USA > California > The conquest of California and New Mexico, by the forces of the United States, in the years 1846 & 1847 > Part 15
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"When Fremont, after meeting with and accepting the sur- render of the Mexican forces, reached Los Angeles, Carson imme- diately returned to his command, and in the ensuing month was
175
KIT CARSON.
again selected to cross the desert, the wilderness, the mountains, and the prairies, to bring news of those far-off operations of its agents to the government in Washington. Leaving the frontier settlements of California on the 25th of February, Carson arrived in St. Louis about the middle of May-making the journey, not- withstanding the inclemency of the season, and an unavoidable detention of ten days at Santa Fé, in a shorter time than it was ever before accomplished. The unsettled state of the country- the war with Mexico, inciting the savage tribes to unusual license and daring-added much to the inevitable hazards and privations of the journey, rendering the most unceasing vigilance necessary night and day ; while the speed with which the party travelled debarred them from the usual resource of travellers in uninhabited regions, and they were fain to resort to the unsavory subsistence of those Hippophagieof the Sierra Nevada; only converting the poor beasts to food, however, when they were travel-worn and ex- hausted.
"Fortunately, the journey was made in its extent without serious mishap, and Carson, with Lieut. Beale, his comrade in the night march to San Diego, and Lieut. Talbot, the young gentleman who led the gallant retreat of the little party of ten through the enemy's midst, a distance of three hundred miles from Santa Barbara to Monterey, are all now in Washington.
"Since Carson's arrival, solely through the appreciation by the President of his merit and services, he has received a commission of lieutenant in the rifle regiment of which Mr. Fremont is the lieutenant-colonel. The appointment was unsolicited and unex- pected-the suggestion entirely of the President's own recognition of the deserts of this man of the prairies-a fact that is most honourable to the Executive, and makes the favour the more gratifying to the friends of Carson."
As soon as Col. Fremont was thus apprised of the arrival and action of Com. Shubrick and of Gen. Kearny, he started, (on 21st March, 1847,) from Los Angeles for Monterey, a distance of near 500 miles, without any attendants but a coloured man and two California gentlemen, Don Jesus Pico, who had been pardoned at
176
COL. FREMONT AND GEN. KEARNY.
San Luis Obispo, and Don Andres Pico, both of whom had per- formed distinguished parts in hostilities against the Americans, but were then devoted to Col. Fremont in gratitude for clemency shown. From this fact is inferred the tranquillity of the country. Col. Fremont, simultaneously with his departure for Monterey, despatched W. H. Russell, Esq., to the United States, who, on his arrival, reported the general tranquillity of the country, and the faithful observance of the capitulation in his own language.
" These terms the Californians had faithfully observed up to the time of my coming away, and California presents a state of satisfied quietness, altogether different from New Mexico, (through which I passed on my return home,) or any other part of Mexico which we have conquered."
Col. Fremont having had an interview with Com. Shubrick and with Gen. Kearny, returned immediately to the City of the Angels, which he did not again leave until his departure for the United States.
Col. Fremont, when informed of the commission from the go- vernment as commander-in-chief, and of the orders with which Gen. Kearny arrived in California, declined, in writing, to obey his military orders, and continued to act as "governor and com- mander-in-chief of California ;" alleging, as the grounds of this refusal, his own previous appointment as governor and commander by Com. Stockton, and the fact that the authority conferred on Gen. Kearny had become obsolete by the force of events not looked to by the government as to happen until after the arrival of Gen. Kearny in the territory. The chief of these events was the accomplishment of the conquest of California, which he alleged had been already achieved by Com. Stockton and himself, before the coming of Gen. Kearny, and the troops under his command.
(It is not the purpose of these sketches to commemorate any controversy between individuals whose gallantry did honour to their country, and to the branch of the service to which each belonged. It is enough here to say that the orders and achieve- ments of every prominent actor have been given with entire im- partiality, and, as far as the sources of information, common to the
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RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES.
public, would admit of, in such narrative form as will, possibly, admit of the reader's determining questionable points for himself.)
On the 31st of May, 1847, Col. Fremont departed from Los Angeles, Upper California, (Col. Richard B. Mason, of First Dragoons, having been left by Gen. Kearny, as governor and commander-in-chief,) to return to the United States. His original engineering party of subordinates, hardy backwoodsmen, trappers, &c., who had encountered with him a series of adventures, un- contemplated on their enrolment for scientific purposes in 1845, returned under his charge. The party travelled with that of Gen. Kearny as far as Fort Leavenworth, where they arrived on the 22d of August, 1847. Here charges of disobedience of orders were preferred against Col. Fremont by Gen. Kearny, and a full and speedy trial asked in return. That trial is now progressing at Washington City.
