USA > New Mexico > Historical sketches of New Mexico : from the earliest records to the American occupation > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
294
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
tion of the foreign arrival to Governor Armijo at Santa Fé. The next day Cooke's party passed through Tecolote and San Miguel, in both of which places crowds of in- habitants turned out to see the strangers, and on the morning of August 12th arrived at Santa Fé. They found the city crowded with soldiers and citizens, who had come in to form a volunteer army to resist the American approach, and had some difficulty in forcing their way through the throng to the front of the Palace. Here they halted and were met by Captain Ortiz (Mayor de Plaza), who carried news of their arrival to the Gov- ernor. That official they found in the large hall of the Palace (which we are told then had a carpeted earth floor), seated at a table and surrounded by military and civil officers. Cooke described him as a "large fine look- ing man," dressed in a blue frock coat, with a rolling collar and general's shoulder-straps, blue striped trou- sers, with gold lace, and a red sash.
Cooke informed the Governor that he had been sent by the General commanding the American army, with a letter, which he would present when it should be agreeable to his Excellency. The Governor directed that the envoy and his escort should be properly cared for, and set a later hour for an official reception of his communication. At the time appointed Cooke pre- sented his documents, and later in the evening the Governor returned his call, and said that he would send a Commissioner to meet General Kearney, the person selected for that office being Dr. Connolly. The Governor also stated that he would march himself very shortly with 6,000 men to meet the invaders.
Meanwhile the army under Kearney had been pro- ceeding by rapid marches, in which the infantry some- times outwalked the cavalry, over the same route from Bents' Fort towards Santa Fe, and had reached Santa Clara Springs on the 13th, the Mora River on the 14th, and on the 15th entered Las Vegas. Just before reach-
295
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
ing this town Major Swords arrived from Fort Leaven- worth with the mail, which contained Colonel Kear- ney's commission as Brigadier-General U. S. A., the announcement of which caused great rejoicing and con- gratulation among the troops. Las Vegas was the first Mexican town reached by the expedition, and was then a place of small importance; San Miguel being the county seat and center of business and population in that section.
General Kearney halted his army and called the peo- ple together in the plaza, standing, with his staff and other officers, and the Alcalde of the town, on the flat roof of a building situated on the north side of the plaza, near the middle of the block (owned in 1883 by Mr. Kihlberg). He explained to the people the objects of the invasion, and assured them that neither they nor their property should be molested so long as they were quiet and peaceable. The Alcalde, Juan de Dios Maes, then took the oath of allegiance to the United States, being the first Mexican who had thus voluntarily as- sumed the obligations of American citizenship; and he was immediately confirmed in his office by the com- manding General.
Continuing on their march, Kearney and his troops next reached the little village of Tecolote; and here proceedings quite similar to those at Las Vegas were enacted. The General addressed the Alcalde and the leading citizens, informing them of the annexation and its advantages, and requiring an oath of allegiance from the former, whom he then confirmed in his office. Here they met Colonel Cooke and Dr. Connolly, but no change of programme seems to have been caused by any communication from the latter. The ceremony at Teco- lote only occupied the time required for watering the horses, and at night the army bivouacked by the spark- ling and refreshing waters of the Bernal Spring.
The next day they arrived at San Miguel, then the
296
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
cabecera of the county, and much the most important town east of the mountains. It was quite a changed scene from that of a few years before, when the Texans of Kendall's expedition, foot-sore and weary, and as pris- oners, marched through the same streets; and singularly enough, that night the American pickets captured a son of General Salazar, who had taken the first Texans in 1841. General Kearney and his staff, with the Alcalde, the padre, and some other officers, ascended to the roof of a house overlooking the plaza, and delivered an address to the crowds that had congregated from the surround- ing country, similar to those at Las Vegas and Tecolote ; but at first the Alcalde positively refused to take the oath of allegiance, and was only induced to comply after much persuasion. Soon after leaving the town, two prisoners were captured, and by order of the General, conducted through the camp and shown the number and quality of the cannon, and then set at liberty. To the exaggerated accounts of the Americans' strength given by these men to the Mexican volunteers, and the con- sternation thus caused, have been ascribed largely the demoralization and subsequent melting away of the Mexican army.
