICO officer, however, and displayed both ability and energy in the field. Relaxation and excesses were frequently witnessed among the troops under his command and subordination and good order were not much in evidence. The wholesome restraints imposed by General Kearny were gradually disregarded.’** During the fall of 1846, and the ensuing winter, the soldiers '** were employed in the construction of the fort on the hill commanding the town, known as Fort Marcy, in honor of the head of the war department. There was a great deal 164 Colonel Price was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers, July 20, 1847. He was a descendant of Lord Baltimore and was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, September 14, 1809. Very little is known of his early life. He was a graduate of Hampden-Sidney college and came to Missouri in 1830, settling in Chariton county. He was a man of fine character. He was elected to the legislature and in 1842 was speaker of the house of representatives. He was elected to congress in 1844 and resigned his seat to accept a commission as colonel of the 2d Missouri volunteers, which regiment was raised by him for the war with Mexico. Missouri, and in 1852 for four years. and Creek battle led the Confederate and Pea of Iuka, was familiarly After the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo he returned to was elected governor of the state, which office he held He rose to the rank forces of major-general with great Ridge. On the 20th day and later on was in the known as ‘Old Pap skill in the Confederate at the battles army of Wilson’s of September, 1862, he fought the battle of Corinth. In Missouri he Price’ and was beloved by all his men. After the Civil War he went to Mexico where he sought service with the emperor Maximilian. He returned to Missouri and died September 29, 1867, at St. Louis. j _ 16 Ruxton, G. F., Adventures in Mexico, refers to the Americans and soldiers in Santa Fé at this time as ‘‘the dirtiest, rowdiest crew I have ever seen collected together. Crowds of drunken volunteers,’’ says he, ‘‘filled the streets, brawling and boasting, but never fighting. Mexicans, wrapped in serapes Scowled upon them as they passed. Under the portales were numerous monte-tables, surrounded by Mexicans and Americans. Every other house was & grocery, as they call a gin or whiskey shop, continually disgorging reeling, drunken men, and everywhere filth and dirt reigned triumphant.’’ Bancroft, H. H., History of Arizona and New Mezico, p. 439, says: ‘“For a time indeed, a greater degree of vigilance and discipline was observed; but the former with its accompaniments of severe punishments, habitual distrust and oppressive regulations, rapidly destroyed the confidence and friendliness before Shown by large portions of the native population; while the latter soon became relaxed, and the soldiers more turbulent and unmanageable than ever. The New Mexicans were regarded as at heart deadly foes, and were treated accordingly. ’ : Ruxton, G. F., Adventures in Mexico, p. 197, writing of his experience in passing the night with the family of a Taos Indian, says: the family seemed ‘‘The patrona of rather shy of me at first, until, in the course of conversation, she discovered that I was an Englishman. ‘Gracias dé Dios,’ a Christian will sleep with us tonight and not an American.’’ she exclaimed, |