History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 70

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890

USA > Arizona > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 70
USA > New Mexico > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 70

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651

DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

recognize these men as citizens of the United States, but the controversy lasted many years. 24 The dele- gates seated were men of fair abilities, and perhaps did as much for their constituents as anybody could have done, which was very little. Congress took but slight interest in New Mexican affairs, and was con- tent for the most part with making the annual appro- priations called for by the organic act, with grudging concessions of other small sums for special purposes, and with much larger payments of Indian and mili- tary expenses. A résumé of congressional action is appended in a note. 25

In an earlier chapter I have recorded the national boundary survey, and noted the fact that the United

2 On Otero vs Gallegos, see U. S. Govt Doc., 34th cong. Ist sess., H. Mis. Doc. 5, 15, 114; H. Rept 90, with voluminous testimony, arguments, and lists of voters. The vote was 6,914 to 6,815, making G.'s majority 99. The com. reported that O.'s majority was 290. There were about 1,400 of the disputed Mex. votes. O. alleged, among many other frauds, that in one pre- cinct the priest of S. Juan received and read all the votes, rejecting all that were not for G. On the other hand, the bishop and his French clergy worked for O. In 1862 a committee reported against extending citizenship to some 2,000 Mexicans of the class alluded to.

2º See U. S. Statutes, 1850 et seq., per index; 1850, acts organizing terri- tory and approp. $20,000 for public buildings and $5,000 for library; 1851, acts approp. $34,700 for ter. govt, $18,000 for Navajo Ind., and $135,530 for volunteers of 1849; 1852, acts approp. $31,122 for govt; 1853, acts approp. $32,555 for govt, and $10,000 for Ind service; authorizing legisl. to hold extra session of 90 days; authorizing employment of translator and clerks, sessions of 60 instead of 40 days, payment of code commissioners; 1854, approp. $31,620 for govt, $50,000 for public buildings, roads $32,000, and Ind. service $45,000; appointing surveyor-gen. and donating lands to settlers; increasing salary of gov. to $3,000, and judges to $2,500; attaching Gadsden pur- chase to N. Mex .; authorizing payment of civil salaries for 1846-51 under Kearny code; and establishing a collection district; 1855, approp. for govt $36,500, includ. $2,000 for archive vaults, Ind. service $52,500, surveys $30,000, Texas boundary $10,000, raising gov.'s salary to $3,000 (?); 1858, approp. for govt $33,000, Ind. service $85,000, road $150, creating a land district confirming pueblo land grants, 1859, approp. for govt $17,000, Ind. $75,000; 1860, approp. for govt $23,500, Ind. $50,000 capitol $50,000, confirming private and town land grants; 186I, approp. for govt $20,500, Ind. $50,000, roads $50,000; act attaching all north of lat. 37° to Colorado; 1862, approp. for govt $33,500, includ. $5,000 to print laws; Ind. $50,000; 1863, approp. for govt $31,500, Ind. $25,000, U. S. depository $2.800; re- establishing collection dist and facilitating col. of revenue. There are some slight appropriations for deficiencies, etc., and for surveyor-gen.'s office, not mentioned in this note; also some additional Ind. approp. which pertain to N. Mex. in connection with other territories; and largest of all the military expenditures not given with the territorial appropriations. In the Cong. Globe, and house and senate Journals of the successive sessions, through the index, may be found some congressional discussion, etc., on bills passed and defeated.

