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Marie Carter March 15 19357
Anthony, New Mexico 2000 words
Old Timers Dictionary
In
Detail
A short time ago I stood on U.S. Higbee,' 54 talking to some friends,
at a point, where touriata cross the boundry line from La Tuna, Texas to
Anthony, Nee Mexico.
"Just watch those cars whis from one state to another," said an
old -.timer. "I bet they don't know when they cross the line."
"Nell, if they don't," spoke up an old lady, "the Port of Entry
officials will nuke 'em pause long enough to take notice."
"Is it true,' I asked a man called Fob, "that the desert east of
Anthony as Once covered with grass?"
"It sure was lady. Ihe cattlemen around these arte used to graze
their cattle on it. And Anthony was known as the 'Refugio Grant.' It
was filed as the 'RefUgio Grant Colony,' December 17, 1863. There wasn't
any bridge across the Rio Grande in then days. Me and my' old horse forded
that stream many a time."
"I still believe there's gold in the Franklin mountains," said another
old-timer, pointing at toe mountain range east of town. "Sone of the 44
mining men around here claim that lit. franklin conceals many a lost
treasure. Now there's that legend about some Indians --want to hear it?"
nes,' I answered, "and that one about Anthols peak, too."
"Oh, you mean Anthony's nose. The only thing I know is that the
mountain we named in honor of 4. Anthony, the patron Saint of youth,"
he said.
"Thanks," I replied, "that's more than anyone else has told se.'
"I guess I'd better get started on that legend," he said. "lou see,
ledy, I got this story from one of the early settlers, and he got it from
a very old 4421C412* Along ebout 1851, when James 4i. Calhoun the first
Governor of New lexico was in office, Indians were us thick as ants. One
bright day six Indians on horses and carrying several boxes of gold were
seen up there in the mountains near the Anthony gup. That was the last
seen of them till Weveral years later —then they were dead.'
"Were they the sane Indiana' I inquired.
*They must have been, for there were exactly aix human skeletons and
six horse skeletona. Whether they were robbed then murdered, or nurderid
after they hid the gold, nobody knows. And they weren't certain just
how they were murdered, but it wasn't hard to guess. iór not far away,
but scattered in different directions, they found several arrow, which
were identified us belonging to the fierce apache.. 7iell," he said,
glancing over his shoulder and starting down the highway, "I'm in an
ewful hurry. 4y Are aent me to the grocery to houre ago, and there
she comea."
There are several versions of the legend of the six Indians. Some
of the old—tiner say there were five Indiana, and that they carried sacks
of gold. Jamee S. Calhouns First Governor of New Mexico was appointed
under the regular territorial government. He was inaugurated as governor
on Marc 5, 180., and during his term of office had a great deal of trouble
with Indian uprisings. At an earlier date, 1849, he was Indian agent
for New Aexico. He, died in the ;moth of May, 1852, au route to Washington.
"I wonder if any of you know the story of Cimarron Kate?"
"Ie.)." The man we call Bob took it upon himself to answer. "I've
been in her cave and dug around considerable, but I ain't found no cache.
She was a woman bandit and the leader of a gang of outlaws. I've been Sold
that she bang around here about 1354. One day she got wind that the
Wells Fargo Express was bringie a big shipment of gold bullion through
the valley. Well, her and her gang hid out in the mesquite, and suddenly
swooped down on the ex?ress, shot the driver, and took all the gold their
bronco could carry."
"Where did they take it?" I asked.
"Well, they was atmie to get to her cave and had last about reached
it when a posse, hot on their heels, opened firs. The bandits returned
the fire and kept the posse bum/ till Kate hid the gold and made her
escape. They fought a hot battle and every darn outlaw was tilled. The
cave is close to She spot where the battle took place, that's why they
call it the Cimarron Kate cave." he said.
"Judge," I sell, turning to a tall man who had just joined us, *I
wish you'd give me your version of poniphanle expidition, and the battle
of Brasito, near old Fort Fillmore."
"Is that all?" His eyes t for I had called on him before.
"No," I confessed. "First I should like to have you tell us what you
think of New Mexico and our highway, or V.S. Highway 54."
'Very well. As far as climate is concerned, I don't know of another
state in the Union that equals New Mexico. It is without doubt a land 6f
enchantment, and they couldn't have given this road a more fitting name
than the Broadway of Areerica. For it is a route over which savage tribes
and civilised nations have traveled for ages. Loet at that.' He pointed
at the Organ mountains northeast of us.
"Oh, hew beautiful!" I exclaimed.
"Perfect coloring," the judge egreed. *Now you know why the western
writer, Jean Manlove Rhodes, called the Organs, 'Rainbow Mountains."
"That's where the Hermit of the Hills spent part of his life," said
the old lady. In fact he died in the Organs. I forget how the story goes,
but it's worth hearing. Don't fail to have someone tell it to you."
mee
"Thanks," I replied. "A lady in Old Mesilla has promised to tell
me about the Hermit. He used to visit with her parents.'
"Have I ever told you that one about the engineer and the Organs?"
aakec Bob.
*I don't believe you have," I answered.
"Well," he began, "this engineer was one of them big guys from the
'FAA. One day he stared at the Organs wad saidt 'There's a greap piece
of engineerin0 work w iting up there for some man. If holes were drilled
in them pipes at the correct angle, this valley would be flooded with
soft, sweet, music, every time the wind blew.,
'Well," Bob continued," I thought that eagineer was poco loco. (little
craw). So I said: 'Mister the Job's your% cause I don't know anybody
around here with enough *Derby to turn the trick. And I reeon you don't
loamy how much wind we've got out here. I. at eared we'd get too much pipe
mualc.'"
