The Navajos and the New Mexicans were almost continually at war.
Expeditions were frequently fitted out in the border towns by the
class of New Mexicans who possessed no land or stock, for the sole
purpose of capturing the flocks and herds of the Navajos. The Indians
retaliated in kind, making raids upon the settlements and pasture
lands, and driving off sheep, horses, and cattle to the mountains.
Complaints were made by the property-holders, and war was declared
against the Indians.

The military department of New Mexico was in fine condition to carry
on a successful war. Besides our regiment of regular infantry, it had
two regiments of California volunteer infantry and one regiment each
of California and New Mexican cavalry.

The Navajo upon the war-path was terribly in earnest, and his methods
of waging war were like those of the redman everywhere. With the
knowledge that the American soldier was an ally of his old-time enemy,
and that the Mexican was wearing the uniform of the "Great Father," he
no longer hesitated to look upon us as his enemies also, and resolved
to combat us up to the very walls of our posts.

No road in the Territory was safe to the traveller; no train dared
move without an escort. Towns were raided, and women and children
carried into captivity. Frightful cases of mutilation and torture were
constantly occurring in the mountain fastnesses. Troops took the
field, and prosecuted with vigilance a war in which there was little
glory and plenty of suffering and hard service.

Every band of Indians captured was taken to the Bosque Rodondo, on the