his powerful reinforcement, and using that
discretion which is often the better part of valor, they started off
and were soon lost sight of. Had not this reinforcement providentially
thus arrived, the Indians would have certainly captured the pack mules
belonging to the soldiers, and got away with them. Never was succor
hailed with more delight, than on this occasion; for, had the red men
succeeded in this endeavor, the benefits of this whole campaign would
have been greatly frustrated.

Colonel Fauntleroy, after thoroughly scouring the adjacent country in
the hope of meeting with parties of straggling Indians, but, as the
result proved, without success, returned to Fort Massachusetts, where
he had the satisfaction of learning that Colonel St. Vrain, in his
expedition, had caught other bands of these same Indians, and most
severely chastised them.

The Fort Massachusetts here referred to has recently been abandoned
and another one has been built, distant about six miles from the
original site. The name is retained for the new defences, which are
located on the river Trinchera. The present location is picturesque,
and beautiful in the extreme.

In one of his fights, Col. St. Vrain had overtaken the red men on
the prairies, where a running battle ensued, in which the volunteers
killed many of the enemy, and made several prisoners. During this
skirmish, the Indians tried the ruse of setting fire to the prairie
grass, and, as the wind was blowing in the direction from which their
foes were coming, they hoped thereby to impede their progress, and
thus give themselves time to escape; but the volunteers boldly rode
through the flames, and successfully continued the chase.

The time for which the New Mexican volunteers had enlisted, was
fast drawing to a close; but, as the hostile Utahs and Apaches were
scattered to the four winds, it was thought best not to send out
again a regularly appointed force to act against them. Instead, while
awaiting the effect of their late telling blows, it was decided to
be judicious to keep out, in different directions, small scouting
parties, who could better follow the trails of the small parties of
fugitive Indians with some prospect of success. It was now the
season for the richly laden caravans to arrive on the borders of the
territory, and perchance they might fall in with bands of the hostile
savages of sufficient strength to cause them trouble; or, it might
be, the Indians would comb