R. S. Ewell letter to Col. Charles Carroll, 1850

Historical Background:

Richard Stoddard Ewell was a graduate of West Point who had fought as a First Lieutenant in the Mexican War, where he served with Captain Robert E. Lee. The first time Ewell was under fire was when Lee took Ewell’s company as a covering force. After the war, Ewell and Lee deepened their friendship when the former served fourteen months in Baltimore, allowing him to call frequently upon now Brevet Colonel Robert E. Lee who was engaged in building a fort that in 1850 would be named Fort Carroll, after Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Ewell had many relatives in Maryland, and doubtless made the acquaintance of the Carroll family at that time, if not earlier. This connection would be important at the outbreak of the Civil War for the younger sons of Colonel Charles Carroll, Albert and Harper, both of whom would serve on his staff.

After Baltimore, Ewell was sent to the western frontier to keep the local Apaches, Utes, and Navajos from attacking the American settlers, as well as overseeing a population of Mexicans who had little use for their recent conquerors. Rayado was a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail and is marked by spectacular scenery of mountains and desert.

Rayado N. Mexico

Feb.y 1^st 1850

Col. Charles Carroll

Doughoregan Manor, Md.

Dear Sir;

The only excuse I can make for this annoyance is, that in this lovely region we think a great deal of those from whom we have received kindness when in the world and there are non to whom I am more anxious to express my gratitude to than to yourself and your family, Besides when I last saw you in Balt. On my way to Richmond Va. you told me to make a military report from that place on subjects relative to Cavalry and Joffer that order as an excuse.

This Port is occupied by two camps of dragoons under Brt Maj and Cap. Grier and is about 160 miles nearer the states than Santa Fe, holding somewhat in check some of the worst Indian tribes of the side of the territory of New Mexico. I wish I could give you an account of an Indian fight, but not having been in any yet must postpone that pleasure. I copied the plans last Fall from Fort Leavenworth Mo. With 150 raw recruits, mounted and having to escort a wagon train, was two months in arriving at my port. The only incident on my march was meeting the celebrated Kit. Carson with a small escort of dragoons in pursuit of a wagon train. It seems that Sam’l Wethered of Balt. and other merchants were riding to the states with a large amount of specie and that a plot had been formed, or there was good reason to suppose one had been by one of the men with the train to raise the alarm of Indians and murder these men for their money---? had followed with the small det. to warn the merchants of their danger and arrest the suspected men.

As there were more than forty men with the train I deemed his party too small and ret’d with a detachment from my command overtaking the wagons late at night. We concealed our object pretending to have come from another direction and informing Wethered of our intentions, he pointed out the man lying asleep and we were so fortunate as to arrest and carry him back without resistance. I was considerably relieved as it was thought had our intentions been known there would have been bloodshed. I have seen the affair mentioned in some of the papers in which we are credited with having rode 128 miles in 24 hours!!!! Some of us though were in the saddle nearly 30 hours out of 36. But every person of the plains enjoys such health that they are much more capable of great exertions than in ordinary times.

This country of N.M. has agreeably disappointed me in regard to its resources. It is unequalled as a growing section, the group even now, that it has been long dead is very nutritious; cattle keeping fat all the winder without the diseases they are liable to in the states, Wool is worth from 1 to 2 cents per lb, it is coarse, as a farmer told me the other day, sheep never did here—The mutton is peculiarly find—The land generally requires irrigation to produce grain, but very little of that suffices in a growing country and from thirty to fifty bushels I am told is an average crop. The climate is remarkable for its salubrity (sic), every one enjoys good health. Some day or other we will have an attack of the gold mania here and nothing but the apathy of the Natives has prevented it before. I heard that a Mexican had, in riding along a stream in the Taos Valley, picked up $17.00 worth without any delay in his journey, and a short time since a man in crossing a stream in this neighbourhood carried home a little sand in his handkerchief as an experiment out of which he took about one dollars worth, I must confess that in all my wanderings I have not seen the first particle.

We have some game about here, grizzly bear in the summer, at this time antelope two varieties of deer, ducks &c & c. You may wonder with all this to occupy myself with that I should pester you with a long letter, but my abrupt departure prevented my taking leave of your family as I wished to have the honor of doing and this infliction is some alleviation. May I ask you to give my respects to Mrs. Carroll and the young ladies?

With remembrance to Charles I remain & c.

R. S. Ewell.

P. S. I came near omitting the “tactics”. We have a fine squadron which is being drilled ? chiefly under the imperintendance ? of your humble servant, and I often think of our discussion over the book. I want to go to Europe if they would let me and re-moddle (sic) them for they are undoubtedly deficient. We depend for horses on the ? and consequently are not always well provided—They could raise fine horses here, though has yet they have only ponies.

Yours & c—

R. S. E