652

TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

States and Mexican commissioners agreed upon an initial point on the Rio Grande, which gave the Mesilla valley to Mexico. Before this agreement, it appears that a few settlers from Doña Ana, a little farther north, had entered the valley; and after it a Chihuahua colony under Rafael Ruelas had colonized the district in 1849-50 as Mexican soil. While I find no evidence, as I have before stated, that any other line was ever agreed upon down to the date of the Gadsden treaty, which settled the whole matter in 1853-4, yet there was a senate report against the Bartlett line, and the appropriation bill forbade the expending of money on the survey until it should appear that the line was not farther north of El Paso than it was laid down on Disturnell's map, the presi- dent accordingly declining to authorize the expendi- ture.26 In New Mexico there was much feeling on the subject, involving a popular determination not to give up Mesilla. Governor Lane, who it seems also engaged with Bartlett in some written controversy, by a proclamation of March 13, 1852, asserted the jurisdiction of New Mexico over the disputed tract. I must confess that I have not been able to find any satisfactory original evidence as to what ensued. Lossing, the historian, says that "in 1854 Chihuahua took armed possession of the disputed territory. For a time war seemed inevitable between the United States and Mexico." Newspapers of the time also . contained some warlike rumors, with very little defi- nite information. We have seen that Bartlett was probably wrong in the original concession; but ob- viously Mexico could not be blamed for regarding the agreement of the commissioners as final; and while there was a question whether the United States was bound by the agreement-especially in view of the refusal of the surveyor to sign it-it was clearly a matter to be settled by national negotiation as it was settled by the final treaty. The only troublesome

26 U. S. Govt Doc., 32d cong. 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc., i., pt i., p. 50-5.

653

EXPLORATIONS

point left in later years was respecting the validity of the Mexican colony grants made after 1848, and therefore not protected by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.27

The explorations of this period for railroad and other purposes, such as those of Sitgreaves in 1851, Whipple in 1853-4, Parke in 1854-5, Beale in 1857, and Ives in 1858, though pertaining more or less to New Mex- ico, have been sufficiently noticed with references to the authorities in the annals of Arizona.28 In 1851 Captain John Pope made a reconnoissance from Santa Fé to Fort Leavenworth by the Cimarron and Cedar Creek.29 The Texan explorations of captains Marcy and McClellan in 1852 involved some matters pertain - ing to different parts of New Mexico, and the routes leading to that territory from the east.30 In Decem- ber 1853 Major J. H. Carleton, with a detachment of 100 men, made an exploring expedition from Albur- querque to Casa Colorada, Abó, Quarra, and Gran Quivira.31 The railroad survey of the thirty-second parallel from the Red River to the Rio Grande was accomplished by Captain Pope in 1854.32 Secretary

27 The most important record of the whole matter that I have seen is A Review of the Boundary Question; and a vindication of Governor Lane's action in assuming jurisdiction over the Mesilla Valley. By Fernandez de Taos. Sta Fé, 1853, 8vo, 32 p. See also Lossing's Hist. U. S., 515; Cozzens' Marvellous Country, 47-8; S. F. Alta, Dec. 31, '52; Jan. 7, 53; S. F. Herald, Apr. 29, July 8, 31, '53; Eco de España, Sept. 10, '53. In the Review, p. 21-2, are noted certain acts of the Mex. govt bearing on the boundary before 1848, not cited in my earlier chapter, as follows: July 6, 1824, act of Mex. cong. creat- ing state of Chihuahua, and making the northern boundary lines drawn east and west from El Paso; 1836, official rept of Gen. Conde, and map making the line cross the river at 32° 30' and thence N. w. to 32º 57', so as to include the copper mines; 1847, amendment of constitution of Chih., making the bound 32° 57' 43". These acts, as will be seen, furnish some testimony on both si.les, though the right of Chih. to change its boundaries was with much rea- son denied.

28 See chap. xix .- xx. of this volume.

29 Warren's Memoir, 63. Parke's map of N. Mex. ordered printed in 1852. U. S. Govt Doc., 32dl cong. Ist sess., Sen. Jour. 295. See Fræbel, Aus Amerika, ii. 138-88, 369-403, for a descriptive narration of 1852-3.

30 Marcy (R. B.) and Mcclellan (G. B.), Exploration of the Red River of Louisi- ana in the year 1852. Wash., 1853, 8vo, 320 p., illust., maps, and tables, in U. S. Govt Doc., 32d cong. 2d sess., Sen. Ex. Doc. 54. Also Pac. R. R. Repts, xi. 64.

