"An account of sufferings...from hostile Indians and final capture of the Texans."
-Times-Picayune, Aug. 15, 1844
"A young Texas journalist...wrote a fascinating narrative of the Texan Santa Fe Expedition." -El Paso Times, Dec. 21, 1952
"Kendall...is very much a part of the Texas story...joined the Texas Santa Fe Expedition...in search for adventure." -Longview News-Journal, Aug. 1, 1971
Did Texas really invade New Mexico in 1841? Participant George Wilkins Kendall (1809–1867) provides surprising answers in his harrowing account of this adventure in his 1844 book "Narrative of the Texan Santa Fé Expedition."
In introducing his book, Kendall writes:
"Texas claims...the Rio Grande as her western boundary; yet, so isolated were Santa Fe, and such of the settled portions of New Mexico as were situated on the eastern side of that stream, that the new Republic had never been able to exercise jurisdiction over a people really within her limits. The time had now arrived, so thought the rulers of Texas, when rule should be exercised over the length and breadth of her domain when the citizens of her farthest borders should be brought into the common fold and with the full belief in their readiness and willingness for the movement, the Texan Santa Fe Expedition was originated...."
George Wilkins Kendall (1809–1867) was a journalist, war correspondent, and pioneer Texas sheepman, known as the father of the Texas sheep business. Kendall County, Texas is named for him.
