Howdy, I suspect that few are familar with Socorro, NM and vacinity. Located on the Rio Grande River some 130 miles south of Santa Fe, the village had its early beginnings with the Piro pueblos in the 1300's[?] and was later settled by 17th century colonists. In 1846, an event occurred near Socorro that played a critical, almost fatal, role in the US conquest of CA. For elaboration, let's read from the diary of Dr. John S. GRIFFIN who was a surgeon with General Stephen W. KEARNY's "Army of the West" on their way in 1846 from Santa Fe, NM to conquer CA: "Oct 5[1846]. We made an early start this morning, but marched a short distance, and encamped near Secora [Socorro], a small Mexican village. Tomorrow we leave the Rio Grande & strike west across the mountains for the Rio Gila. "Oct.6 & 7 -On the 6th I was not able to write up my journal to day, in consequence of being busily engaged till bed time, about ten o'clock while marching along, some 8 or 9 men came charging up to us with an Indian yell. These turned out to be [Kit] CARSON, the celebrated mountain man and his party on his way to Washington with an express from Capt. [Robert F.] STOCKTON of the Navy & Col [John C.] FREMONT announcing that they had taken California & that the latter was to be governor of same. "This created a considerable sensation in our party, but the general feeling [was] one of disappointment and regret - most of us hoped when leaving Santa Fe - that we might have a little kick up with the good people of California but this totally blasted all our hopes, and reduced our expedition to one of mere escort duty. The Genl taking the same view of the matter took only TWO Companies C & K, 1st Drags[Dragoons], and left the remaining THREE in New Mexico under the command of Major SUMNER. " We parted with our friends. Dr. SIMPSON & myself drew straws to see who should go to California, and I won[:-))], if be said to be a gain to have such a march going and if we get there to have just such another returning.. Mr. FITZPATRICK took CARSON's mail, and left for Washington." (From "A Doctor Comes to California - The Diary of John S. Griffin, Assistant Surgeon with Kearny's Dragoons, 1846-1847" - SF:CA Hist.Soc. MCMXLIII). NOTE: Kearny's decision to leave three of his five companies of dragoons at Socorro was to haunt him later in California, especially at the battle of San Pascual.. Also, General Kearny, his "Army of the West" and guide Kit Carson blazed/popularized the Gila River trail from its NM headwaters to the Gila's junction with the Colorado River at the CA border - a trail used by many pack- train gold seekers early on in the CA goldrush. Coming tomorrow: Socorro's 1849 role as a Southern Trails rendezvous, Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>