31 Smithsonian Report, 1854, p. 296-316.

32 Pope (John), Report of exploration of a route for the Pac. R. R. near the 32d parallel of north lat. from the Red River to the Rio Grande, by Brevet Capt.

654

TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

Davis' book contains an interesting narrative of his journeyings to and in New Mexico in 1854-5, though these are not in the nature of explorations.83 In 1859 Captain Macomb made an important exploration of the north-western portions of the territory, and of the adjoining parts of Colorado and Utah.34

John Pope, 1854, in Pac. R. R. Repts, ii. no. 4, 5, 4to, 185, 50 p., with diary and scientific appendices. See also Warren's Memoir, 79-80. In U. S. Govt Doc., 34th cong. 3d sess., H. Ex. Doc. 2, p. 212-16, is Capt. Humphreys' report of 1856 on Capt. Pope's survey of the Pecos country and Llano Estacado, with a view to boring artesian wells.

33 Davis' El Gringo, passim.

34 Macomb (J. N.), Report of the exploring expedition from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the junction of the Grand and Green rivers of the great Colorado of the West. In 1859, under the command of Capt. - With geological report by Prof. J. S. Newberry, geologist of the expedition. Wash. 1876, 4to, 147 p., plates, and fine map. A new map of N. Mex. by Surv .- gen. Clark in 1862 is noticed by the newspapers as superior to any of earlier date.

CHAPTER XXVI. INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS. 1851-1863.

NINTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT-COMMANDERS-FORCE-FORTS-GOVERN- MENT POLICY-LACK OF SYSTEM-NUMBER OF INDIANS-WARFARE- PLUNDERING AS A PROFESSION-SUMNER'S EFFORTS-TREATIES BY LANE AND MERRIWETHER-LATER CAMPAIGNS-CARLETON'S POLICY AND SUC- CESS -- SUPERINTENDENTS AND AGENTS-CONGRESSIONAL ACTS-RESERVA- TION EXPERIMENTS-UTES AND JICARILLAS -- AGENCIES AT ABIQUIÚ, TAOS, AND CIMARRON -- SOUTHERN APACHES-MESCALEROS AT FORT STANTON-THE MIMBRES-CONFEDERATE INVASION-THE PUEBLOS- LAND GRANTS -- THE NAVAJOS-THEIR WARFARE ON NEW MEXICANS- TREATIES MADE TO BE BROKEN-CHRONOLOGIC SKETCH-THE WAR OF 1858-63-CARSON'S CAMPAIGN.

NEW MEXICO in 1851-63 was the ninth military department of the United States. It was commanded in 1851 by Colonel John Monroe ; in 1851-2 by Colonel E. V. Sumner, 4th artillery; in 1852-4 by Colonel Thomas J. Fauntleroy, Ist dragoons; in 1854-8 by General John Garland, 8th infantry; in 1858-9 by Colonel B. L. E. Bonneville, 3d infantry;1 in 1859-60 by Fauntleroy again; in 1860-1 by Colonel W. H. Loring; in 1861-2 by Lieutenant-colonel E. R. S. Canby, 10th infantry ; and in 1862-3 by General James H. Carleton, 6th infantry and California volunteers.

The force under these commandants down to 1858 was from 1,400 to 1,800 men; and later from 2,000 to 4,000, distributed generally at from twelve to fifteen posts or forts, of which the most important were forts Union, Marcy, Defiance, Craig, Stanton, Fillmore, Bliss, and Sumner. The military headquarters was

1 Who also commanded temporarily in '56. See Ritch's Legis. Blue-Book, and the miscel. records on which this chapter rests.

