cannot overcome.  The pass itself is but a few miles in length.  It is but a deep cut through very lofty mountains.  Its sides are rocky, craggy and very rough, defying, in many places, the most experienced climber to ascend them.  It is a favorite route, which the Apaches delight to take when hotly pursued, as it offers them the saving of many miles of difficult and circuitous traveling, when they wish to reach the open prairies.

On reaching the place of rendezvous, Carlton, while in the Sangre de Christo Pass, by the aid of his guide Kit Carson, discovered a trail made by three of the enemy, and on following it up, it was found to join the main path on the Huerfano Creek.  On the arrival of Quinn, who had discovered signs which indicated the direction the Indians were taking, a conference was called, when all the old guides and spies of the party agreed in believing they were on the right scent.  The skill shown by men accustomed to the business of tracking Indians, either for friendly or warlike purposes, is oftentimes truly wonderful, and especially is it so to a person brought up in a civilized community, only familiar with the reports of such things.  The age of the trail, the haunts the red men are bound to, their object in going there, the numbers on the trail, and the tribe, or tribes to which they belong, can, in the majority of cases, be told with the greatest accuracy.  It is by philosophizing on minute things, which in ordinary life would be considered mere trifles, and hardly worth a consideration, that this knowledge is arrived at.  Thus, it takes but a minimum amount of wisdom to realize that a spear of grass, when trodden upon, is usually crushed to the earth; but, few reflect that the attempt is made by nature to restore the blade to its naturally upright position, and in doing so, requires a certain period of time to accomplish the task.  This process, to the trailer, is an index by which he judges the age of the visit made by the Indians, to that section of country.  The shape of the sole of the moccasin, or the carvings on arrows when they are found, which not unfrequently happens, and many other like things, are sure signs in guiding the experienced trailer to the particular party he is seeking.

Carleton and his men became flushed with the prospects of success on finding the main trail, and they lost no time in following it up.  For six days they made rapid progress, and at the end of that time espied the Indians encamped on “Fisher’s Peak” in the Raton Mountains.  Although the mountain was none the easiest to climb, yet the soldiers went at its performance with a determination that brought them upon the Indians before they could collect their animals and be off, and the consequence was, that many a brave warrior then and there drew his last breath.  However, the most of the Indians ran away, but were pursued and a few were overtaken and shot.