On the night of August 17th the army encamped near the deserted Pueblo of Pecos, where the church and some other buildings were then standing in far bet- ter condition than their present ruinous appearance would indicate, and but a short distance from the nar- row defile at Apache Cañon, or Cañoncito, where Gov- ernor Armijo's army was posted in an almost impreg- nable position, sustained by a good supply of artillery, and strongly defended by a breastwork of huge trees. It was intended to take a circuitous route which passed around this narrow defile, and so avoid, if possible, a conflict under the terrible disadvantages which that position presented; but during the night news came that the Mexican army had abandoned its position, and
297
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
retired toward Santa Fé. While considerable in num- bers, it was heterogeneous in material, the regular troops were few, and the great bulk of the force was made up of undisciplined countrymen, armed with such weap- ons as they could best obtain, and General Armijo seems to have had little confidence in their ability to stand a charge of cavalry, and indeed to some extent in their enthusiasm and earnestness in his cause. Greatly exaggerated accounts of the strength of the invading army had been spread, the size of the coming host in- creasing with each repetition, until a feeling of fear and despondency was quite general, and the hasty le vies from the country had become demoralized. So the American army, which had expected to take a circuitous and diffi- cult mountain track in order to pass around the strategic point occupied by Armijo, found themselves able to march directly on by the high road, only incommoded by the trees and other obstructions which had been thrown across the track to act as a kind of breastwork ; and marched rapidly all day, in order, if possible, to ac- complish the whole distance to the Capital City (twenty- eight miles) before night-fall.
The head of the column arrived in sight of the city soon after three o'clock, but waited until about six for the rear and the artillery to come up, as it was desired to enter the city in good military form. General Kear- ney and several officers proceeded to the Palace, where he was received by Juan Bautista Vigil, the Lieutenant- Governor, and the government of the city formally transferred. A little before sunset the troops marched into the plaza, raised and saluted the "stars and stripes," and then retired, without food or fuel, to make a camp on top of one of the surrounding hills south-east of the town. The baggage had not arrived, but before dark the enterprising drivers of burros laden with wood had supplied material for fires, and the soldiers, hungry and thirsty, soon filled the saloons and hotels until literally
298
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
driven to the encampment by the guard. General Kearney slept on the floor in the Palace. Colonel Cooke, with fifty men, was put in charge of the city.
Meanwhile General Armijo had proceeded toward Albuquerque, disbanding the militia and taking with him only the regular troops, but having to abandon his artillery, which was soon after found and brought into the city. This consisted of nine pieces in all, and among them, an old Spanish cannon with the inscription, " Barcelona, 1778," and one fine Texan piece bearing the name of President Lamar, and which had been taken from the Texan " Santa Fé Expedition."
Thus was accomplished, without the shedding of a drop of blood, an entire change in the government of the Territory ; and without having to strike a blow, what has been called the "Conquest of New Mexico" was effected. Few such campaigns have been known in history. A little army, hardly larger than a full regi- ment, had marched 900 miles from its base of supplies, largely through a desert region, with its communications liable at any time to be cut off, and without sufficient provisions, or money to procure them, for the long period required. The heat was excessive during much of the march, and the suffering therefrom, when water could not be obtained, was intense. In crossing what was then called the "Great American Desert," through what is now western Kansas and southern Colorado, they suffered greatly for want of water. In the lan- guage of the historian of Doniphan's expedition, "In the course of a day's march we could scarcely find a pool of water to quench the thirst, a patch of grass to prevent our animals from perishing, or an oasis to relieve the weary mind. Dreary, sultry, desolate, boundless solitude reigned as far as the eye could reach, and seemed to bound the distant horizon. We suffered much with the heat and thirst, and the driven sand, which filled our eyes, and nostrils, and mouths almost to suffocation.
