sted in,
would prove the cause of their being exterminated, as their "Great
Father," the President, had at his disposal thousands of soldiers
to replace those who fell in battle, while, when their warriors were
killed, they could not immediately place others in their moccasins.
When a warrior was killed, they were compelled to wait until their
children grew up. He added, that the "Great Father" loved his red
children, and through him, whose servant he was, he wished to give
them annuities and otherwise aid them in living at peace. These
Indians, on learning that Kit Carson was their agent, expressed great
pleasure, and, at his earnest solicitation, came forward and professed
friendship. So little reliance, however, was to be placed in this
tribe, that Kit Carson doubted their sincerity; although he exacted
every pledge which he thought would in the least tend to bind them to
their promises, he feared they would not prove true. Having finished
his business, Kit bent his way to Santa Fe; but, he had not more than
reached there before he heard that the Jiccarillas had already become
tired of the restraints which he had placed upon them, and had broken
out in open defiance of the authorities. From this time onward,
so thick and fast did their wicked crimes increase, that coercive
measures became necessary to put them down. This finally resulted, in
as sanguinary a battle being fought between a small band of soldiers
and this tribe, as was ever recorded. A rapid sketch of it must
suffice to illustrate to the reader what kind of a fight this was, and
what plucky fellows these Apaches are. Lieutenant J.W. Davidson,
with a command of sixty men belonging to F and I companies of the 1st
Regiment of United States dragoons, was ordered out to seek and act
against these red men. Both the soldiers and their officers were
renowned for their bravery and experience in Indian mode of warfare;
hence, more than ordinary deeds were expected to be performed by
them. The result will show that they did not disappoint any reasonable
expectation. Lieutenant Davidson marched to the "_Embuda Mountains_"
(which range lies between fifteen and twenty miles southwest of Taos),
as he had been informed by good authority that the Indians were to be
found there.

On reaching the mountains he soon came upon the savages and found them
fully prepared to meet him. They had selected their ground with great
skill. The site which they had chosen was upon a high