(655 )

656

INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.

successively at Santa Fé, Fort Union, Alburquerque, and again at Santa Fé from 1852. The troops in the first years were the 1st and 2d dragoons, nine com- panies; 3d infantry, ten companies; and 2d artillery, two companies. In 1856-7 a regiment of mounted rifleinen was transferred from Texas for a time, and two companies of the 8th infantry were added to the force. In 1860-1 other companies of the 5th and 10th infantry were added, and three regiments of New Mexico volunteer cavalry were called into service. There were 58 companies in 1861, and in 1862-3 the California volunteer regiment served in New Mexico, some of the other troops, however, having been with- drawn.2

The duty of the army, maintained at a cost of about three million dollars a year on an average, was-ex- cept during the Texan invasion connected with the war of the rebellion in 1861-2-to afford to the New Mexican people that protection from their Indian foes

2 See annual reports of the sec. war, with tabular statements of posts and distribution of forces. Ft Union, Mora co., was established by Col Sumner in '51, as headquarters of the dept. At the same time a military farm was attempted on Ocate Creek, which after a few years proved a failure. Ancient Sta Fé, MS., a col. of items from late N. Mex. newspapers. Forts Union and Marcy, at Sta Fé, were continuously garrisoned, though sometimes by a small detachment, especially Ft Marcy. Cantonment Burgwin at Taos and Alburquerque are mentioned in all the reports. Col Sumner in '51 found the southern troops posted at Socorro, Doña Ana, El Paso, and S. Elizario; but he moved them to two new posts, Ft Conrad-later called Ft Craig- being established near Valverde, and Ft Fillmore some 40 miles above El Paso. In '58, 634 citizens of Doña Ana protested against the proposed abandonment of Ft Fillmore. It is named in the report of '60, but not in that of '61. Ft Webster, at the copper mines, was abandoned in '54, though three comp. were stationed there in '53. Parke's Report, 12. Rayado, 40 m. from Taos, and Abiquiu were garrisoned in the early part of '51, also Cebolleta in that year, all temporarily. A post in the Navajo country was estab. in '51, and from '52 was known as Ft Defiance, just across the line in Arizona. At Las Lunas on the Rio Grande was a garrison in '53-7. Ft Massachusetts in '53 was some 85 m. north of Taos, beyond the limits of N. Mex .; and at or near the same site stood Ft. Garland from '56. Ft Stanton on the Rio Bonito, and Ft Bliss near El Paso, figure in the reports from '54-5; and Ft Thorne, at the upper end of Mesilla valley, established at the same time, was abandoned in 1859. Old Ft Wingate is said by Ritch to have been estab. in '57 and moved in '60. Camp Loring on Red River is mentioned in '58. In '59-60 Hatch's rancho on the Gallinas, and Beck's rancho, as well as the copper mines, were military stations. Ft Lyon, Ft Wise, and Camp Cameron are new names of '61, there being also a force at Abó Pass and Hubbell's rancho, and Ft Faun- tleroy being mentioned in the Navajo country. And in 1862 were established Ft Wingate on the Gallo, Ft Sumner at Bosque Redondo on the Pecos, and Ft West at Pinos Altos.

657

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

which had been promised by General Kearny in 1846, and by the treaty of 1848. No such protection was in reality afforded, and Indian depredations were as constant and disastrous, or more so, as was claimed by many, as in any corresponding period of the Mexican régime. Though the commanders were for the most part competent men, and the soldiers fought bravely in hundreds of toilsome campaigns, the force was in- adequate, and no definite consistent policy was adopted by the government at Washington. In general terms there was no radical difference of opinion as to the course that should be taken. The savage tribes must be exterminated, which would require a large military force, and which nobody really favored; or they must be fed at government expense, which would cost a large amount of money, though less for some years than the policy of extermination; or a combination of the two methods should be adopted, including the employ- ment of an adequate military force to chastise the hostile bands, forcing them to make treaties and settle on reservations, together with strict vigilance and a proper supply of food, until the Indians could be made to understand the advantages of peace. The merits of this last plan, though there were minor variations of opinion respecting details, were clear enough to all in the territory and at the national capital; there were no very formidable obstacles in the way if men and money could be supplied; but the government pre- ferred to let matters drift in the old way, spending its money in driblets, and accomplishing practically noth- ing until the last years of this period. The system, so far as any definite plan was followed, was to send out detachments from the different posts in pursuit of marauding bands, often unsuccessful, but often killing a few Indians and recovering all or part of the plun- der. Occasionally an expedition was organized on a larger scale, to wage war on some tribe or district, generally resulting in a treaty, kept by the foe for only a very brief period. Hardly anything was done HIST. ARIZ. AND N. MEX. 42

