Frequent altercations occurred between the Mexican inhabitants and the soldiers; the former were naturally jealous of foreign interference; many of the disbanded troops of Governor Armijo lingered in the vicinity of Santa Fé, in readiness for employment, if an opportunity was presented; the civil officers who had been displaced, viewed their successors, appointed under the newly-established government, with emotions of hatred and ill will; the Puebla Indians were violently hostile to the Americans; and the most prominent and influential citizens in the province labored to foment the disaffection rapidly gaining ground. About the 15lh of December, Colonel Price was informed that an insurrectionary movement was in contemplation. Several persons supposed to be implicated were arrested, and an investigation was had, in the course of which it appeared that a plan had been formed for a general rising on Christmas eve. The principal leaders in the affair, Ortiz and Archuleta, escaped in the direction of Chihuahua,[1] the project was further frustrated by the arrests which had been made, and in a few days the alarm entirely subsided.
Subsequent events showed that the revolt was not effectually suppressed. On the 14th of January, 1847, Governor Bent left Santa Fé for San Fernando de Taos, accompanied by a number of civil officers. In the night of the 19th instant, the governor, the sheriff, the district attorney, and three other persons, were seized by a band of Mexicans and Puebla Indians, and put to death in the most inhuman manner.[2] On the same day