From Fort Leavenworth, Col. Fremont paid a short visit to St. Louis, Mo., where his fellow citizens waited on him with their congratulations at his safe return, and the brilliancy of his achieve- ments on his distant theatre of action. He was also tendered a public dinner by a large number of the most influential of all parties. This he declined, and in reply thus expressed himself :
"Placed in a critical and delicate position, where imminent danger urged immediate action, and where the principal difficulty lay in knowing full well what must be done, where, in a struggle barely for the right to live, every effort to secure our safety in- volved unusual and grave responsibilities, I could only hope from your forbearance a suspension of judgment until, with full pos- session of the facts, you would be able to determine under- standingly."
And he hastened on to the seat of government.
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OPERATIONS OF GEN. KEARNY.
CHAPTER IX.
Gen. Kearny-Upper California-Orders and Instructions-Departure from Santa Fé-Captain Johnston's Journal of the March-Meets Kit Carson- March renewed -Incidents of the Journey -Visit to Copper-mines- Apachas-Aztec Ruins-Casa de Montezuma-Pimos and Cocomaricopas Indians-Provisions fail-Capture of Castro's Horses, and of the Mail- Junction of the Gila and Colorado-Desert-Approach California-Signs of the Enemy-Letter to Com. Stockton-Capt. Gillespie-The Enemy-Battle of San Pasqual-Death of Captains Johnston and Moore, and Lieut. Ham- mond-Gen. Kearny, Lieut. Warner, . Captains Gillespie and Gibson, wounded-Com. Stockton-Sailors and Marines-The Enemy-Battles of 8th and 9th January-Killed and Wounded-Occupation of City of the Angels-Col. Fremont joins Gen. Kearny-Joint Circular with Com. Shu- brick-Lieut. Col. Cooke and Mormon Battalion-Proclamation of Lieut. Emory and Despatches-Capt. Tompkin's Artillery Company-Col. Steven son's Regiment-Settlements and Towns, &c .- Decree of Gen. Kearny- Government established-Orders to take possession of Lower California- . Gen. Kearny returns to United States-Route homewards-Dead Emi- grants-Arrival-Reception.
GEN. KEARNY, in command of the Army of the West, had been directed by the Secretary of War, Wm. L. Marcy, to proceed across the Rocky Mountains to Upper California, (of which for various reasons it was " deemed important that military possession should be taken,") with what force he could spare, after taking and securing the possession of Santa Fé. The orders and instruc- tions for the performance of Gen. Kearny's part in the attainment of this purpose of "the greatest importance," have been already sketched, as, also, "the prompt and energetic manner in which Gen. Kearny conducted to a successful termination the very diffi- cult and distant enterprise, "* of the capture of Santa Fé and New Mexico.
Having made all his arrangements at Santa Fé, Gen. Kearny
* Report of the Secretary of War, Dec. 5, 1846, accompanying President's Message.
179
CAPT. JOHNSTON'S NOTES.
prepared as soon as possible, in accordance with the wishes of the executive, to set out on another difficult and distant enterprise.
The route to Upper California, recommended by his topo- graphical engineers, and determined upon by Gen. Kearny, was to proceed from Santa Fé down the Rio Grande about 200 miles, thence to strike across to the Gila, and to move down that river near to its mouth, then to cross the Colorado-and thence, keeping near the Pacific, to Monterey.
On the 25th of September, 1846, Gen. Kearny set out on his long and exceedingly interesting journey. On the next day he had left Major Sumner's dragoon camp, thirteen miles from Santa Fé, and was en route with 300 United States dragoons for California. The dragoon horses were all sent back to the United States, and the command all mounted on mules, and the wagons drawn by the same hardy animals and by oxen, as it was not expected the country through which they were about to pass would afford the proper sustenance to the high-mettled chargers of the First Dra- goons. Indeed, the grass had long been consumed for many miles. around Santa Fé, and forage had been brought with great difficulty and expense from a distance, or the horses were picketed in dis- tant places where they might find pasture.
