Skip to main content

"Memorable Campaign Against Navajo Indians by Las Vegans" -- Transcript from an editorial found in the "Las Vegas Weekly Optic and Live Stock Grower," 8 p. First hand account by Trinidad Romero, participant, then working in the Perea and Co. Mercantile Co, Las Vegas. In September 1863, nearly 800 Navajo Indians, Native Americans, in several groups, raided ranches in the Las Vegas area, San Miguel County and Mora County, committing depredations, killing herders and stealing thousands of head of sheep, plus horses and burros. Romero describes the defense mounted by the town citizens and ranchers. He tells about Francisco Lopez, Hilario Gonzales, Dionicio Gonzales, Jose Jaramillo, Jose S. Esquibel, Doroteo Sandoval, Canuto Maes, the Bacas of Las Vegas, and Alexander Grzelachowski, and the deaths of Valentin Vasquez, Nasario Gallegos and Nerio Casados. The citizens tracked the Indians, overcame them, scalping those killed, recaptured the animals and returned them to their owners. Places named were Pajarito, Alamo Gordo camp, East bank of Pecos River, La Cinta Ranch, Bosque Redondo or Fort Sumner, Ranca Ranch of Governor Otero, Resolanas or Sunnyside, Chaparito, Sand Hills, Los Tanos, Sacramento Mountains, Fort Selden and East bank of Rio Grande., 9 May 1909 -- Saturday.

 Item — Folder: 1

Scope and Content

From the Collection: This collection is comprised of 7 miscellaneous typed items, perhaps never sent to the Library of Congress during the New Deal era. Item 3 was removed and cataloged - See Separated Materials. These papers provide a small sample of the work done in the state under two of the New Deal Federal Work Progress Administration programs. Included are five undated submissions by New Mexico researchers to the Historical Records Survey Division. There is a translation of the 1760s document for the donation of land for the Our Lady of Light Chapel in Santa Fe and a retelling of local traditions about the 1847 Taos Revolt and Massacre. Others are a report of the 1863 raids by Navajo bands on cattle ranches around Las Vegas, Indian depredations, and a story from the 1890s of mining, ranching, cattle rustling and Apaches around Deming, New Mexico. The last is a 1919 letter about missionary work among the Hispanic New Mexicans in Santa Fe and Sororro. There are two letters from 1938 and 1939 referring to the English translations of the Spanish Archives of New Mexico that were completed in the state. One letter comments on some of the interesting topics in the documents.

Dates

  • 9 May 1909 -- Saturday.

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 1 folder (7 items)

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451