658

INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.

to remove the Indians' idea of past years and centu- ries, that warfare for plunder, with occasional intervals of peace and gifts and recuperation, with alternate victory and defeat, was to be the main industry of themselves and their descendants, as it had been of their ancestors. And practically, the Mexican popu- lation was to a considerable extent under the influence of the same idea. Outrages perpetrated upon the Indians were hardly less frequent than depredations upon the people. Civil authorities, the military, and the citizens were often at variance on almost every phase of Indian affairs, these differences being the natural result of the prevailing policy, or lack of pol- icy, and no party, white or Indian, except the national government, being much to blame. The people on several occasions furnished volunteers to aid in the military campaigns; sent out, with partial authority from the legislature and sometimes against the wishes of federal and military officers, many badly managed and ineffective private expeditions; and were always clamorous for more soldiers, especially for license to organize volunteer troops for the United States ser- vice. They also urged congress in frequent memorials to pay for the past services of volunteers, and for property stolen and destroyed by the Indians since 1846; but no attention was paid to these demands, founded in right, though often exaggerated as to amount, during the period covered by this chapter.

The number of wild Indians-that is, excluding the 7,000 peaceful and friendly Pueblos-in New Mexico was about 17,000; that is, 10,000 Navajos in the north-west, 2,000 Utes in the north, and 5,000 Apaches occupying the rest of the territory, though these num- bers were usually overstated in reports of the earlier years, and though it must be noted that hostile bands from abroad-Apaches from the west and south, Utes from the north, and especially Comanches, Kiowas, and other natives of the plains from the east-often extended their raids into New Mexico. There were

659

CONSTANT WARFARE.

three or four years of the thirteen covered by this chapter which were regarded as years of peace, though none which were entirely free from depredations; but in the other years, all or part, especially of the Nava- jos and Apaches, were on the war-path. Much that has been said of Indian warfare in Arizona may be applied to that in New Mexico; but here the Indians as a rule did not kill for the sake of killing, as did the Apaches of Arizona and of southern New Mexico in later years, but only incidentally in the prosecution of their profession as plundering raiders. Women and children captured became servants or practically slaves, many of those taken by the Indians being sold to dis- tant tribes. In this constant warfare the Indians were believed to be more successful than their adver- saries in their capture of live-stock, while in the mat- ter of captives the citizens had the best of it. There are no definite or trustworthy records of casualties except for brief periods, but the number of whites killed was probably from 200 to 300, and the property lost may have amounted to a million dollars. I make no attempt to catalogue depredations or campaigns, since I have neither space, nor in most cases sufficient data, for a complete record. I shall first present a general and brief view of military operations, then a similar résumé of Indian affairs in the territory as managed by the civil authorities; and finally the different tribes and sections will be treated successively, with somewhat more of detail in certain phases of the subject.