The route of Gen. Kearny has been most ably and interestingly illustrated by the "rough notes" of his late lamented and accom- plished aid-de-camp, Capt. A. R. Johnston, of the First Dragoons, who was unfortunately killed on the 6th December, 1846, at the battle of San Pasqual. They extend down to a few hours before his death, and imbody a great variety of curious and interesting facts. It is from these notes, that the latest and most authentic account of the protracted and fatiguing march of Gen. Kearny, through an important region of our continent, is to be found. From these "notes" it appears that Gen. Kearny continued his route through many villages of the New Mexicans, along the margin of the Rio Grande-down to Albuquerque, ("a town of some 6000 inhabitants"-elsewhere said,) where he crossed the Rio Grande, the ford being about two and a half feet deep. The inhabitable portion of New Mexico is represented as confined
180
MEETING WITH KIT CARSON.
to the immediate borders of the streams. The bottoms on the Rio Grande, down to this point, about one and a half mile wide, and, elevated but a few feet above the level of the rapid and regular streams of water, are rudely irrigated, but might, by proper appliances, be made to support a population ten times greater than the present number. The rains of this country all fall on the mountain-tops, which afford abundant evidence of vol- canic action in their mineral substances. From Albuquerque they marched through a country generally destitute of wood, and altogether of hard grained timber, and with excessive heat, until October 8, when an express reached them on the right bank of the Rio Grande, informing the General that the Navahoes had attached the village of Palverdera, twelve miles down the river. The alcalde had sent for help where they were still fighting. Capt. Moore's company was forthwith sent in defence of the Mexicans, and orders were despatched back to Col. Doniphan to make a campaign in the Navaho country. (The same which he so ably executed.) Capt. Moore next day reported that the Navahoes, over 100, had driven off quite a quantity of stock, but that, as both parties appeared to be afraid, no wounds were re- ceived. On the 5th they reached Secoro, where they learned that the best road to the river Gila was directly out from the Rio Grande at that place.
On the 6th, a meeting took place, which is best described in Capt. Johnston's own words: '
" After marching about three miles, we met Kit Carson, direct cn express from California with a mail of public letters for Wash- ington. He informs us that Col. Fremont is probably civil and military governor of California ; and that about forty days since, Com. Stockton, with the naval force, and Col. Fremont, acting in concert, commenced to revolutionize that country, and place it under the American flag ; that in about ten days their work was done, and Carson, having received the rank of lieutenant, was despatched across the country by the Gila, with a party to carry the mail. The general told him that he had just passed over the country which we were to traverse, and he wanted him to go
THE APACHES INDIANS.
181
back with him as a guide ; he replied, that he had pledged him- self to go to Washington, and he could not think of not fulfilling his promise. The general told him he would relieve him of all responsibility, and place the mail in the hands of a safe person, to carry it on. He finally consented, and turned his face to the west again, just as he was on the eve of entering the settlements, after his arduous trip, and when he had set his hopes on seeing his family. It requires a brave man to give up his private feel- ings thus for the public good ; but Carson is one such. Honour to him for it! Carson left California with 15 men-among them, six Delaware Indians-faithful fellows. They had fifty animals ; most of which they left on the road, or traded with the Apaches'; giving two for one. They were not aware of the presence of the American troops in New Mexico. They counted upon feeling their way along; and, in case the Mexicans were hostile, they meant to start a new outfit and run across their country. When they came to the Copper-mine Apaches, they first learned that an American general had possession of the territory of New Mexico. The Apaches were very anxious to be friendly with the Ameri- cans, and received them very cordially ; much to their surprise. The column moved on ten miles, and encamped under a beautiful grove of cotton-woods ; and the General issued an order reducing the command to 100 men, taking C and K companies with him, and leaving B, G, and I companies under Major Sumner's com- mand, in the new Mexican territory. The officers to march with the expedition are Gen. Kearny, Captains Turner and Johnston ; Major Swords, quartermaster ; Assistant-surgeon Griffin ; Lieut. Warner and Emory, Topographical Engineers ; Capt. Moore, Lieu- tenants Hammond and Davidson, First Dragoons. Each company has three wagons, with eight mules in each ; and the whole of the other companies put under requisition to supply C and K compa- nies with the best outfits. It went hard with some of the company commanders to part with their fine teams-the accumulation of many years in their companies ; but the public service being para- mount, they submitted cheerfully. The Apaches came to us to- day, and gave us four young men as guides."
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182
PASSING THE WATER-SHED.
