Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-28

But iit;le was said about our recep-
ton on reaching Santa Fe. The gen.
e2al impression was that the people of
Few Mexico were extremely anxious
TO open a trade with the Texans--that
they were all on the side Of the latter.
Ifany opposition should be made to
the peaceable entry of the volunteers,
it was thought it would come from a
few troops always stationed in New
Mexico by the General Government
a force that was TO be put down in case
large majority of the residents were
in favor of such a course. AS for
having anything like a regular battle,
or of subduing the country in case the
people should be found hostile, sucl
events were never either anticipated or
talked of. Invading armies seldom
take goods and merchandise along to
trade with their enemies when hard
fighting is anticipated. That we should
have severe brushes with the hostile
Indians, known to live in large num-
bers on the route we were going, was
looked for, as matter of ;and the
fact that such "skirmages" we're an tic
ipated made the trip, doubly exciting.
Had it been supposed that we were to
have no buffalo hunting--that we were
were to see none Of the wild Cossacks
of the prairies, for the Camanches.
Waokes, Cayguas, and other wander
ing tribes who are never seen except
on, horseback deserve this title--in
fact had it been thought that the expe,
dition would meet with no hindrance-
but, on the contrary drag along day
after day with nothing to break the dull
monotony ofthe slowest kind of travel
ling, [ doubt whether even a corporal's
guard could have been mustered to
accompany i'll most certainly should
not have joined it for one.
We reached Austin from San An
tonic on Sunday. The next evening
met with an accident which came
near preventing me not only from leav-
ing for Santa Fe, but for any other
place. Some four or five of US started
after tea for the purpose Of bathing in
the Colorado. The night was so dark
that not an object was discernable a
yard from our eyes, and man could
have seen his hand as plainly had it
been in Kamschatka as held up before
his face. Happening to be ahead, and
thinking was in the right path TO
the bathing place kept on until finally
reached what may emphaticl!y be
called the "jumping-of' place. of the
Rio Colorado. A mans situation is
| by no means enviable when he finds
mis- feet have no footing, and that his
specific gravity is carrying him, with
absolutely uncomfortable to say moth
ing Of the danger, from second or
third story window to a sidewalk he
| is acquainted with and on which he has
travelled a thousand times; but when
he suddenly finds himself standing
upon nothing, his destination u1G
known, and is uncertain how far he las
to travel before he "brings up"-when
he falls so far that he has time to re-
fleet while upon the journey or the dis
lance he has already come and also to
speculate how far he has still to GO
wheni [ say, he finds himself in this
peculiarly unpleasant situation, feel
ings are engendered in his own mind
so nearly akin to dissatisfaction that
there is no fun in it. The longest road,
however,has an nd;and finally struck
with my whole weight upon my ankle,
SCATTERING it badly and at the same
time injuring my back so severely that
| was entirely bereft of strength and
and the power to move. My friends,
after cropping their way, finally found
and carried me to the hotel. For near
ly two months | could not pus my foot
to the ground, and even to this day the
injury is far from being cured. Time
was when [ was willing to essay a CO.
tillion with the spryest---when | could
cut plgeons-wings and come the doub-
lie shuttle in reel or a contra-dance
"down east" and enter. into the thing
with a perfect abandon--but those days
are bravely over now: the Gig is up"
can still console myself with one re-
Election, however, and one which l free
ly offer and recommend to all who may
be similarly situated; when a man
breaks his leg or his arm he should al
ways be thankful it was no worse
, in other words that it was not his neck.
i To speak more seriously, l was at
first fearful that the accident which had
befallen me would prevent my accom-.
panying the expedition. Ny ankle
gave me great pain and was entirely
useless, and in addition to this injury
had received in my back prevented my
turning over in bed or rising. The
main body of the men attached to the
expedition had left Austin and encam-
ped on the Brushy, some twenty miles
Distant the commissioners were TO fol-
low Immediately, and then the line Of
, march was to be taken up. Delays
: however, occurred, and in the mean
: time neat little Jersey Wagon, COW