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Show 286 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN TERRITORY HISTORY department at Santa Fé at the time, give us some idea of the diffculties under which the colonel commanding the department labored, and possibly throw some light upon the very pessimistic reports made by him to the secretary of war and his reasons for making them. His picture of conditions existing in New Mexico, from his standpoint, is anything but flattering. In the latter part of the to lose and everything to gain. The Governor goes into the States in a few weeks, if able to travel. The Secretary goes in to see his family by the mail tomorrow. The governor appoints Alvarez governor and myself superintendent of Indian affairs. Quere? Has he the power to appoint a successor? retary appoints his successor, the governor his. This The Attorney-general resigns to-day. The Prefect has The Sec- right is also disputed. just come here stating that he would have to let the prisoners out of jail because there is nothing to feed them on. /The Chief Justice of the Territory, Baker, has been absent all winter at Washington and although he ‘steams it high’ sometimes, he is by far the best of the Judges on the bench. Although the Associates are steady, sober, moral men, but nothing else, no one has any confidence in their decisions. Even the missionary, Mr. Nicholson, shakes the dust off his shoes in a few days for the States, satisfied that this is not even missionary ground. If, traveling on the road, you meet an American, you put your hand on your pistol for fear of accidents.’’ 209 Report, of Col. E. V. Sumner to the secretary of war, May 27, 1852, Sen. Doe. No. 1, 32d cong., 2d sess.: ‘* Believing that at some leisure moment you would like to see an exact picture of New Mexico, I have drawn up the enclosed paper. The facts cannot be controverted; some of the inferences tioned, but I think every one of them can be maintained.’’ may be ques- This report is one of the most drastic ever written concerning the people of New Mexico. Col. mY Sumner was an eminent officer. He was born in Boston, Mass., in 1796. He received his education in his native city and at the neighboring academy of Milton. He did not attend the West Point Academy. He entered the service of the United States March 3, 1818, with the appointment of 2d Lt. of Infantry. _He served in this regiment in the Black Hawk War, and in various duties, with credit and efficiency, till, in 1833, he was transferred to the 2d dragoons, with the rank of captain. This brought him into active ser vice, on the western frontier, among the Indian tribes. In 1846 he had at- tamed the rank of major in his regiment. The breaking out of the Mexican War provided a new field of duty. He was with General Scott from the landing of the army at Vera Cruz to its arrival at the capital of Mexico, and was distinguished at every point where opportunity for action presente itself. He was wounded shortly after the landing at Vera Cruz and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for bravery. At Molino del Rey where he was con stantly under fire, he maintained his position and held in check a Mexican division of five thousand men, thus contributing materially to the success of the American arms. Sioned For this he was brevetted colonel. In July, 1848, lieutenant-colonel of the 1st dragoons. In 1851, and he was for the commistwo fol- lowing years he was in command of the 9th Military Department, New Mexico, is re a _ - a part of the time acted as civil governor. In 1855 he was promote e coloneley of his regiment. He conducted an expedition against the ae, i Kansas, in 1857. The following year he was placed in command of the pereartment and rendered great service during the border uring the war of the rebellion, on the defect; commissioned Brigadier General and was ae Septem iggs, he was the Pacific, OF NEW MEXICO 287 year 1852 the country was reported at peace, that the Indians, generally, were friendly, that the Navajés and Apaches were quiet and “for the past five months have scarcely committed a depredation.’’ This state of comparative peace lasted a little more than a year. Governor Calhoun left New Mexico for the states in May, 1852, and died en route, in the month of June. At this time the governor, secretary, chief justice, attorney general, district judge, and two Indian agents were all absent from New Mexico. The only civil official remaining was an Indian agent,?!° who was later appointed secretary of the territory. Even though Colonel Sumner reported that the Indians were quiet, still he saw nothing in New Mexico worth keeping, his views of the country and its people and prospects being very unfavorable. He was of the opinion that it was imposwhence, in 1862, he was called into active service in the Army of the Potomac. He took part in the battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, Virginia. He was greatly distinguished by his gallant conduct in the Seven Days Battles which Succeeded the engagement at Fair Oaks and was slightly wounded. He was made major-general of volunteers and brevet major-general in the regular army and commanded the 2d army September, 1862. General Burnside, corps in McClelland’s campaign in Maryland, in He was wounded at the battle of Antietam. He was with in command of the second and ninth corps, forming the night grand division at the battle of Fredericksburg. His division was the first to cross the Rappahannock. In the disastrous results of the day it re- Celved the heaviest losses. He was now appointed to the command of the Department of the Missouri, but on the day of the publication of the order, died suddenly, on the 21st day of March, at Syracuse, New York, where he was sojourning for a brief period. His integrity and patriotism, through forty-four years of public service, entitle him to a high place among the defenders of his country. 4 210 Letter of John Greiner, acting superintendent of Indian affairs, July 31, are forming a league 62: “‘Left in charge of the superintendency of Indian affairs by Gov“nor Calhoun, without a dollar to pay expenses, without any means provided to meet any of the Indians, with only one Indian agent in the Territory and he m the N avaj6 country, with a rumor that the Comanches with the other wild tribes to pounce down upon New Mexico and Texas, with Suspicions that some devilment is afoot among the Pueblos, with rumors of reVolutiong among the Mexicans, with Governor, Chief J ustice and Secretary absent in the States, you Gaiming to be © Territory. can judge acting of my Governor and condition. the Military As soon as the Secretary Colonel Sumner are ambitious takes his post, Sumner of is here governing says he will remove the troops from here, for no other reason than to embarrass the civil authority and to make it apparent that the civil authorities cannot govern the The prisoners who are in jail will have to be turned loose because “xicans. umner will refuse to furnish rations at present and this will breed confusion and disorder. The merchants will be appealed to through the interest they ay i supplying the troops and odium will be attempted to be thrown A thousand vexed and vn authority to accomplish this purpose. eons upon the intricate will have to be settled without any rule to guide or law to govern, what will be the result nobody knows.’’ |