Next day, they took leave of their companions in arms, and on the day after had gone near 200 miles down the Rio Grande, from Santa Fé, but the stream was still unfit for navigation. They were then near the commencement of the Jornada del Muerto of 100 miles without water, (subsequently passed over by Col. Doni- phan.)
The mountains at this point of their route appeared to become more lofty, and the " back-bone" of North America, to have been split open along here, and all the igneous rocks to have been thrust up in general parallelism, without making a continuous range along this stream, from which the waters of the Rio Grande run directly south, while those of the Arkansas, the Gila, and other streams flow east and west.
On the 9th, the mules began to give out in the teams, and the general determined to remain in camp, and send to Major Sumner, for mules to take back the wagons and other property not needed in packing. Carson reported the country as worse rather than better in front. Next morning they had frost and ice in camp. Two New Mexicans here brought mules for sale, representing they had them from the Apache Indians in trading. As this was . contrary to the laws of the territory, Gen. Kearny confiscated all the mules they said they had gotten from the Apaches and sent them off. They said they knew it was contrary to law, and were willing to submit. The general gave them a paper, stating what he had done, and the reasons for it. They then asked for license to trade with the Apaches, which was granted them, and de- parted.
On the 13th, Lieut. Ingalls arrived with the pack-saddles, and the mail containing general orders Nos. 30 to 36, and letters which required answering. Here the door was closed to future communication with the United States, as they passed into the Apache country. On the 15th, they took a final departure from the Rio Grande, and its. rugged gravel hills and harsh bottom- grass, tasting of salt, and ascended, at once, near 200 feet, to an elevated plain, deeply cut with the cañons of the streams. In this day's march, they saw a cañon (or deep cut) of fifty feet deep
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ABANDONED COPPER MINES.
and twenty wide, affording a passage for a stream, which, for a short distance, was a fine leaping mountain stream, with over- hanging trees, and fish playing in its waters, but then sank in the sand and all became arid again. Entered now upon a more plea- sant country, as they approached the lesser peaks of the Sierra de los Mimbres, covered with trees, shrubbery and grass. A view from a peak near their camp is thus described :- "The view presented was very grand ; the valley of the Rio Grande, widening to the south as far as El Paso, and twenty to thirty miles wide, covered with grass, lies below ; the peaks of mountains standing around in the distance, like the frame of a picture. It is evident at a glance, that the lower part of New Mexico is by far the most valuable."
The visit to the copper mines claims, from its interest, insertion entire, as also does the next day's notes.
" October 19 .- Visited the copper mines, and examined the old excavations. The veins of sulphuret of copper run through a whitish silicious rock, like the blue veins running through white marble; they vary in their knees, but traverse the whole sub- stance. The rock breaks easily ; and the pick appears to be the only tool used formerly. Occasional veins of pure copper, very yellow from the quantity of gold it contains, traverse the whole mass. I saw in the rollers, lying over the mine, masses of the blue limestone, supposed to be cretaceous ; the water had filled many of the abandoned chambers of the mine ; in others, the flies had perched themselves in great numbers to pass the winter. The fort which was built to defend the mines, was built in shape of an equilateral triangle, with round towers at the corners; it was built of adobe, with walls four feet thick. The fort was still in tolerable preservation ; some remains of the furnaces were left, and piles of cinders ; but no idea could be formed of the manner of smelting the ore, except, that charcoal, in quantities, was used. Several hundred dollars' worth of ore had been got ready for smelt- ing when the place was abandoned. McKnight, who was for nine years a prisoner in Chihuahua, made a fortune here, and i bandoned the mines in consequence of the Apache Indians cut-
184
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
ting off his supplies. At one time, they took eighty pack-mules from him, (authority, Carson.) The mine is very extensive, and, doubtless, immensely valuable. Water is abundant, and pasture fine, and many lands which will furnish breadstuffs, by cultiva- tion. Wood is very abundant, and particularly in the vicinity. Leaving the copper mines, the rocky masses soon show iron in the greatest abundance ; then, going west, we came to the blue limestone, standing vertical, ranging south, and bent so as to lie level west. Through the seams of this limestone, some igneous rocks had been interjected, and occasional masses of iron ore, similar to that seen on the Blue and False Washita rivers. Then we came to a mountain mass of the same rock as of the copper mines. From this, westward, we came upon an amygdaloid of . all sorts of igneous rocks. The hills were not very lofty, so that, gradually, we passed the great back-bone of America without per- ceiving it-the dividing ridge between the Atlantic and Pacific. The general set out to march fifteen miles to San Vicentia Spring ; but finding no grass, he came on, expecting to find water-a Spanish guide said at three leagues, but it proved to be fifteen miles further, where we all arrived after night. Before we left the copper mines, some Apaches showed themselves ; and as we came off, they rode upon a hill, made a smoke, and as we got opposite them on the road, commenced calling out to us, 'not to be afraid, but come on.' We replied, 'It is you that are afraid. Why don't you come on ?' They then approached, but motioned us all back but the guide, Carson, until he had a talk and satisfied them. Some of our mules gave out to-day. Three Apaches came to camp-distance, thirty miles.
