No. 11. Letter of the Secretary of War to General Kearny. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 5, 1846. SIR: I enclosed to you a few copies of a proclamation prepared for General Taylor, to issue to the Mexicans. I discover that there are parts of it that will not answer our purpose for Santa Fé or Upper California. You will not, therefore, use these copies. It is intended to make the needful alterations in it, and, thus altered, send on copies* to you before you will have occasion to distribute them. I must, however, urge you not to use those which have been forwarded. Yours, respectfully, W. L. MARCY. Col. S. W. KEARNY. No. 12. PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL KEARNY, OF 31st JULY. Proclamation to the citizens of New Mexico, by Colonel Kearny, commanding the United States forces. The undersigned enters New Mexico with a large military force, for the purpose of seeking union with and ameliorating the condition, of its inhabitants. This he does under instructions from his government, and with the assurance that he will be amply sustained in the accomplishment of this object. It is enjoined on the citizens of New Mexico to remain quietly at their homes, and to pursue their peaceful avocations. So long as they continue in such pursuits, they will not be interfered with by the American army, but will be respected and protected in their rights, both civil and religious. All who take up arms or encourage resistance against the government of the United States will be regarded as enemies, and will be treated accordingly. S. W. KEARNY, Colonel First Dragoons. CAMP AT BENT'S FORT, ON THE ARKANSAS, July 31, 1846. No proclamation, modified as proposed, was sent. W. L. MARCY. No. 13. Letter of General Kearny to the Adjutant General. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE WEST, Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 24, 1846. SIR: I have to report that on the 18th instant, the army under my command marched into this city, the capital of New Mexico, having met with no armed resistance; the Mexican troops, numbering about 4,000, which had been collected on the road by Governor Armijo to oppose us, having dispersed on our approaching them, and the governor himself having fled, with a troop of his dragoons, towards Chihuahua. On the 22d I issued a proclamation, claiming the whole of New Mexico, with its then boundaries, as a territory of the United States of America, and taking it under our protection. I send, herewith, copies of all official papers on the subject. The people of the territory are now perfectly tranquil, and can easily be kept so. The intelligent portion know the advantages they are to derive from the change of government, and express their satisfaction at it. In a few days I shall march down the Del Norte and visit some of the principal cities below, for the purpose of seeing the people and explaining to them personally our intentions relating to the territory. On my return (which will be in two or three weeks) a civil government shall be organized, and the officers appointed for it; after which, I will be ready to start for Upper California, which I hope may be by the latter end of next month, and in such case, I shall expect to have possession of that department by the close of November. I have not heard from or of Colonel Price and his command, which he was to raise and bring here, and have received but vague rumors of Captain Allen and the Mormons. I suppose, however, they will all be here in a few weeks. Captain Allen's command will accompany me to the Pacific, and the number of efficient men. he brings will determine the additional number I must take from here. After deciding upon that, and upon the number which will be necessary to hold this territory, I shall send the surplus to Chihuahua, to report to Brigadier General Wool. I enclose a copy of my communication to him of the 22d instant. On the 15th instant I received yours of 2d and 3d July, the former enclosing a copy of a letter to Captain Tompkins, 3d artillery, from the general-in-chief-the latter enclosing for me a commission of Brigadier General, which I hereby accept of, and for which I offer to the President and Senate my acknowledgment and thanks for the honor they have conferred on me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General R. JONES, S. W. KEARNY, Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington. No. 14. PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL KEARNY, OF 22d AUGUST. Proclamation to the inhabitants of New Mexico by Brigadier General S. W. Kearny, commanding the troops of the United States in the same. 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 attention 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 is necessary to put down any opposition that can possibly be brought against him, and therefore it would be but folly or madness' for any dissatisfied or discontented 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 religious 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 Eutaws, the Navajoes, and others; and when he assures all that it will be his pleasure, as well as his duty, to comply with those instructions, he calls upon them to exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, and in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the laws. And he requires 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, subjecting 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 freemen in electing their own representatives to the territorial legislature. 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 are willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. The United States hereby absolves all persons residing, within the boundaries of New Mexico from any further allegiance to the republic of Mexico, and hereby claims them as citizens of the United States. Those who remain quiet and peaceable, will be 'considered good citizens and receive protection-those who are found in arms, or instigating others against the United States, will be considered as traitors, and treated accordingly. Don Manuel Armijo, the late governor of this department, has fled from it: the undersigned has taken possession of it without firing a gun, or spilling a single drop of blood, in which he most truly rejoices, and for the present will be considered as governor of the territory. Given at Santa Fé, the capital of the territory of New Mexico, this 22d day of August, 1846, and in the 71st year of the independence of the United States. By the Governor: S. W. KEARNY, Brigadier General U. S. Army. JUAN BAUTISTA VIGIL Y ALAND. No. 15. Letter from General Kearny to General Wool. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE WEST, 1 Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 22, 1846. GENERAL: I have to inform you, that on the 18th instant, without firing a gun or spilling a drop of blood, I took possession of this city, the capital of the department of new Mexico; and that I have this day issued a proclamation claiming the whole department, with its original boundaries, for the United States, and under the title of "the territory of New Mexico." Every thing here is quiet and peaceable. The people now understand the advantages they are to derive from a change of government, and are much gratified with it. I have more troops (Missouri volunteers) following in my rear. On their arrival, there will be more than necessary for this territory. I will send the surplus to you. Should you not want them, you can order them to Major General Taylor, or to their homes, as you may think the good of the public service requires. I am destined for Upper California, and hope to start from here in the course of a few weeks. Success attend you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JNO. E. WOOL, U. S. Army, Chihuahua. S. W. KEARNY, Brig. Gen. U. S. Army. No. 16. Appointment, by General Kearny, of Treasurer of Santa Fé. Henry L. Dodge is appointed treasurer of Santa Fé, New Mexico, in the place of Francisco Ortis, who, in consequence of sickness, is unable to perform the duties. Mr. Ortis will turn over to his successor any public funds, books, or property, pertaining to his office, which he may have in his pos session. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, August 28, 1846. S. W. KEARNY, Brig. Gen. U. Ś. A. No. 17. Appointment, by General Kearny, of Collector of Santa Fé. Tomas Rivero is appointed collector of Santa Fé, territory of New Mexico, in the place of José Garcia, who, from deafness, is unable to perform the duties. Mr. Garcia will turn over to his successor any public funds, books, or property, pertaining to his office, which he may have in his possession. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, August 29, 1846. S. W. KEARNY, Brig. Gen. U. S. A. No. 18. Letter of General Kearny to the Adjutant General. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE WEST, Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 1, 1846. SIR: I avail myself of a private opportunity to Missouri to send to you copies of all papers, civil and military, which have passed from under my hands since the 24th ultimo, the date of my last communication to you. The troops composing this command are, and have been since the day after our reaching here, hecessarily divided-one half the officers and men (excepting of the infantry) are, with all the horses and mules, about 25 miles from here, where they went for grass; the other half are in and around this city, and a large number of them daily employed, under the engineers, in erecting fortications to insure the safety of it. |