Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-06-11


are marching hut my heart sent forth an
amen as our commander rode up and hastily
shouted "Stop that, who told you TO play that
air ?" After a march Of twelve miles. through
musquit timber and prairie grass, we halted
on the banks of the Neuces. most delightful
stream, in fact the best water had tasted In
| Texas.
/ Next day we marched over a splendid prai-
/ RE through millions OF flowers, the blooming
cactus among the number; and halted early.
| We had hailed but moment when troop OF
| horse came rushing towards us about a mile
| distant, and seemed at first as il intending TO
/ take,us by storm, when they suddenly wheel
ed and started IN another direction. Our bri-
gade commander knew not what TO make of
this expedition, and naturally concluded il was
party of Mexicans observing our movements,
especially as the state of the atmosphere at the
time doomed up the distant objects so as to
give them the appearance of q mounted party.
An express was instantly sent out and re-
turned In a few minutes. having ascertained
them to to be drove of wild horses or Mus
tangs from this circumstance the camp was
called Scamp Mustang"
Our short march Of the previous day had re-
vived all hands, and we started cheerfully on
the morning of the 18th ; we marched this day
| / miles over rolling prairie covered with
flowers of every hue. The odor was delight
| fu and the whole surface of the earth seem
ed covered with beautiful carpet. The edge
of the horizon in every direction was covered
with wild animals, on one side thousands of
wild horses were curyeting about--on another
herds of deer might be seen standing for mo-
inert filled with wonder at sight Of Us. then
bounding away as if thousand devils chased
them. Here rushed along the antelope with
speed almost incredible, and in the distance
might be seen countless numbers of them al
play. Now and then we caughta sight Of the
Peccany or wild hog, looking much like a
shngle navigating on four legs. The manGu-
vreing of the wild horses was decidedly won
derful they would form into line of battle and
march accurately abreast towards us until
signal from one OF them, they would break in
TO platoonS or sections, and be in 4 moment
almost out of sight, but the charge was sub
lime ] cannot describe it, and viii not at
tempt But only imagine a thousand wild
steeds. with eyes flashing, and limbs as unre-
strained and free as the wind-whose names
the hand OF man never touched--suppose
them rushing in one line across the PLAIN, with
head erect nostrlls distended land names and tails
flying in the breeze created by their flight, and
you have partly seen il. Our Adu;ant made
chase after one of these droyes, and was soon
in the midst of them. He rode side and side
for half an hour with young colt, when his
horse began to tire; at this moment the moth
er of the colt with a dozen others rushed like
furies toward him, putting his horse into
fright. He was thrown from HIS seat head
foremost, and lay senseless for some minutes.
We this night encamped on the clos Pm
tos." We left on the l4th at daybfeak and
A Al, AZ,
description of country as the day before The
entire march was spent in eXclamati0ns of
surprise and delight as each new object would
present itself Herds of antelopes, deer and
wild horses would rush close past us. We
encamped at ''Santa Gertrudes." On the 18th
we started at day break, marched over the
same description Of country as the preceding
day. and encamped in the evening among the
Santa Clara Notes" as the small groves of
trees are called which are here and there scat
tered over the prairie. Here the water was
very bad, and scarce had fuel enough to cook
with. On the 10th we reached early in the
afternoon 'fCamp Fl Pista," and on the 18th
started at quarter past 5 O'Clock this day we
crossed a salt lake, and marched through deep
loose sand, not vestige of Vegetation. The
teams have great difficulty to get along. The
men were much fatigued this day, having
marched 20 miles.
On the 18th we were detained till about Q
o'clock by the issue OF rations. Our march
this day was a scene OF the most acute
suffering ever felt. We marched through
sandy pralrie--at every step we sank ankle
deep III the burning white sand, with pier
cling sun beaming down upon US, aud not a
breathe of air to relieve our misery. To add
10 our discomfort there was not adrop OF fresh
water for seventeen miles, while TO aggravate
our miseries we frequently came upon salt
ponds we at length arrived at a fresh water
pond--the rush TO il was tremendous with
what delight did drink cup after cup of the
dirty swamp water Sick and sore with the
priyations of the preceding day we left Camp
Marcy" ESQ called after the Secretary of War,)
and now advanced into perfect heaven upon
earth. | wish could describe this part of the
country. If the garden Of Eden was equal to
il, what treasure our first parents must have
lost here are the notes OF ten thousand birds
to charm the ear--here are silver lakes, upon
whose margin the dwarf honey-bean stands
and casts Just shade enough 10 give a celestial
appearance to the whole while from beds Of
flowers, ON which Imagination pictures mil
lions of tiny fairy queens 70 be dancing, arises
a perfume so grateful to the senses, that we
were lost in wonder that such scenes should
possibly exist and we not know it before.
We encamped this night at "Carecita," ll9
miles from Corpus ChriS,i and the next day
Ohe 20th) passed through the same descnp
ton of country. We saw in the afternoon and
evening several large wild bulls, advancing at
no great distance from us. On the 2lst, we
started very early, and at about 10 O'Clock
reached the Rio Colorado, deep broad stream
with high bluff banks. 1t was at the crossing
Of this river that Gen. TAYLOR expected to
be attacked the cavalry and LIST and "a bri-
gades reached the Colorado on the 10Th Col.
CANALEs with or COCO MeXicans were en-
camped on the opposite bank Of the river; he
told Gen. TAYLOR it was useless 10 attempt TO
cross--that the first man who put his foot INTO
the water would be shot down--that he was
only performing his duty, the neglect OF which
would certainly cost him his property, perhaps
his lile-that his feelings must give place for
duty, sc. Gen. TAYLOR replied that the
crossing was indispensable--was sorry for the |
Colonel's feelings, Sc, but positively he would /
cross, while Gen. WORTH, riding forward, exv
claimed, ''Colne on boys, ifthere's any shoot !
ing to be done III have hand in ii--lst brit /
GRADE forWardlo and dashed into the stream (