Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/373

Rh seven Americans were murdered at Arroyo Hondo, eight miles from Taos, in the valley of the Moro, and two others on the Rio Colorado; and on the 20th instant, eight or nine persons were killed at the upper Moro. The leaders of the insurrection were Tafoya, Pablo Chavis, Pablo Montoya, Cortés and Tomas, a Puebla Indian; and their main object seemed to be, to cut off every American and Mexican who had accepted office under the new government. This movement was confined to the northern part of New Mexico, but the disaffected from other quarters, to some extent, participated in it. Intelligence of the murders committed by the revolters reached Santa Fé on the 20th of January, and circulars were also intercepted, written by them, calling upon the inhabitants along the Rio Abajo for aid. All the towns in the valley of the Moro declared in favor of the insurrection, except Qucoloti and Las Vegas — an attempt to excite the population of the latter being defeated by the timely presence of Captain Hendley, of Lieutenant Colonel Willock's battalion, with a portion of his grazing detachment. It was now ascertained that the enemy designed to advance upon the capital of the province, as soon as they had concentrated their forces, which were coming together as fast as possible. The garrison of Santa Fé was considerably reduced, in consequence of a number of the mounted men having been sent off in different