Henry Inman - The Old Santa Fe Trail

Henry Inman

The Story of a Great Highway

Published by Good Press, 2019

EAN 4057664603593

Table of Contents

As we look into the open fire for our fancies, so we are apt to study the dim past for the wonderful and sublime, forgetful of the fact that the present is a constant romance, and that the happenings of to-day which we count of little importance are sure to startle somebody in the future, and engage the pen of the historian, philosopher, and poet.

Accustomed as we are to think of the vast steppes of Russia and Siberia as alike strange and boundless, and to deal with the unknown interior of Africa as an impenetrable mystery, we lose sight of a locality in our own country that once surpassed all these in virgin grandeur, in majestic solitude, and in all the attributes of a tremendous wilderness.

The story of the Old Santa Fe Trail, so truthfully recalled by Colonel Henry Inman, ex-officer of the old Regular Army, in these pages, is a most thrilling one. The vast area through which the famous highway ran is still imperfectly known to most people as "The West"; a designation once appropriate, but hardly applicable now; for in these days of easy communication the real trail region is not so far removed from New York as Buffalo was seventy years ago.

At the commencement of the "commerce of the prairies," in the early portion of the century, the Old Trail was the arena of almost constant sanguinary struggles between the wily nomads of the desert and the hardy white pioneers, whose eventful lives made the civilization of the vast interior region of our continent possible. Their daring compelled its development, which has resulted in the genesis of great states and large cities. Their hardships gave birth to the American homestead; their determined will was the factor of possible achievements, the most remarkable and important of modern times.

When the famous highway was established across the great plains as a line of communication to the shores of the blue Pacific, the only method of travel was by the slow freight caravan drawn by patient oxen, or the lumbering stage coach with its complement of four or six mules. There was ever to be feared an attack by those devils of the desert, the Cheyennes, Comanches, and Kiowas. Along its whole route the remains of men, animals, and the wrecks of camps and wagons, told a story of suffering, robbery, and outrage more impressive than any language. Now the tourist or business man makes the journey in palace cars, and there is nothing to remind him of the danger or desolation of Border days; on every hand are the evidences of a powerful and advanced civilization.

It is fortunate that one is left to tell some of its story who was a living actor and had personal knowledge of many of the thrilling scenes that were enacted along the line of the great route. He was familiar with all the famous men, both white and savage, whose lives have made the story of the Trail, his own sojourn on the plains and in the Rocky Mountains extending over a period of nearly forty years.

The Old Trail has more than common interest for me, and I gladly record here my indorsement of the faithful record, compiled by a brave soldier, old comrade, and friend.

W. F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill."

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION.
The First Europeans who traversed the Great HighwayAlvar Nunez
Cabeca de VacaHernando de Soto, and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Spanish Expedition from Santa Fe eastwardlyEscape of the Sole Survivors.
CHAPTER I.
UNDER THE SPANIARDS.
Quaint Descriptions of Old Santa FeThe Famous Adobe Palace
Santa Fe the Oldest Town in the United StatesFirst Settlement
Onate's ConquestRevolt of the Pueblo IndiansUnder Pueblo Rule
Cruelties of the VictorsThe Santa Fe of To-dayArrival of
a CaravanThe Railroad reaches the TownAmusementsA Fandango.
CHAPTER II.
LA LANDE AND PURSLEY.
The Beginning of the Santa Fe TradeLa Lande and Pursley,
the First Americans to cross the PlainsPursley's Patriotism
Captain Ezekiel WilliamsA Hungry BearA Midnight Alarm.
CHAPTER III.
EARLY TRADERS.
Captain Becknell's ExpeditionSufferings from ThirstAuguste
ChouteauImprisonment of McKnight and ChambersThe Caches
Stampeding MulesFirst Military Escort across the Plains
Captain Zebulon PikeSublette and SmithMurder of McNess
Indians not the Aggressors.
CHAPTER IV.
TRAINS AND PACKERS.
The Atajo or Pack-train of MulesMexican Nomenclature of
ParaphernaliaManner of PackingThe "Bell-mare"Toughness of
Mules among PrecipicesThe Caravan of WagonsLargest Wagon-train
ever on the PlainsStampedesDuties of Packers en routeOrder of
Travelling with Pack-trainChris. Gilson, the Famous Packer.
CHAPTER V.
FIGHT WITH COMANCHES.
Narrative of Bryant's Party of Santa Fe TradersThe First Wagon
Expedition across the PlainsA Thrilling Story of Hardship and
Physical SufferingTerrible Fight with the ComanchesAbandonment
of the WagonsOn Foot over the TrailBurial of their Specie
on an Island in the ArkansasNarrative of William Y. Hitt,
one of the PartyHis Encounter with a ComancheThe First Escort
of United States Troops to the Annual Caravan of Santa Fe Traders,
in 1829Major Bennett Riley's Official Report to the War Department
Journal of Captain Cooke.
CHAPTER VI.
A ROMANTIC TRAGEDY.
The Expedition of Texans to the Old Santa Fe Trail for the Purpose
of robbing Mexican TradersInnocent Citizens of the United States
suspected, arrested, and carried to the Capital of New Mexico
Colonel Snively's ForceWarfield's Sacking of the Village of Mora
Attack upon a Mexican CaravanKit Carson in the Fight
A Crime of over Sixty Years AgoA Romance of the Tragedy.
CHAPTER VII.
MEXICO DECLARES WAR.
Mexico declares War against the United StatesCongress authorizes
the President to call for Fifty Thousand VolunteersOrganization of
the Army of the WestPhenomenon seen by Santa Fe Traders in the Sky
First Death on the March of the Army across the PlainsMen in
a Starving ConditionAnother DeathBurial near Pawnee Rock
Trouble at Pawnee ForkMajor Howard's Report.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE VALLEY OF TAOS.
The Valley of TaosFirst White SettlerRebellion of the Mexicans
A Woman discovers and informs Colonel Price of the Conspiracy
Assassination of Governor BentHorrible Butcheries by the Pueblos
and MexicansTurley's RanchMurder of Harwood and Markhead
Anecdote of Sir William Drummond StewartFight at the Mills
Battle of the Pueblo of TaosTrial of the Insurrectionists
Baptiste, the JurorExecution of the Rebels.
CHAPTER IX.
FIRST OVERLAND MAIL.
IndependenceOpening of Navigation on the MississippiEffect of
Water Transportation upon the TradeEstablishment of Trading-forts
Market for Cattle and MulesWages paid Teamsters on the Trail
An Enterprising Coloured ManIncrease of the Trade at the Close of
the Mexican WarHeavy Emigration to CaliforniaFirst Overland Mail
How the Guards were armedPassenger Coaches to Santa Fe
Stage-coaching Days.
CHAPTER X.
CHARLES BENT.
The Tragedy in the Canyon of the CanadianDragoons follow the Trail
of the SavagesKit Carson, Dick Wooton, and Tom Tobin the Scouts
of the ExpeditionMore than a Hundred of the Savages killed