299
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
Many of our animals perished on the desert." The vol- unteer troops were badly furnished as to wagons and teams, often reduced to half rations, and the provisions frequently so far behind as not to arrive before midnight.
At Bents' Fort, in consequence of the scarcity of provisions, the daily allowance was reduced to half a pound of flour, and three-eighths of a pound of pork- thus cutting off the rations of coffee, sugar, salt, rice. etc., which had previously been furnished. After enter- ing New Mexico the army subsisted, until its arrival at Santa Fé, on about one-third of the regular rations. Even with this reduction, there were on hand only sufficient rations to last the number of days required to reach Santa Fé by the most rapid and uninterrupted marching; no allowance had been made for delays or detentions ; and although making forced marches, the army arrived at the Capital entirely destitute of pro- visions. And even here there was but little improve- ment for a time, for the expedition had not been prop- erly supplied with money, and the people having been declared citizens of the United States, and therefore en- titled to full protection of their property, no supplies could be had from them except by cash payment. Had the country been treated as conquered territory, sup- plies of course could have been seized and used; but carrying out the opposite theory, no property could be taken or disturbed except as purchased from the owners; and so the army found itself in a very extraordinary and embarrassing position-compelled on the one hand to be on its guard against a people who might at any moment rise in hostility, and on the other, not having any of the advantages as to supplies which would have resulted from a condition of open war.
The first business of the General, after attending tc the pressing wants of the soldiers, was to secure the fruits of victory, and guard against any uprising of the people or the coming of a Mexican army from the south ;
300
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
and so the erection of Fort Marcy (named for Hon. Wmn. L. Marcy, of New York, then the Secretary of War) was immediately commenced. This was situated on the hill north-east of the city, which commanded the entire town, and on the very spot where, centuries be- fore, the Pueblo chiefs had established their head-quar- ters in the rebellion of 1680. The fort was planned by Lieutenant Gilmer, of the topographical corps, and L. A. McLean, a civil engineer in a Missouri company, and was built by the volunteers, a certain number of whom were detailed each day for the purpose. This was a source of great complaint, as the men felt that they had volunteered to fight, but not to act as laborers; and even the small extra compensation (eighteen cents a day) allowed, failed to reconcile them to what many con- sidered a hardship and imposition. The fort, however, was finally completed, its form being an irregular tri- decagon, and its walls being massively built of adobes. In size it was sufficient to accommodate 1,000 soldiers, and it was armed with fourteen cannon.
This fortress was the more necessary because the " Army of the West" was not to be an army of occu- pation; but was intended to push on to greater con- quests on the Pacific coast.
General Kearney, with characteristic vigor, proceeded to set in order a provisional government. In this he showed tact and discretion as well as energy. The instructions which he had received were conceived in the proper spirit, the fundamental idea being that the people of the Territory were not to consider themselves as conquered, but simply as brought under the good influences of the free liberal, and stable institutions of the United States. The confidential instructions from the Secretary of War, dated June 3, 1846, contained these extracts : "Should you conquer and take posses- sion of New Mexico and Upper California, you will establish temporary civil governments therein, abolish-
301
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
ing all arbitrary restrictions that may exist so far as it may be done with safety. In performing this duty, it would be wise and prudent to continue in their employ- ment all such of the existing officers as are known to be friendly to the United States, and will take the oath of allegiance to them. You may assure the people of those provinces that it is the wish and design of the United States to provide for them a free government, with the least possible delay, similar to that which exists in our Territories. Then they will be called upon to exercise the rights of freemen, in electing their own representa- tives to the Territorial Legislature. In your conduct you will act in such a manner as best to conciliate the inhabitants, and render them friendly to the United States."
