teers; indeed, it was a service for which there was a general rush. Each man had to provide himself with a horse and every thing except his arms. After numerous delays, on the 30th of June 1846, the "army of the west" started from Fort Leavenworth, and on the 29th of July arrived at Bent's Fort, a distance of 564 miles having been traversed. From Bent's Fort to Santa Fé, the capital of New Mexico, the distance is 309 miles. At the fort was found the remainder of the troops which had been ordered to join Kearny. His whole force then numbered about 1750 men. On the 31st of July, General Kearny issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of New Mexico, according to instructions. On the 3d of August, the army pushed forward, and, in ten days, during which, the men suffered from bad water and the almost intolerable hot winds, and the horses suffered severely for want of grass, they began to ascend the Rocky Mountains. Information was received that Armijo, governor of New Mexico, would oppose the entrance of the Americans; and scouts were frequently captured, and, after being showed the full strength of the army, were sent back to Armijo. On the 15th of August, General Kearny arrived at the Lower Moro village, and here addressed the people. He made the alcaldes swear allegiance to the United States,

and hailed the people as citizens of that country. His address was received with satisfaction by the inhabitants.

Proceeding on his march, General Kearny came to the village of San Miguel, on the 16th of August. Here he made another speech to the people, being in substance the same as that made at the Lower Moro village. On leaving San Miguel, General Kearny learned that General Salazar had been sent to command the troops destined to oppose his march. The next day, the son of Salazar was taken prisoner, and he informed the general that the Mexican troops had all returned to their homes. On the 18th of August, the Americans arrived at the cañon, where, a day or two before, a Mexican force of 3000 men had been assembled. But they had fled on the approach of Kearny. The The army marched into the plaza of Santa Fé, and they were received by the acting governor and other dignitaries—Armijo having made his escape. The American flag was hoisted in the plaza, and General Kearny addressed the people, giving assurances of protection, and taking possession of the country for the United States. He also proclaimed himself governor.

On the 2d of September, George Bent, known as the proprietor of Bent's Fort, was appointed civil governor of New Mexico, and General Kearny started on a reconnoissance down the Rio Grande, with 750 men. He was every where upon the route favorably received, and the Indians

manifested the most friendly disposition. During the latter part of September, the Apache tribe, so formidable to the Mexicans, sent their chief to Santa Fé, and he there concluded a treaty of peace with the Americans. Arrangements were made for improving the civil government of the country, and a code of laws was promulgated, which was drawn up by Colonel Doniphan and Willard P. Hall.

On the 25th of September, being informed of the approach of the Missouri regiment, under Colonel Price, General Kearny left Santa Fé with 300 men, to march across the country to Upper California. Soon after leaving Santa Fé, the general received information of the conquest of California by Commodore Stockton and Colonel Frémont; this news induced him to send back a portion of his men. He then marched forward, a distance of 1000 miles through an unknown country, with only 100 dragoons as an escort. The remainder of the "army of the west" was posted at different places in New Mexico.

With the object of opening a communication with General Wool, at Chihuahua, Colonel Doniphan left Valverde, with about 500 men; and after a three days' journey, through a desert country, arrived near the town of El Paso. Near this place, they encamped on the road. Just when they had all dispersed, and when the rear-guard was six miles behind, they were attacked by a large body of Mexicans, with cavalry and artillery. Doniphan's men had not time to saddle their horses, but

drew up rapidly in front of their encampment, determined to fight on foot. A black flag, with skull and cross-bones upon it, was sent to the American commander, and an intimation given that there would be no quarter. They then opened their fire and charged handsomely, but they were driven back. A few of Doniphan's men then ran up to the Mexican line and secured their cannon. This desperate act made the Mexicans. "perplexed in the extreme." They then knew the character of their foes. More of the Americans coming up, the Mexicans were soon put to flight. Their whole force numbered 1200 men, and they lost about 200 in killed and wounded. Doniphan's force was 500 men, all of whom were not engaged, and he only had seven men wounded none killed. The arms, provisions and stores of the Mexicans fell into the hands of the victors. This, the first battle of the "army of the west," was called the battle of Bracito, from the bend of a river near which it was fought.

Colonel Doniphan entered El Paso on the 27th of December, and met with no opposition. He despatched a messenger to hasten a company of artillery, which had been previously ordered from Santa Fé; and he determined to await its arrival. Rumors kept reaching him of anticipated resistance at Carrizal-a fortified place some distance on this side of Chihuahua. At last, he found that regular carriers were sent from here to that place; and circumstances led him to suspect Ortis, the priest, of being the agent of the correspondence. A small scouting party was sent,

one night, to try to catch him in the act; and there is no doubt he would have been so caught, had it not been for the bad management of the officer in charge, who, instead of waiting to seize the messenger after he might have started, and to try to find despatches upon him, only surrounded the house, went up and politely knocked at the door, in front of which a horse was standing, ready saddled and bridled. Of course, no papers were found, but the priest and two gentlemen were brought up to the colonel's quarters. Ortis was upbraided with treachery; but he remarked that he did not call the delivering his country from a foreign enemy, by any means whatever, treachery. He said he was the enemy of all Americans, and never could be otherwise; and that he should use every endeavor to free his country from them-but that it would be by fair combat, and that he should not attempt to incite an insurrection, knowing that to be worse than useless. Colonel Doniphan told him that he admired his sentiments, but would take care that he should have no opportunity to carry them into effect, by keeping a strict watch over him; and that, as he had seen how Mexicans could fight on ground of their own selectionmeaning Bracito, where Ortis was he would take him with him as he went southward, in order that he might observe the Mexicans attacked and made to fight on ground of his, Doniphan's, selection. This the colonel did, taking him to Chihuahua.

N the 1st of February, 1847, the artillery arrived. This increased the whole force under Doniphan's command to 1000 men. On the 11th of February, the army set out for Chihuahua. After marching 145 miles, information was received that General Wool was not at Chihuahua. This intelligence was disheartening, for it was fully expected that a junction could there be made with the forces of that commander. A council of war was convened, to deliberate on this difficulty, and it was decided to go forward. The march from the place where the council of war was held, was one of the most difficult and dangerous ever made. Fire on the prairies which they crossed, and long journeys without meeting with water, together with the continual expectation of attack, were the most prominent sources of the difficulties and dangers of the army.

On the 27th of February, it became clear that a battle would be fought on the following day. Colonel Doniphan had received information that the enemy were posted in the neighborhood of the Sacramento, and everything prepared for battle. The following is a semi-official account of the battle: