The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-03


ia its defence; and we thought that humbled,
mortified pride was indicated IN the expression of
more than one swarthy face. As the American nag
was raised end the cannon doomed It's glorious ma
tonal salute from the hill, the pent-up emotions OF
many Of the women could be suppressed no longer,
and a sigh Of eommlseTaiiOn, even Tor csuseless
distress, escaped from manya manly breast, as the
wall Of grief above the din Of our horses tread
and reached our ears ffsm the depth OF The gloomy
looking buildings every hand. Poor sistersl
your agony was but creature OF excited imagina-
ton. Our cannon were not directed against your
frail tenements, but were sounding peals oiJny at
the deyeance Of yourselves your brothers, fathers,
and husbands from petty despotism and petty
tyrannyi so, cheer up! and soon you VIII ma "los
.fHtriean0s" as agreeable friends we hatter our
selves we can be, II We choose, formidable enemIes
On the morning Of the 18th, was back at camp
soon infer daylight with bat poor prospect Tor
breakfast, as our teams had not come up, and all
the spare bread in the city had been grabbed up (al
prices high enough, assure you) the night before
While Specializing on The favor Of the remembered
beefsteaks and hot coffee, here comes an order TO
march with detachment Of half the men OF the
Laelede rangers" and all the horses, TO the rural
districts, with the laudable and necessary purpose
OF hnding our animals some forage IN ether words,
was very eyily ordered to "go 70 grass" and Mr..
Labeaume along with me. Pompey, my little bay,
nelghed heartily Just as the order was given bat
am not prepared to say that he intended IL horse
laugh at the prospect before him. The provision
wagons were on the road, but exactly where, no
one could tell; but men in Santa Fe had assured
our superlors that excellent grass would be found
IN six or eight miles, contented ourselves with
the reflection that our wagons would Join Us In the
afternoon, and then we would all live on the very
best, 1--WE could get,) while our horses would lux
uriae in grass TO their knees, at least. So, of we
started, one-half Of each company Of the United
States Dragons, and all their horses along with US
the whole detachment under the command Of Capt
Moore. AT first our course south, and then lit
tie 10 the west for about seven miles in all, which
took US out Of the siunted cedsrs; but grass or
very little, and no waterthe order consequent
miles further, before found place 10 slack the
thirst Of our halEsaryed, reelng animals, and
spot to encamp upon. This we found in narrow
valley at the base OF mountan--the water APP
peared IN pools in the bottom Of a gully, as we
When about the time our camp was
forming, there came pouring down along It's sinuous
course a Hood OF water, Of deep red color and
shine TASTE the draining Of the liable lands and
hill slopes southwest Of US, aler the heavy shower
which we had been looking at all afternoon, bat
which we had no idea would afford the water for our
suPPlies-ihst 10, the supplies Of those who had
anything TO cook in water. The road leading down
into the valley passed some very broken ground
where a terrible CONFUSION had turned everything
toPsy.turvy, and where, among other sights Of diff
feren kinds, we found four pieces OF the petrifed
trunk Of tree each piece about -four feet long and
eighteen inches in diameter and the fractures appa-
rently caused by the same violent effort Of nature
which has disturbed everything else in the neigh
borhood. The wood was evidently cedar, and, no
doubt the petriaction had taken place, and the sub
Jeet was quietly resting perhaps many feet inearth
ed, when It's repose was disturbed by he fantastic
capers Of mother earth under the torture Of her in
ternal fires.
Our supper that night was rich A little flour had
I0A aaNA r. Al i. -
another company, and was turned over TO us on our
arrival at camp-our own wagon, Of course, did not
a ration Of fresh beef was promised to
US as soon as the loose cattle should be driven up.
We'll, at dark, the loose cattle were driven up and
one Of them most cfIectuay shot at--and missed !!
Our poor fellows put their -four sack to one side OF
their sleeping ground, tumbled down their blank
cts, (for the tents were all back in the wagon,) and
themselves to Tired natures sweet
Of them having eaten nothing, and
none of them having had a regular meal for thirty
SIX hours, and on laborious duty during nearly
every hour Of the time This is soldiering-but il
cannot be helped, at times, and the fortitude with
which the Hangers" bore their hard lot was highly
credtable TO the young men who compose the com
pany.
Next morning the beef was killed. few irving
pans and little salt were borrowed from the other
and we made ''hasty" breakfast, which
was trough" enough, but which all were glad to
wagon behind us, all sorts Of expedients TO bake up
our little dust Of -four resorted to; and many
were surprised to find how well a roll of dough,
coled round a stick and stuck up before the fire,
would If turned occasionally, inevitably bake itself
and thoughts ran back to early days. when the
culinary art was IN Its infancy, and hungry men
were fam to find the simplest cooking best.
since that morning our wagon has joined us-our
rahons small; but still, rations Of heur and bacon
have been received, and we are now in the best of
spirits, with wel-flled stomachs; and our faithful
animas-to whom we feel attached after our long
march-in grass, which is rapidly invigoratng their
Jaded frames, and restoring their sunken spirits In
truth, the march Of the day before reached Santa
Fe and the day after, of more than fifty miles, with
out morsel Of food, reduced horses in strength
more than any previous weeks marching on the
route.
Galasteo-about which | intended saying some
thing, but have not room. We came here on the
evening of the 20th. That morning early, Captain
Fisher, in command Of detachments from the artle.
ry, with their horses had arrived at the village for
the purpose Of grazing it, and found in it three
pieces OF cannon left by Gov. Armjo, of which he
took possession, and which he has since sent to the
general, at Santa Fe.
Lieutenant colonel Ruff, with half of Col Doni-
phan's regiment and all their horses is also near us
grazing
We have rumors every day from Santa Fe
n"onS oHof thiHSs, ~ III reported to-day that The
artillery to remain to garrison the place. and that
all the remainder of the generals command will
march, in about ten days, to FL Passo del Norte on
the way by Sonora, to California. It seems to be
pretty well agreed that the general is going to Cali
forna; but whether he will take any Of his present
volunteer force is uncertain. The truth is, we do
not exactly see who is there to fight, or what if we
did march there, we should have to do, unless it
were to march back again. But these things are mere
one knows what the generals instruc-
tons or intentions are and not of here knows
his destiny during his period of enlistment
They Lave had some little items, we learn, up in
Santa Fe. volunteer, said TO be member of Capt
Reid's company, from Saline, who drew his sabre
on Capt. Turner, assistant adjutant general, has
been court-mortialed and sentenced to be shot The
mans name, am informed, is Herner, or some
thing like it, but the general, it is understood has
commuted the punishment, though what he has or.
dered is not known in camp Some other affairs
have taken place, account of which, as they are
not OF much consequence, must be postponed for the
present.
The only thing which we know, certainly, Of the
generals intention is, that he will have reconnois-
ance of the country about Santa Fe made, with