On the morning of the 19th General Kearney assem- bled the people in the plaza and addressed them as follows, his words being translated by the interpreter Roubidoux : " New Mexicans! we have come amongst you to take possession of New Mexico, which we do in the name of the Government of the United States. We have come with peaceable intentions and kind feel- ings towards you all. We come as friends to better your condition, and make you a part of the Republic of the United States. We mean not to murder you, or rob you of your property. Your families shall be free from molestation ; your women secure from violence. My soldiers will take nothing from you but what they pay you for. In taking possession of New Mexico, we do not mean to take away your religion from you. Re- ligion and government have no connection in our country. There, all religions are equal; one has no preference over the other ; the Catholic and Protestant are esteemed alike. Every man has a right to serve God according to his heart. When a man dies he must ren- der to his God an account of his acts here on earth, whether they be good or bad. In our Government all
302
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
men are equal. We esteem the most peaceable man the best man. I advise you to attend to your domestic pur- suits-cultivate industry, be peaceable and obedient to the laws. Do not resort to violent means to correct abuses. I do hereby proclaim that, being in possession of Santa Fé, I am, therefore, virtually in possession of all New Mexico. Armijo is no longer your Governor. His power is departed. But he will return and be as one of you. . When he shall return you are not to molest him. You are no longer Mexican subjects; you are now become American citizens, subject only to the laws of the United States. A change of government has taken place in New Mexico, and you no longer owe alle giance to the Mexican Government. I do hereby pro- claim my intention to establish in this Department a civil government, on a republican basis, similar to those of our own States. It is my intention, also, to continue in office those by whom you have been governed, except the Governor, and such other persons as I shall appoint to office by virtue of the authority vested in me. I am your Governor-henceforth look to me for pro- tection."
The General next proceeded to inquire if they were willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government, to which having given their con- sent, he then administered to the Governor ad interim, the Secretary of State, the Prefects, the Alcaldes, and other officers of state, the following oath : "Do you swear in good faith that under all circumstances you will bear allegiance to the laws and Government of the United States, and that through good and evil you will demean yourselves as obedient citizens of the same, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen." This address of the General's was re- ceived with many manifestations of satisfaction and applause by the people; and General Kearney then pro- ceeded to administer a similar oath to several delega-
303
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
tions of Pueblo Indians who came in to offer their sub- mission.
His next act was to cause a flag-staff, 100 feet in height, to be erected in the center of the plaza, and the American flag to be flung to the breeze from its top. A grazing camp was then established on the Galisteo River, twenty-seven miles southerly from the capital, to which the horses of the army, wearied from their long and ardu- ous journey, were sent to recuperate in the midst of plen- tiful grass and water. Three days after the taking of the oath of allegiance, General Kearney issued the following proclamation, in which for the first time the intention was expressed to take possession of territory west of the Rio Grande, and consequently beyond the limits claimed by Texas .-
PROCLAMATION !
" As by the act of the Republic of Mexico, a state of war exists between that government and the United States, and as the undersigned, at the head of his troops, on the 18th instant took possession of Santa Fé, the capital of the Department of New Mexico, he now announces his intention to hold the Department, with its original boundaries (on both sides of the Del Norte), as a part of the United States, and under the name of the Territory of New Mexico. The undersigned has come to New Mexico with a strong military force, and an equally strong one is following close in his rear. He has more troops than necessary to put down any opposition that can possibly be brought against him, and therefore it would be folly and madness for any dissatisfied or dis- contented persons to think of resisting him. The undersigned has instructions from his Government to respect the religious institutions of New Mexico, to protect the property of the Church, to cause the worship of those belonging to it to be undisturbed. and their re- ligious rights in the amplest manner preserved to them. Also to protect the persons and property of all quiet and peaceable inhabitants within its boundaries, against their enemies, the Utes, Navajoes, and others. And while he assures all that it will be his pleasure as well as his duty to comply with those instructions, he calls upon
304
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
them to exert themselves in preserving order, in pro- moting concord, and in maintaining the authority and efficiency of the laws ; to require of those who have left their homes and taken up arms against the troops of the United States to return forthwith to them, or else they will be considered as enemies and traitors, sub- jecting their persons to punishment and their property to seizure and confiscation for the benefit of the public treasury. It is the wish and intention of the United States to provide for New Mexico a free government, with the least possible delay, similar to those in the United States, and the people of New Mexico will then be called on to exercise the rights of free men in elect- ing their own representatives to the Territorial Legis- lature ; but until this can be done, the laws hitherto in existence will be continued until changed or modified by competent authority ; and those persons holding office will continue in the same for the present, provided they will consider themselves good citizens and willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. The uudersigned hereby absolves all persons residing within the boundary of New Mexico from further allegiance to the Republic of Mexico, and hereby claims them as citi- zens of the United States. Those who remain quiet and peaceable will be considered as good citizens and receive protection. Those who are found in arms, or instiga- ting others against the United States, will be considered as traitors, and treated accordingly. Don Manuel Ar- mijo, the late Governor of this Department, has fled from it. The undersigned has taken possession of it without firing a gun or shedding a drop of blood-in which he most truly rejoices ; and for the present will be considered as Governor of this Territory.
