Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-08-11
KE.NDALL'S SKETCHES
OF THE SANTA FE EXPEDITION

! KEN M Ill y ShE>I LdES
! OF THE SANTA FE EXPEDITION.
Upon to the 18th of July, with The
single exception of one day, we had SAT
fered but little for wafer, we now found
many Of the smaller courses dry, and OF
the night above alluded to were compel
led to ehcamp without any thing to d. ink
Of course we suffered intolerably our
selves. after travelling all day in fine no,
sun. to be Obliged to spend the night with.
out water, but the cattle and horses fell
it severely. The guar, at night found
great difficulty in herding and keeping
them together, so anxious were they t.
start off in search Of water, and the mex
morning many of the horses had wild ex
preston about the eyes, combined with ar
uneaslness and fretfuhess which plainly
told their suffering
Late in the evening some of the spie;
discovered noble spring but little OF
our course ard the command made for it
ia double quick time. A ledge of rocks
from which tie cool and lmpid waite,
was gushing in all directions, formed the
head of this spring, and few yards be-
low the different branches fell into a
common basin some twenty yards IN width.
and filled to the depth of eight or ten feet
with the transparent waters. A purling
stream was here formed, which, carried
the surplus waters of the beautiful reser-
volr to mingle with the brackish current
o! the Brassos-a base and most unnatur-
al union
Our thirst was Stacked at The very
fountain heaG-the basin was converted
into an immense bithing-tub, where all
hands employed the invigroating luxury
OF bath. My ANGLE was still much
swollen, and so sore that was unable to
use it in least; but made out to hobble
to the basin, and gained. great strength
by lying at the edge and allowing one of
the cool streams from above to fall upon
the lame part. The next morning. after
enjoying another bath, we pursued our
journey with regret, and DO prospect Of
water ahead.
We had been in camp but short time
that evening, before Capt. Caldwell re-
turned with the spy company, and report
ed that he had fallen in with an Indian
camp which had just been deserted. He
brought in quantity ofroasting ears and
and stated that he found many unripe
melons and pumkins among the corn
While on Little River report had been
sent to Gen. Mcleod that large par.
ty of Cherokees. Caddoes and small par
ties of other tribes all hostile to Texas.
had located in fertile bend of the
Brassos, above the Camanche Peak, and
that they had extensive and we'll guilty.
ated fields, besides large number OF
horses and mules. At first it was deter
mined to GO somewhat out of our way and
attack this party in their stronghold for
1t was stated that they were we'll fortih-
ed but upon after thought it was accor-
dinghy given up. 1t was now evident e.
noush that We were in the vicinity OF
these hostiles, and at night strict orders
were given to the guard to be on the a
Ivert, to prevent surprise, or our horses
4 oxen from being stamped and driven OF.
The next day we made but five or six
miles on ourjoarney. and encamped near
several mineral springs, the waters of
which were strongly impreguated with
the iron and sulphur. 'rhe skull of a
white woman, but recently killed, was
found IN the vicinity, and large and fresh
Indian trails were discovered running in
the direction of the Btassos. We pass.
ed through recently deserted Indian
camp upon the march, the bark wigwams
standing, and many of tie implements
generally seen in az Indian village re-
naming precisely as they had left them
Some ingenious wag had left our camp
early In the morning alone, and was the
hrst to discover the camp. He played
oil line joke upon US by drawing sever
al well-executed figures of horses, buff.ilo
and men upon the smooth bark which
covered one of the wigwams, underneath,
in good Roman characters, signed the
crack-jlw name of some Indian who ap-
peared to be chief in the tribes. Oh
course we never suspected a trick of the
kind. and until the joker himself men
toned 1t, many Of us really thought that
one OF the rowing sons of the wilderness
had cultivated, in some way, taste for
the fine arts.
The next day, which think was 9th
OF July, we made good days march o
yer the ridge which divides tie waters OF
Noland's River from those of the Brassos.
Late IN the evening, we reached small
spring Of water, where we encampcd, and
the grass being excellent in the vicinity,
remained nearly all the next day to rest
the jaded cattle and repair the ricketv
wagons. Many of the latter were halt
worn out when started, and the rough
road which we travelled was far from
improving them. Late in the afternoon
we again started, and at night reached a
noble spring IN grove of post oaks--a
grove which turned out to be the outskirt
OF the celebrated Cross Timbers.