Colonel Sumner assumed command in July 1851, with instructions to select new sites for military posts, to act in concert with the superintendent of Indian affairs, to inflict severe punishment on the savage foe, and to effect a reduction in military expenditures. In all these things he was successful to a certain extent, if one or two of the usual Navajo campaigns and tem- porary treaties may be regarded as the severe chas-

660

INDIAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.

tisement ordered. In the latter part of 1852 the country was reported at peace, the Indians for the most part friendly, and, particularly the Navajos and Apaches, 'completely overawed."3 This state of com- parative peace lasted a little more than a year, during which time a little progress was made by the civil department. But this progress cost too much; methods were not approved, and promises not kept; so that in 1854-5 almost all the bands were again on the war-path. General Garland and his subordinates made active campaigns in all directions, especially against the Mescaleros, Jicarillas, and Utes; a vol- unteer force was called into the service; treaties were made by Governor Merriwether-not destined to be approved; and thus for 1856-7 a kind of precarious peace was patched up.4 Then in 1858 serious troubles arose with the Navajos, and the war, with its many campaigns under the direction of Garland, Bonne- ville, Fauntleroy, and Canby, was continuous in 1859 -61, as will be more fully recorded a little later. At the same time the southern Apaches took advantage of the occasion to renew their raids; the Mormons

3 Rept sec. war, and Ind. Aff. Rept, 1852; Sumner's reports and other corresp., in U. S. Govt Doc., 32d cong. 1st sess., H. Ex. Doc., ii., pt i., p. 125- 36; 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc., i., pt ii., p. 25-7. The corresp. on Ind. depred. and minor expeditions indicates that many of the latter were based on false or exaggerated reports, very little being really accomplished by this desultory warfare. The establishment of new posts has already been noticed; also Sumner's discouraging view of future prospects, prompting a recommendation, adopted by the sec. war, to abandon the territory for economic reasons. The reduction of expenses did not please the people, not only because it indicated less earnest operations against the Ind., but because the disbursement of military funds was in a sense the country's main dependence. The Sonorans accused the Americans of waging war on the Mex. territories through the Indians, selling them arms and ammunition and buying captives. Sonorense, March 28, Dec. 5, 1851.

4 Brackett's U. S. Cavalry, 133-8, gives some details of campaigns made by Sturgis, Ewell, Walker, Bell, Davidson, and Fauntleroy. See also reports of Gen. G. and other officers, in U. S. Govt Doc., 34th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc., i., pt ii., p. 56-72; and Merriwether, in Ind. Aff. Rept, 1854, p. 166-8. The treaties were made in June-Sept. 1855. Casualties in '54 were estimated at 50 killed or captured, and $112,000 worth of property lost. A memorial of the legislature asked for payment for these losses, and also for $20,000 to pay the volunteers. Though in '56-7 most of the bands were reported as observing the treaties, the Navajos gave much trouble, and Brackett, p. 171 et seq., mentions several expeditions, chiefly in the extreme south. Claims before congress in '58 for property lost in past years amounted to $516,160.

661

MILITARY OPERATIONS.

were thought to be tampering with the Utes; troops were brought in from abroad; and the volunteers were somewhat irregularly reorganized for active service.5

In 1861, when affairs were in this condition, and the war still in progress, an invasion of the territory by Texan confederates, an episode of New Mexican annals to be treated in the following chapter, caused the troops to be withdrawn from their Indian cam- paigns for other service deemed more urgent; and for over a year, while the Utes and Jicarillas remained friendly, the Navajos and other Apache bands were left free to devastate the settlements, without opposi- tion except such as the citizens in small parties could offer. It was alleged that the southern Apaches and Texan tribes were incited and aided by the confed- erates; and however this may have been, the latter certainly had no motive for affording protection to their foes. In 1862, when the invaders had been driven out, and fears of further confederate operations had for the most part disappeared, General Carleton, succeeding Canby in September, his army being com- posed largely of Californian and New Mexican volun- teers, turned his attention most energetically to the Indian foe. For the first time a definite policy was adopted. Carleton's idea, and a very sensible one, was to chastise the savages thoroughly, and show them that there was to be no more trifling. No treaties were to be made, and no terms accepted ex- cept unconditional surrender as prisoners of war. In the field no quarter was to be shown except to women and children. At Bosque Redondo, on the Pecos, Fort Sumner was established, and here all the Navajo

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History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 70

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company Number of Pages: 890

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890