Indian encampment supposed to be located somewhere in that neighborhood. Captain Carey likewise advised me that the band of Navajoes above referred to were perhaps the same Indians that had made the attack on Russell's train, fired on our express riders, and that had so long annoyed our communications with Fort Wingate and Los Pinos; and he directed me to march by moonlight in time to reach and surprise their camp by sunrise, when I was to use proper discretion in the matter, and either receive the band as prisoners in case they should surrender or chastise them to the utmost extent of my ability should they offer resistance.

I arrived at Forst Fauntleroy on the 29th ultimo, and was informed by Sergt. J. Martin Bird, commanding detachment at mail station, that his command had been lately relieved, and that none of the men then on duty at the station knew anything about the locality of the hostile camp. I was fortunate enough to find, however, a Navajo captive at the station, who volunteered to conduct me to the camp and act as guide and interpreter. Leaving Fort Fountleroy on the 1st instant, I marched to a point south of the Rio Puerco, known as the Canon Well, where I arrived at night-fall and encamped. I gave orders to have the command under seams at Moonrise, and accordingly, when he moon rose, my party was in motion on the trail leading to the Indiana camp. The path taken by my give led in a westerly direction of several miles along the level valley of the Rio Puerco, and then turned abruptly to the north, ascending an elevated ridge covered with growth of evergreens, such as spruce, cedar, and pinon, and traversing a country furrowed and broken in every direction, thereby rendering my progress much slower than I had anticipated. i proceeded onward as rapidly as practicable, and at sunrise I reached a point from which my guide showed me the smokes of the enemy's camp-fires. From this point the only practicable approach was across a plain about a mile in width, and the probability was that my command would be observed by the savages, but as there was no alternative I marched forward at double-quick time. I had passed over more than two-thirds of the distance when, as i had anticipated, the alarm was given by 3 Indians, who had left the camp in search of water. The alarm spread so rapidly that by the time the head of my command reached one side of the camp the last savage was retreating under cover of the forest timber on the other. In their flight the Indians abandoned all their camp equipage, cooking utensils, and even portions of their clothing. Large quantities will potatoes were found in camp, which formed their chief article of subsistence, and which they obtained in the neighboring plain by digging. The surface of the plain had been dug up in various directions by the Indians in their search for the potatoes, and presented the appearance of having been rooted by heard of swine. Great numbers were found roasted at the camp-fires, and were eagerly eaten by my men, who had left camp in light marching order, unencumbered by blankets or haversacks. On entering the camp I sent my interpreter forward to the crest of a knoll in the vicinity, with instructions to hail the dispersed Navajoes, and tell them that unless they came in and surrendered themselves I would divide my command and pursue them immediately, in which case they need expect no quarter; but that in case they should surrender I would take them to Fort Canby, where the commanding officer would furnish them with means to travel to the reservation set apart for the friendly Navajoes. After a short parley, the interpreter came into camp followed by most of