NORCAL-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Socorro, NM - a Player in CA History - Part 1 - 1846 Background
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 12:53:45 EDT

Howdy,
I suspect that few are familar with Socorro, NM and vacinity. Located on
the Rio Grande River some 130 miles south of Santa Fe, the village had its
early beginnings with the Piro pueblos in the 1300's[?] and was later settled
by 17th century colonists. In 1846, an event occurred near Socorro that
played a critical, almost fatal, role in the US conquest of CA. For
elaboration, let's read from the diary of Dr. John S. GRIFFIN who was a
surgeon with General Stephen W. KEARNY's "Army of the West" on their way in
1846 from Santa Fe, NM to conquer CA:
"Oct 5[1846]. We made an early start this morning, but marched a short
distance, and encamped near Secora [Socorro], a small Mexican village.
Tomorrow we leave the Rio Grande & strike west across the mountains for the
Rio Gila.

"Oct.6 & 7 -On the 6th I was not able to write up my journal to day, in
consequence of being busily engaged till bed time, about ten o'clock while
marching along, some 8 or 9 men came charging up to us with an Indian yell.
These turned out to be [Kit] CARSON, the celebrated mountain man and his party
on his way to Washington with an express from Capt. [Robert F.] STOCKTON of
the Navy & Col [John C.] FREMONT announcing that they had taken California &
that the latter was to be governor of same. "This created a considerable
sensation in our party, but the general feeling [was] one of disappointment
and regret - most of us hoped when leaving Santa Fe - that we might have a
little kick up with the good people of California but this totally blasted all
our hopes, and reduced our expedition to one of mere escort duty. The Genl
taking the same view of the matter took only TWO Companies C & K, 1st
Drags[Dragoons], and left the remaining THREE in New Mexico under the command
of Major SUMNER.
" We parted with our friends. Dr. SIMPSON & myself drew straws to see who
should go to California, and I won[:-))], if be said to be a gain to have such
a march going and if we get there to have just such another returning.. Mr.
FITZPATRICK took CARSON's mail, and left for Washington." (From "A Doctor
Comes to California - The Diary of John S. Griffin, Assistant Surgeon with
Kearny's Dragoons, 1846-1847" - SF:CA Hist.Soc. MCMXLIII).
NOTE: Kearny's decision to leave three of his five companies of dragoons
at Socorro was to haunt him later in California, especially at the battle of
San Pascual..
Also, General Kearny, his "Army of the West" and guide Kit Carson
blazed/popularized the Gila River trail from its NM headwaters to the Gila's
junction with the Colorado River at the CA border - a trail used by many pack-
train gold seekers early on in the CA goldrush.

Coming tomorrow: Socorro's 1849 role as a Southern Trails rendezvous,
Bob Norris in Dallas
<BNorris166aol.com>

This thread:

• Socorro, NM - a Player in CA History - Part 1 - 1846 Background by <>