"Now, Judge, it's your turn,' Z said.
00h, yes." He wrinkled his brows in thought a moment; then proceeded
to tell his story; 'The battle of Brasito, or Little Arm, took place
December 22, 1846. In the same year, but, prior to the battle, General
Kearny took permission of Santa re, and sat up an American gcrvernnant.
Kearny was Golonel Alexander W. Doniphants superior officer. Then Kearny
went to California, and two months later, GOl. Doniphan started south to
meet General Wood at hihnehna, Old Mexico.
"Col. Doniphan and hie missourians had suffered many privations on
their march across the desert. ieotsore and hungry, they stopped at the
town of Dona Ary ihhere they found not only food and water, but also Lieut.
Colonel Jackeon and Major 4ilipin with their detachments.
*On Christmas eve7Morning the whole command, baggage and all, were
headed for Peso. Doniphanie men had endured hardships and their clothes
were in pretty bad condition, but they were, happy and sang and Joked 411
the way. Some of them voiced wish that they would have a battle on
Chriatmaa day.
*Finally they sighted the beautiful Organ mountains, and after eighteen
miles of hard travel, called a halt at Brasito, 7inerc on the east side Sf
the ki10 Grande, the Colonel pitched his camp. His men were soon scattered
in all directions, looking for wood, water, and fresh grahs for their
horses. Suddenly some of the soldiere saw an unusually large formation
of dust in the direction of Fl ?eso. In less than a quarter o1 an hour
the whole caap wee one than of excitement.
"Several of the advance guard, galloping their horses at rull speed,
deem, up to the Colonel shouting at the top of their voices: 'The eneny
is advancing upon us!' Following this announcement, the officers began
to lento out commands end orders; the bugler blew assembly; the soldiers
sent up a shout of joy; discarded their wood, grass, and weter and grabbing
their rifles fell_into line. Those boys were so thrilled at the prospect of a
battle on Christmas ley that they began to sing, filling the valley with the
stirring tune of "Yankee Doodle Went to Town". In modern language, they went
to town all right, and how/
314-16-11-114HHHH14111
*The Missourians were no sooner in line, when General Ponce le Leon with
thirteen hundred strong, flanked Colonel Doniphan's men on the left and right.
The Mexican General had about five hundred regular Dragoons and eight hundred
volunteers. The peacock's feathers were dull by compakison to the Dragoons'
uniforms of scarlet -trimmed green coats, tall caps with brass ornaments and
stately plumes. Their trousers were a vivid blue, and the bright afternoon
sun made their highly polished lances and swords fairly sparkle.
"Just before the battle took place General Ponce De Leon sent a nessen-
ger, bearing a black flag, up to the American lines. And Colonel Doniphan
sent an interpreter to meet the eeseenger. The messenger told the interpreter
that General Ponce De Leon wished the American Commander to appear before him.
Looking the messenger straight in the eye the interpreter replied:
N 'If your General wants to talk peace, tell him to advance to the
American lines.'
"Then the messenger got hot, too, and retorted likewise, telling the
interpreter that the Mexican soldiers would break the American lines and take
their Commander by force.
'Take himli challenged the interpreter.
"With a vile oath, sending the Americans ti perdition, the zee's:anger
jerked his horse around and was gone like a flash. At this point Colonel
Doniphan used a bit of strategy that worked like a charm. He acted uncertain
about the next move and held hi ten back. Thinking that the Americans were
afraid the Mexicans charged the American lines in full force. The battle waxed
hot and furious, for about thirty minutes, but the Mexicans were soon routed
-7
and retreating toward El Paso.*
******4***
At tbe battle of Brazito, which took place near old Fort Fillmore,
seventy-one Mexicans were killed and fifty wounded. The Americans had
eight wounded, but none killed. The chief object of the Mexican advance was
to prevent the Americans from marching on to Chihuahua to enforce the Amer-
ican troops under General Mood. Following the battle the American soldiers
tossed their hats above their heads with a victorious shout, crying;
*On to Chihuahuat*
The Missourians made quite a contrast to the gay Dragoons. Some of
them were not even mountedl and their nondescript clothes could hardly be
called uniforms. Their beards, hair, and mustaches had not been t-uched
by a barber for months. And the majority of them wore con -skin caps at
a rakish angle.
Alexander W. Doniphan: iorn in Aason County, ientucky, July 8, 1808.
First Regiment, Col. Aissouri Aounted Volunteers. Commanded the American
forces at battle of Sacremento. One of the greatest American lawyers.
Idol of Western Missouri. Died at Richmond, Missouri, August 8, 1888.
The battle of-Brasito was told to the writer by an old timer.
Battle at Temascalitos. (Called by Col.Doniphan Battle of Brazito).
**9HH11,41***-14.
Fort Fillmore
(Taken from George Griggs' History of Mesilla Valley)
Fort Fillmore, named after President Fillmore, was situated at Brazito,
40 miles above Fl Paso. When the military poste at Dona Ana and El Paso
were abandoned, Fort Fillmore was established September 25, 1851, having
been chosen as a better defense position than the two abandoned forts.
The post wae occupied by Company H of the 1st Pragons and Companies
E and K of the 3rd Infantry. Fort Fillmore was abardoned ty Union
troops July. 2, 1861, and fell into the and the. Confederates.
It was reocc-.Tied by a Union force August 11, 1862, held until
Noveriber 13, 1862, when. it 'les again abandoned.