"Given at Santa Fé, the Capital of the Territory of New Mexico, this 22d day of August, 1846, and in the seventy-first year of the Independence of the United States. By the Governor,
"S. W. KEARNEY, "Brigadier-General."
While everything at the capital was quiet, and the best of feeling appeared to exist among the people of Santa Fé towards the American authorities, rumors arrived of the concentration of quite a large Mexican
305
AMERICAN OCCUPATION
force near Albuquerque, with a view to renew hostili- ties, and General Kearney determined to march in that direction in person, in order to prevent the execution of any such plan; and by personal acquaintance, to gain the confidence of the people of the Territory at large. He started on September 2d, taking with him a battery of eight pieces, with 100 artillery-men, a battalion of 100 dragoons under Captain Burgwin, and. 500 mounted volunteers. Including his staff, the force consisted of 725 men, besides fifty or sixty Mexicans, who accom- panied the expedition as a kind of honorary escort. When near Santo Domingo they were met by the "Gobernador " of the pueblo, carrying his official cane, and accompanied by the other officers of the pueblo; and after the usual salutations, the "Gobernador " said : " We shall meet some Indians presently, mounted and dressed for war, but they are young men of my town- friends come to receive you-and I wish to caution your men not to fire upon them." And this was soon verified by the appearance of a band of Pueblos, most grotesquely dressed, and painted to represent different animals, their heads surmounted by buffalo-horns, etc., who dashed by at full speed, enveloped in a cloud of dust, and firing volleys under the bodies of the horses of the Americans as they passed. After arriving in the town the General addressed the people in a speech which had to be doubly translated ;- into Spanish, and from that language into the Pueblo tongue.
From here the little army proceeded to San Felipe, Algodones (then the largest town of the valley), and Bernalillo, and arrived at Albuquerque on the morning of the 25th, receiving a salute of twenty guns from the top of the parish church, which was the first assurance they had that the city was not occupied by a hostile force. The next day a deputation came up from the town of Peralta to offer their submission to the new Government, and to say that the people of the Rio Abajo
306
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
(Lower River) desired to be considered as friends. The army continued its march, however, stopping a short time at Peralta, then the residence of many of the Chavez family, who were friends to the Americans, and going as far as Tomé, where the officers attended an im- posing religious ceremony ; and then returned to Santa Fé, having accomplished all that was most essential by demonstrating to every inhabitant of the country that the Americans had come as friends and not as enemies, and recognized every New Mexican as now an Amer- ican citizen.
One of the most important and yet difficult and del- icate tasks which had to be performed was with regard to the civil law to be observed and enforced under the new regime. This of course required immediate action, and General Kearney committed the work of preparing a Code to Colonel Doniphan and Willard P. Hall, of the Missouri volunteers. Just as this work was being com- pleted, and while he was actually engaged in a room in the Palace in transcribing part of the laws, Mr. Hall re- ceived the intelligence of his election as a Member of Congress from the district in Missouri in which he re- sided. As preliminary to the work the General directed a translation to be made of all the laws and decrees found in the official archives at Santa Fé-a work which was rapidly accomplished by Captain David Waldo.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.