"October 20 .- The Apaches came to us this morning, as we did not start until late. Red Sleeve came with fifteen or twenty per- sons, some women ; they ride small, but fine, horses. The high roads leading from this mountain to Sonora and California, show whence they came ; they are partly clothed like the Span- iards, with wide drawers, moccasins, and leggins to the knees ; they carry a knife, frequently in the right leggin, on the outside ; their moccasins have turned-up square toes, their hair is long, and
185
THE APACHES INDIANS.
mostly they have no head-dress ; some have hats, some fantastic helmets ; they have some guns, but are mostly armed with lances and bows and arrows, their lances pointed with stone points. Carson remarked, yesterday, that he never knew how fine a wea- pon the bow and arrow was, until he had them fired at him in the night ; at that time they are more sure than firearms, for they are fired by the feel rather than the arms. The vegetation westward from the copper mines grows thinner until we get to the Sierra del Buno, which is a mountain, covered black with forest growth ; the pine is found here, live oak, three kinds, the gama and other fine grasses, some resembling timothy. A rain storm passed by the heads of the Gila last night ; it is the first we have seen since we left Santa Fé ; although high winds and heavy lightning beto- kened distant storms once or twice before, we have not yet been sprinkled upon. Trading mules is dull work, with the Apaches. Red Sleeve, Black Knife and Lasady, are the three principal chiefs of the Apaches on the west of the Del Norte. Somez is the head-man of those on the east of the Del Norte. There is another band about south-west of this ; on the Panqatong moun- tain is another band. The Apaches near Taos are of the same stock with these-their whole people have not been together for a long time. The general gave Red Sleeve and two other chiefs papers to show he had talked with them, and that they had pro- mised perpetual friendship with the Americans ; they seemed all anxious to conciliate the Americans, and they did not forget the Shawnees ; the copper mines are in their country, which lies north of the 32º of north latitude. Marched at 12 M., and de- scended a narrow, winding valley with a brisk running stream, two or three feet wide, meandering through it, with a few trees occasionally, and very tall grass. We found two small patches where the Apaches had made, corn ; the hills were high on each side, composed of rugged masses of volcanic rock, and very few trees. We followed this creek for five miles, and fell upon the famous Gila, a beautiful mountain stream, about thirty feet wide, and a foot deep on the shallows, with clear water and pebbly bed, fringed with trees and hemmed in by mountains ; the bottom
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186
DESCENDING THE GILA.
not more than a mile wide. The signs of beaver, the bear, the deer, and the turkey, besides the tracks of herds of Indian horses, were plain to be seen on the sand. We came down the river about two miles and a half more, about south, and encamped at the head of one of its cañons, preparatory to a long journey over rocky hills to-morrow. Northward from where we struck the river, is an open country, lying west of a very high mountain, -
called the Gila Mountain, in which it is said the Salt forks also head. Our camp was well supplied with fine fish from the river, resembling, a little, the black bass ; its flesh was not firm, but very delicate. The California quail abounds in the bottoms. A new sort of sycamore tree made its appearance here ; it has a bark pre- cisely like our own sycamore tree, or button-wood, and a leaf resembling the maple ; the leaves are now yellow with the frost, as they are of the most deciduous plants. Found some of the fruit of the black walnut of this country ; it is about half the size of our black walnut, and not rough on the outside as ours, but shows the veins of the seams of the outer bark; the roses, the hops, mosquits, and poison-oaks looked familiar, and some other plants known in the United States, names unknown. Just as we were leaving camp to-day, an old Apache chief came in and ha- rangued the general, thus :- ' You have taken Santa Fé ; let us go on and take Chihuahua and Sonora; we will go with you. You fight for the soul, we fight for plunder, so we will agree per- fectly : their people are bad Christians, let us give them a good thrashing,' &c."
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