The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 84, July 1980 - April, 1981 Page: 17
502 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The El Paso Area in the Mexican Period
zens, who hurry to enrol [sic] themselves on the registers. But we want every-
thing, everything. There is no powder-there are not arms enough, and
the few that we have are out of order; there is no lead; there is no copper,
nor pieces of artillery; there is no money, and, finally, no time to create
resources and prepare for a regular resistance, for men cannot perform
miracles. Notwithstanding this, I do not believe that the same thing will
happen here, which has happened in New Mexico.4o
Sebastian Berm6dez, the prefect of El Paso del Norte, advised the
governor of Chihuahua that, despite the loss of Santa Fe, the residents
of the El Paso area were enthusiastic, patriotic, loyal, and determined
to prevent the soil of Chihuahua from being trampled upon by Ameri-
can forces. He added, however, that he lacked weapons and gunpowder,
and he expressed the hope that the governor could provide some help.
Obviously, Governor Trias was in no position to do that, but on Sep-
tember 26, 1846, he did forward to the prefect of El Paso del Norte a
note outlining a defensive strategy which had been approved by the
Chihuahua authorities. A squadron of two hundred cavalry was to be
sent to El Paso del Norte to reinforce the local militia, thus preventing
the Americans from erecting a strong barricade in that area which
would impede the advance of Mexican forces northward. Should the
Americans take El Paso del Norte, he added, it would prevent the
Mexicans from sending expeditions to recover Santa Fe; it was there-
fore of the greatest importance that El Paso del Norte be defended, as
well as the town of Dofia Ana, some forty miles to the north. Mexican
strategy was thus clearly defined-the highest priority was the defense
of El Paso del Norte.41
The role of James Magoffin in the bloodless conquest of Santa Fe by
American forces under General Stephen W. Kearny is well known,
though still debated by some historians who insist that the Magoffin ac-
count was an exaggeration.42 Nevertheless, his role was undoubtedly
significant, and it was logical for him to assume that he could win
Chihuahua in the same manner-that is, through negotiation and
persuasion rather than by force of arms. If satisfactory arrangements
could be made with the Chihuahua officials, American merchants could
be released and business conditions would return to normal.
40George Rutledge Gibson, Journal of a Soldier under Kearny and Doniphan, i846-
r847, ed. Ralph P. Bieber (Glendale, Cal., 1935), 98.
41SebastiAn Bermddez to the governor of Chihuahua, Aug. 25, 1846, Ponce de Le6n,
Resefias hist6ricas, 332-33g; JosC Mufioz to the prefect of El Paso del Norte, Sept. 26,
1846, Juirez Archives, Reel 38, frame 125.
42Moorhead, New Mexico's Royal Road, 161.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 84, July 1980 - April, 1981, periodical, 1980/1981; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101225/m1/37/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.