OCR Text |
Show » LORE 4 ee © sem orem Mi, Mint neteaieasitllll a BTa seg inmenas enema Re 316 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN TERRITORY HISTORY this campaign nor of the armistice and treaty of peace, involving indemnification in live-stock for the depredations which had been committed by the Indians, the liberation of all captives who might desire it, and the fixing of bounds which the Indians were not to pass. This treaty 74? was made by Colonel Bonneville, the successor of General Garland in command of the department. At the session of the legislative assembly in 1859 a resolution was passed calling Governor upon information for as to the treaty which had been made by Colonel Bonneville, and asking particularly whether or not AGAINST CAMPAIGNS Rencher THE NAVAJOS the Navajés had complied with its terms. 4 demand was also made for the establishment of military another post in the Navajé and country the organization and equipment of a regiment of volunteer troops was urged. Matters were brought to a crisis in the spring of 1860 when the Navajos boldly attacked Fort Defiance in the night-time, but were driven off without serious loss. This is the only instance where any hostile Indians in New Mexico, since the American occupation, ever attacked a strongly garrisoned post.?*4 243 The Indian agents and the people of New Mexico regarded the treaty as a sad mistake and their views seem to have been well taken. As was the the following Navaj6 custom the treaty was made only to be broken and in year an expedition was made, under Major Simonson, in which it was hoped to foree compliance with the treaty, but he failed and the Indian depredalie One fight was had, near Jemez, on the 16th of October, 12 whic continued. the troops engaged were mounted riflemen; other fights occurred in November and December. J An expedition against the Pinal Apaches was also made in 1859, and November 12-26, there were several engagements, the force of soldiers consist h of detachments of the 1st dragoons and mounted riflemen. Sen. Doc., 2d sess. 36t 244 Report of Captain Shepherd, 3d U. S. Inf. In his report of this attack the commanding 0 e cong., vol. ii, 1860-1861. ing ‘‘The says: Navaj6 Indians made the post on the 30th 0 an attack upon The attack was begun shortly after the moon went down 4 April. four o’clock in the morning, fully half an hour before the break of day, executed with considerable sagacity and skill, being on three sides. The a post, which rises liketook@ . side of thedistance. the eastshort hill ison within the and e got possessionthe ofpost They also firing overlooking session of the ravine on the southwest corner of the garrison where are a of attack " and magazines; and the third and most important point corrals the west side and northwest corner of the post, where they took possession ; garden fences and the wood-piles, and the rear of the sutler ’s ane the In all three of these points of attack, the enemy were enabled to appro the peculiar and extraordinary location © a in the night undiscovered, and Notwithstanding this, it was never deemed proba ; post offers these facilities. that they would ever have the hardihood to attack the post, although ene has been threatened by them ever since the post has been established. OF NEW MEXICO 317 The authorities at Washington, at last recognizing the gravity of the situation, ordered an active campaign, which was made by Colonel Canby during the following winter, 1860-1861. attack was begun by their firing at the sentinel, No. 2, over the corrals and near the ravine; ae immediately afterwards war-whoops and yells of a thousand resounded on all sides; upon this the sentinel retreated, with the other wo men belonging to that post, who were acting as pickets. These three men, on Teaching the end of the commissary store-house, forty yards distant, com- menced firing in return, raking the gate-way of the corrals, and, by doing so, prevented of the enemy from eae composing the taking garrison possession turned the corrals. out promptly The three com- and took their positions alth e oe as indicated in the post orders, No. 17, Feb. 7th, without confusion, : saad the enemy ’s fire appeared to be pouring in from all directions. As “ ee formed, Lieut. Hildt, with part of Co. C, third infantry, attempted to on , ao garden on the west side of the post, but was driven back to the 8 of a Ee on : aig the ae company bake-house and laundress’ quarters by the heavy who were screened behind the fences and wood-piles. fire From the iy the buildings the fire was returned to the enemy. On my arrival ia there appeared to be the heaviest fire, I, without knowing of the at ' Lieut. Hildt, took ten men of this company and proceeded with T . station them at the sutler’s store. The enemy were found in bg ¥ northwest corners of the sutler’s store and outhouses, and had in the TC yt through the window and were robbing the sleeping apartment to cut into one of i tT, irst having driven out one of the clerks and attempting i 7 pomnooms, About four of the party were sent through the front six in party, the of remainder the and store, the 008 back-yard of number after ihe directed to fire from the north corner at the enemy. Immediately . their pieces at the enemy so heavy a fire was poured into the ae moriall y that three of them were wounded, viz: Private Sylvanus Johnson, ¢ Corporal MeComb and Private Gibson, slightly. The party then being wounded. « _ inside the ante-room of the store to re-load. Johnson, on others, the ut never said, ‘I am shot,’ and stepped into the room along with heart. He the through arrow an by died in ab Spoke again, being wounded he ead three minutes. orth Premises W y the assistance As soon as the party had re-loaded, they sallied of the others, who had been ordered hither, the ae cleared as far as observable in the darkness. Seeing Lie - Hildt, ‘cupy men bak a part 0. his was ery, and ee ee West ipple. a a the At this moment, who had come to the point of fire, he was ordered to ocof the company, the log house, twenty yards off, used as from which the enemy had killed and wounded our men. executed, seeing which, I hastened, on a run, to the southpost, where was kept up a brisk fire by Co. E under Lieut. containing th finding that he had secured the magazine, the corrals and stables charging ¢h € animals, and was with the company inside the hay corrals, disPost, es os ae. company, to fearing thei appen in ac from en abrupt hill a ma; e east. the ravine, I next proceeded to the east side of the B in place between the post and the front of the Lieut. Dickinson was directed, in command of the his position, but not to scale the hill till further orders, oe cing shot by our own men on being seen as must necessarily Thence hastening back to the posilon of Co. C ne of sight against the sky. mountain» 1t was found that the enemy were in retreat up the Side, leavin The day commencing to dawn, Lieut. ai nearly dead behind. ildt was the men mountain the ascending On C. Co. ered to pursue with With him he halted and ordes ler © Uted upon by the men in the garrison; whereupon : : “ers Were countermanded. Soon after, there being a little light, the |