AFFAIRS IN NEW MEXICO.

487

over fifty of their number, and making a great many prisoners.

Commodore Shubrick was now relieved in command of the Pacific Squadron, by Commodore T. Ap Catesby Jones, who arrived in the Ohio, seventyfour. All the principal ports on the coast being at this time, either occupied, or rigorously blockaded, no other event of importance transpired, until the cessation of hostilities.

In the month of August, 1847, General Price, with a portion of his troops, whose terms of service had expired, returned to Missouri, leaving Major Walker in command at Santa Fé. Colonel Newby, of the 6th Illinois, had previously been ordered to New Mexico with his regiment, and was then on the road. He was soon followed by a battalion of Missouri infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Easton, and the 4th Missouri cavalry, under Colonel Ralls. Another battalion of Missouri volunteers, consisting of cavalry, infantry and artillery, under Lieutenant Colonel Gilpin, was ordered to keep the road open between Fort Leavenworth and Santa Fé-the Indians still continuing their attacks on the American trains.*

General Price returned to Santa Fé in the fall, and directed the troops under his command, about 3,000 in number, to be distributed throughout the valley of the Rio Grande, from Taos to El Paso. Governor Armijot made no attempt to recover the authority that had

* Still another battalion of Missouri cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel Powell, was mustered into service, and ordered upon the route to Oregon, to construct a chain of military posts to that territory.

† Governor Armijo was not in very good odor with some of his countrymen, and, in the month of August, he was arrested at Chihuahua, by order of Governor Trias, for indulging too freely in his cominents upon the battle of Sacramento.

488

SANTA CRUZ DE ROSALES.

been wrested from him, and no event of particular moment occurred, until early in February, 1848, when intelligence was received, from various sources, that General Urrea, at the head of a large body of lancers, was moving upon El Paso, where Colonel Ralls was in command, with a part of his regiment. These reports were confirmed by the capture of a small party of Mexicans, near Carrizal, below El Paso; letters announcing the intended march of Urrea being found on their commanding officer. An express was immediately dispatched to General Price, with the information obtained, who left Santa Fé at once, with two companies of the 1st dragoons, under Major Beall ; one company of the same regiment, acting as artillery, under Lieutenant Love; Lieutenant Colonel Easton's battalion; and the Santa Fé battalion, under Major Walker. On the 20th of February the command reached El Paso. It was now ascertained that the reported advance of Urrea was unfounded; but General Price also learned, that Governor Trias had collected between 1,500 and 2,000 men, and fourteen pieces of artillery, at Santa Cruz de Rosales, a strongly fortified town, about sixty miles beyond Chihuahua, and determined to march down and attack him.

General Price left El Paso on the 1st of March with 400 men, and arrived at Chihuahua on the 7th, performing the distance of two hundred and eighty-one miles in seven days. After Colonel Doniphan's departure, Chihuahua had been reoccupied by the Mexican authorities, and General Price was met, on his approach, by a civic deputation, who represented that a treaty of peace had been concluded, and requested bim not to enter the city. Doubting the information, as he had received no official intelligence of the fact,

GENERAL PRICE ATTACKS THE CITY.

489

General Price entered the town, and on the ensuing day continued his march to Santa Cruz de Rosales where he arrived in the evening. On the morning of the 9th he summoned Governor Trias to surrender The latter refused to comply, stating, also, that it was understood there, that the war had been terminated by a treaty. Considerable parleying ensued, and Genera. Price finally consented to wait for four days, during which time a messenger was expected to return, who had been sent by the governor, to ascertain whether the rumor in regard to a treaty was well founded.

After waiting twice the specified time, and having been joined by a reinforcement of 300 men, whom he had directed to follow him, with the artillery, General Price determined to attack the position, on the morning of the 16th of March. Another demand for a surrender was made, which was rejected, and the action then commenced by a lively cannonade. A good impression having been produced, General Price divided his command into three parties, under Colonel Ralls, Lieutenant Colonel Lane, and Major Walker, who were directed to attack the works from three different positions. The contest was maintained with vigor until eleven o'clock, when it was suspended in consequence of a rumor, which proved to be false, that a body of lancers were moving up in the rear At three o'clock in the afternoon, the attack was renewed with increased zeal, and continued until sunse, when the Americans had burrowed through the houses to the Plaza; and the Mexicans then surren dered at discretion.

The enemy lost 300 killed and wounded at the storming of Santa Cruz de Rosales, while the American loss was but five killed and twenty wounded.

490

CAPTURE OF GOVERNOR TRIAS.

Governor Trias and forty of his officers, with a num ber of men, were taken prisoners; and 14 pieces of artillery, and 2,000 stands of small arms, were also captured by the Americans. On the 18th of March, General Price returned to Chihuahua, taking with him Governor Trias, and most of the prisoners; and leaving Colonel Ralls to follow him as soon as practicable. The report in relation to the treaty was afterwards ascertained to be correct; and Governor Trias, and his officers and men, were set at liberty, and the captured property restored.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TREATY OF PEACE.

Firmness of the Mexican Administration-Treaty of Peace Concluded -Skirmishes-Expedition of General Lane Ratification of the Treaty-Evacuation of Mexico by the American Troops-Reflections -The Territory Acquired-Capacity of our Country for War-Conclusion.

It was difficult for the Mexican nation to make the humiliating acknowledgment, even to themselves,their Castilian pride revolted at the thought,-that they were compelled to sue for peace; that the eagle of Anahuac, breathing a softer, but more enervating atmosphere, was no match for the prouder and hardier bird of the North. But there was no alternative; the Congress, which had taken a recess shortly after the election of General Anaya as Provisional President, reassembled in January, 1848; and a report was then made, in regard to the condition of the army, and the number of troops necessary for the vigorous prosecution of hostilities. It was found that 65,000 men would be required to carry on the war with any prospect of success. To raise this force was impossible, and, were it otherwise, the republic was without the means to pay them. Her forts and arsenals were in possession of the enemy; her military stores and supplies were nearly exhausted; her resources were rapidly diminishing; and the American commander, backed by his victorious soldiers, was already levying heavy contributions upon