scort, and the
government herd of beef-cattle, horses and mules, were well protected
by the soldiery. On one occasion, through a false alarm of Indians,
the whole command of the post, which numbered less than one hundred
men, was put in great and sudden commotion. The cause will appear in
connection with the following circumstances. The party in charge of
the herd had espied a large cavalcade of men and animals approaching
them. At the long distance they were off, the strangers resembled
Indians. The commander of the party, immediately sent an expressman to
the fort to apprise its occupants of the fact. The drums immediately
sounded the rally, which caused the men to rush for their arms. They
quickly fell into their ranks, and the order was given to march.
Headed by a gallant lieutenant, they dashed out of the fort on a fast
run, in order to reach and save their property from being captured by
the enemy. The soldiers were elated at the prospect of having a brush
with the Indians, and, on an open plain, giving them battle, where,
notwithstanding the great numbers which would certainly be arrayed
against them, they felt that they could soundly chastise them. On
reaching the herd, the soldiers scattered, and were soon prepared to
commence the skirmish; but, lo! when the strangers drew near enough
to be discernible, they were recognized as a large party of Mexicans,
under the command of an American. These people had been absent several
months on a trading voyage among the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes, and for
the purpose of returning home in safety, they had formed themselves
into one body. Their dress was similar to that of the Indians, and
therefore at the great distance at which they were first discovered,
it is not strange that such a mistake had been made, especially during
these dangerous times. The reason of the sudden stationing of the
soldiers about the herd, the traders easily surmised; hence, on
drawing near, they began to cry out that they were friends. No set
of men were ever more disappointed than were these soldiers at this
unexpected termination of the affair.

Matters eventually arrived at such a crisis that the Governor of the
Territory, by and with the advice of the commanding general, felt
obliged to issue a proclamation calling upon the people to volunteer
for the purpose of defending their lives and property.

The inhabitants of New Mexico promptly responded to this call, by
flocking to the places design