We have been kindly permitted to make the following extracts from a private letter just received from Lewis N. Tappan, Esq., of this city.
    The news of the destination of the First Regiment and the Navajoe troubles will be read with interest.
                                                             FORT CRAIG, N. M., July 22, '62.
    Although this is Sunday the Paymaster is paying off the soldiers, and preparations are being made to move all the forces. Co.'s B, D, H and I will move with the 5th Infantry (Regulars) to-morrow for Mesilla. The balance of the Colorado First will move their encampment from a point three miles above the Fort to one mile below. The present camping place I expected to find "on a sand mound, overrun with mosquitoes" and other birds of prey. But on the contrary, it is on an elevated gravelly rise of ground, bordering the river, with thousands of verdant cottonwoods acros the river, with background of table mountains. I would not give a hill of beans for the whole section of country. Away from the river (Rio Grande del Norte) the land is as barren as a desert, (excepting of course the mountains about 25 miles from the river.)
    Last Wednesday about 15 of the Col. First were out to the mountains after rhubarb for pies, when they were attacked by Navajoes. They were scattered at the time, some being asleep. They all escaped except one man in Co. I, Private Hume, who was shot twice, killed and stripped of his clothes. The balance of the party came into the general encampment during the evening, having run all the way from the mountains. The attack occurred about 2� o'clock. On the arrival of the escaped men Major Wynkoop ordered 250 men to prepare at once to repair to the place. At 10 o'clock they left camp with Major Wynkoop in command, and arrived at the spring--the place of attack--by morning. They found the dead body and the wagon, but the mules had been driven off. They divided into smaller companies, but as a matter of course did not see an Indian, although I have no doubt the Colorado boys were seen by scores of red skins.
    They had not sufficient provisions to warrant an excursion into the mountains. By Friday evening they were all back with the regiment again, with plenty of rhubarb. When they started out it was called the Navajoe Expedition, but now it ought to be termed the Rhubarb Expedition!
    One man of Co. H was previously captured by Indians, two have been drowned, and Landon, Co. B, was shot dead, on guard duty, by not answering the challenge.     *     *     Expect to leave in three or four days for Peralta.
    Bargie and Ki Harrison are under arrest at Santa Fe.         Yours,         L. N. T.

Source:

Unknown, "News From New Mexico," Weekly Commonwealth and Republican, Denver, Colorado, Thursday, 21 August, 1862, p. 1.