Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-19
From the N. y. Prcayune.
THE TEXAN SANTA FE
EXPEDITION.

ont az WatG- UTe@t Sg6 ef"t9
yiigal at a Cool, Spriag- Bathing
Tho or a grand scale-Fresh In
dian "Sign"-M Mineral Spring De-
serted Indian ViIlGge-A Regular
Hoar-DescriptiOn Of Country
Camanche Peak--ArTiUaL at the
Cross Timbers.
Up to the 18th July with the single
Gle exception Of one day, we had suit
cred but little for water; we now found
MANY Of the smaller courses dry, and
on the night alluded to were compell-
ed to encamp without any thing TO
drink. OF course we suffered lntole-
raSly ourselves, after travelling all day
in the hot sun to be obliged to spend
the night without water, but the cat
do and horses felt it even more severe
~. The guard at night found great
difficulty in herding and keeping them
together, so anxious were they TO start
of in search Of water, aud the next
morning many Of the horses had wild
expression about the eyes combined
with an unelsiness and iretlulness
which plainly told their suffering.
Late In the evening some Of the
spies discovered a noble spring but a
little of our course, aud the command
made for it in double quick time. A
ledge Of rocks, from which cool and
limpid water was gushing in all dlrec-
tons, formed the head OF this spring,
and a few yards below the different
branches fell into a common basin
some twenty yards in width and filled
to the depth Of eight or ten feet Will
the transparent waters. A purlins
stream was here formed which carried
the surplus waters ofthc beautiful res
ervoir to mingle with the brackish cur
rent Of the Brassos--a base and mos
unnatural union.
Our thirst was Stacked at the very
fountain head-the basin was CONVEX
ted into an immense bathing-tub where
oil hands enjoyed the invigoratlng lux
ury Of a bath. My ankle was still
much swollen and so sore that | wa
unable to use it in the leasl;but | mad
out to hobble to the basin add gainet
great strength by lying at the edge an
allowing ono Of the cecil streams lrOr
above to fall upon lie lame part. Th
next morning, after enjoying anothe
bath, we pursued our journey with re
gret and no prospect Of water ahead.
We had been in camp but a shor
time that evening before Capt. CaId
we'll returned with the spy company
and reported that he had fallen in will
an Indian camp which had just bees
deserted. He brought in a quantlt.
Of roasting years aud stated that m
found many unripe melons and pump
kins among the corn. While OH Lit
tie River a report had been sent I,
Gen. Mcleod that large party Q
Cherokees, Caddops and small partie
Of other tribes, AL hostile to Texas
had located in a large and fertile ben
Of the Brassos above the Cau1auch
Peak, and that they had extensive an
veil cultivated fields besides n larg
number of horses and mules. 4
first I, was determined to go somewh
out Of our way and attack this party
their stronghold, for il was stated the
we're well fortified; bit upon aft
thought it was feared the detenlic
would be too great and it was acco
dinghy given up. 1t was now evlde
enough that we were in tie vicinity
these hostiles, and at night strict o
ders were given to the guard 10 be
the alert to prevent a surprise, or o.
horses and oxen from being stamped,
and driven off
The next day we made but five
six miles on our journey, and encam
cd near several mineral springs, Il
waters Of which were strongly impre
mated with iron and sulpher. II
skull of white woman, but recent
killed, was found in the vicinity, al
large and fresh Indian trails were di
covered running in the direction of 1
Brassos. We also passed through
recently deserted Indian camp upC
the march, The bark wigwams standl
and many Of the implements general
seen in an Indian village remain
precisely as they had left them.
Some ingenious wag had left U
camp early in the morning alone, a
was the frstto discover this vilIae
He played off fine joke upon US
drawing several welI-executed fgu;
Of horses, buffalo and men upon I
smooth bark which covered one Of /
wig-wams, and underneath, in go
Roman characters, ST. ned the craC
Jaw name Of some Indian who appe
ed to be a chiefin the tribe Ofcou
we never suspected trick Of the kii
and until the joker elfmentionet
many Of US really thought that one
Me rowing sons Of the wilderness i
cultivated, in some way, taste for
Gne arts.
he next day, which / think Y
the 18th July, we made a good da
march over the ridge which diyiC