[132] Nathan Boone was the youngest son of the noted pioneer Daniel. Born in Kentucky in 1780, he emigrated to Missouri late in the eighteenth century, and distinguished himself in frontier service during the War of 1812-15. He made his home in St. Charles County, Missouri, and built therein the first stone house, in which his father died in 1820. The younger Boone entered the regular army in 1832, as captain of rangers; the following year saw him in command of a company of the 1st dragoons, with whom he saw much frontier service. In 1847 he received his majoralty, and in 1850 became lieutenant-colonel. Three years later, he resigned from the army, dying at his home in Green County, Missouri, in 1857.--ED. [133] Dry River is not laid down on current modern maps. It is in northwestern Texas, apparently near the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railway, in Roberts and Hemphill counties. See our volume XVI, p. 130, note 61; also map 2 in _Senate Docs._, 31 cong., 1 sess., 12.--ED. [134] The same barbarous propensity is observable in regard to wild horses. Most persons appear unable to restrain this wanton inclination to take life, when a mustang approaches within rifle-shot. Many a stately steed thus falls a victim to the cruelty of man.--GREGG. [135] The latitude of Independence, Mo., is 39° 8′, while that of Van Buren is 35° 26′,--within a few miles of the parallel of Santa Fé: and being on about the same meridian as Independence, the distance, of course, is considerably shorter.--GREGG. CHAPTER XXV {IX} CONCLUSION OF THE SANTA FÉ TRADE Decline of Prices -- Statistical Table -- Chihuahua Trade -- Its Extent -- Different Ports through which Goods are introduced to that Market -- Expedition between Chihuahua and Arkansas -- The more recent Incidents of the Santa Fé Caravans -- Adventures of 1843 -- Robbery and Murder of Chavez -- Expedition from Texas -- Defeat of Gen. Armijo's Van-guard -- His precipitate Retreat -- Texan Grievances -- Unfortunate Results of Indiscriminate Revenge -- Want of Discipline among the Texans -- Disarmed by Capt. Cook -- Return of the Escort of U.S. Dragoons, and of the Texans -- Demands of the Mexican Government -- Closing of the Santa Fé Trade. Before proceeding to the graver matters to be presented in the succeeding chapters, a few words to those who are curious about the history of the Santa Fé trade [Pg222] intervening between the conclusion of my personal narrative and the closing of the trade by the Mexican government, in 1843, may not be amiss.