one by one, they were shot.

When these horses broke down and began to die off, it was decided to
be best to return to Fort Massachusetts in order to recruit and also
to allow the Indians an opportunity to concentrate their forces, when
another effective blow could be struck against them. On his return,
Colonel Fauntleroy met, at the designated place, Lieutenant Beall,
who had managed the affairs intrusted to him very much to his credit.
Having once more consolidated his command, Colonel Fauntleroy retired
to Fort Massachusetts, which he made, for a time, his head-quarters.

Kit Carson, the guide of this expedition, when afterwards speaking
of it, says, "During the time our forces were in the field they were
exposed to the most intense cold weather I ever remember experiencing.
We were overtaken by several severe snow-storms which came near
completely using us up."

For the success that had so far attended the labors of this body of
soldiers, the greatest amount of praise is due to their leader, who
set a noble example to his men. During those hours when hardships and
trials came thickest upon the command, all eyes were turned to the
commander, and, as the result proved, with no lack of confidence. Kit
Carson's services were found to be invaluable. His long experience
and untiring energy proved to be one of the best anchors of the goodly
ship. We should not omit to state, in regard to the severity of the
cold, that it was early in the morning, just before the break of day,
that the cold was invariably found to be the most intense. During this
time, it is the greatest wonder that the Mexicans did not perish, for
but few of them had more than one blanket as a covering by night, and
the remainder were but very little better provided for. When wood was
plenty, and they were allowed so to do, they made large fires and laid
down near to them to attempt sleep. After about one hour thus spent,
they were routed out by being nearly frozen. Getting into close
contact with the fires, they would thaw out and then were ready to
make another endeavor to repeat the sleeping operation. In this manner
they managed to live through each night, and on the following day they
were, apparently, none the worse for wear. A person judging these men
as he oftentimes sees them during the summer season, basking in the
sunlight on the sunny side of their houses in New Mexico, would not,
for an instant, suppose that they could undergo such hardships