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                                           46

Maj? Brooks with his command then marched against the Indians. They followed their trail for several days and arrived at length in the Utah country. Finding that the ground there was very much cut up with other trails and as it was impossible to designate the one made by the enemy he was compelled to give up the pursuit and to return to Taos, where he arrived about the 15th of May. He had been in the field some ten or fifteen days but had not had the fortune to meet any of the hostile Indians. Maj. Carleton of the 1st Drgs was at this time encamped in Taos making preparations for a campaign. About the 23 May every thing was ready for his march in pursuit of the enemy + I accompanied him as the principal guide. At first we proceeded north to Fort Massachusetts + then the Spies under Comd. of Capt. Quinn marched west to the White Mountains and thence along their base to the Mosco? pass through this pass into the Huerfano Creek his object being to discover the trail, from the place Maj. Brooks gave up the pursuit it was evident that the Indians were making for the Mosco pass. The command then marched through the Sangre de Cristo pass and in three days to join Capt. Quinn on the Huerfano. I discovered the trail of three Indians in the pass, I? followed it till I came to the main trail near the Huerfano, Capt. Quinn also discovered an old Indian encampment at its entrance, so we knew they had gone through the pass as predicted. The main trail was now taken and followed for six days, when the Indians were sighted, we marched over a very rugged country - mountainous, canons + ravines had to be passed but we overtook