Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-11-28


this and the middle of November when it is thought may
have communications interrupted by wet weather.
Brgade General Shields arrived yesterday, and confirmed
the previous intelligence of hardough battle between Gen
Taylor and Ampuda and also of the captuation This
morning wasnformed by intelligent Mexican that Santa
Anna had arrived at Salo with 600, and with those of
Ampudia, making force of 5000 men, It is also stated
that the Government had called out 100000 militia. In few
days shall know the truth of the herewith send
you copy of order issued the arrival of the troops
the Rio Grande also, report of Lieut. Kingsbury of the
route and days march from San Antonio to this place.
am, very respectfully, your obedent servant,
JOHN Il. WOOL. Brig Gen.
To Brig. Gen. JONES,
Adutant General U. S. Army.
CAMP NEAR PaEsIDIo DE RIo GnASpE,
Meric0, October 3D. lS46.
SIR In compliance with your instructions have the honor
TO submit herewith, brief report Of your and march
from San Antonio de Bexar to the Rio Grande
First day. September 29ih.-The march commenced at
O'Clock in the morning and in about hour the dry bed
Of the Alazan Arroyo crossed water being found there
only at uncertain periods. After leaving this valley,
the land rises and somewhat rolling but with the exception
of the lines of shrubbery which skirt the water courses
generally destitute of vegetation The Leon is about three
miles from Alazln and the Medic four five miles from the
Leon. These seldom dry. The Medina, distant
about twentysix miles from San Antonio, forded at
o'clock p. M. This is fine stream of water rising n W.
of San Antonio and failing tributary Of the river Of
that The village of Castrove is located here the
habans mostly Germans The place yet in its infancy,
and, Of COURSE incapable of furnishing supplies of any
sort any considerable extent 1t is understood that several
hundred bushels of have been procured in the vicinity
this The camp mile west of the village. On
the right bank Of the river the gazing not good the
dagoon horses therefore, sent the river where the
grass had not suffered from the fire.
Second day.-It o'clock this morning when left
the camp In short time reached hill of considerable
height, in descending which, the axeree of ammunition
wagon was broken. The main body, however passed
after the necessary taken for REPAIRS and entered
upon wild and broken country, differing very much from
that raversed the day before The Que crossed about
10 o'clock, distant from Medina about miles. The
land here fertile, and near it small German settlement
formed but there evidence Of prosperity in appear
ance and the people complain of much sickness From the
Quie to the Aamos there is distance of five miles, and
thence to the Hondo is about niles The country is
rolling and rocky has timber than is usual in Texas,
which the stunted live oak the only kind found here
is most conspicuous The Hono is good water but not
continuous stream; near our encampment the water
found only in pools We reached this position o'clock F. M.
Third Day-The march Of this day commenced a few
minutes before sunrise. Soon after leaving camp the column
entered upon open pare presenting the worst features Of
the hogwalow species, which in wet weather would be al
most impossible The Seco is nearly seven miles from the
Hondo and from its name, probably dry certain
The Sabinal crossed few minutes after ~ o'clock,
where found the advance under Col Harney, in camp
The soil through which the road Of to-day passes generally
clay, with superficial depnstcs of gravel Distance Of to-day
about twenty miles.
Fourth Day-The whole body started this morning at 5
o'clock The country traversed throughout the day hck
covered with herbs dwarf shrubs but The
and Of little size Stony creek about miles from the
Sabna and from il TO the branch of the Fro the dis
tancc is nearly the The second dragoon infantry,
and volunteers encampcd at this place, while the first
dragons and artillery passed road of almost solid
limestone, shaded intervals by scaggy live oaks TO the
Leona, where arrived about IL o'clock 1t necessary
down the banks Of this creek preparatory the passage
Of the ran which, after the abors Of the poneers
cessfuy accomplished The Of this stream is the best
the route and is asserted that the quantity is annually
increasing In its immediate vicinity, the left bank, the
soil rich, and covered with unusually dense growth
timber. The grazing is not good
Fin Day.-Afer leaving the bottom Of the Leona, the
country presents the usual appearance Of the prae Of
ser and unproducve character stony, and without much
timber. We in sight Of the Nueces in three hours
march, distant about miles from the Leona On the ef
bank Of the river there is open prairie hut either from
fires or previous cncampmen furnished very scany sup
ply Of grass
Srh Day.-Thc Nucces forded about O'Clock in the
morning. after which the column entered upon desert
gion aboundng in 1warsh specimens Of chapara and
quite and luxurious growth Of pricky pear Between thu
Nucces and the Nina, interval Of eight miles, tho
soil is of clay with the exception Of belt Of sand about hal
milo in width, nearly midway between the streams. The
banks Of the Nina required little labor 10 render the ford
practicable. Tavsrsing continuation Of the same desert
waste arrived the channel Of the Erquipula about IL
o'clock This found perfectly dry and made il
to proceed the Chapnroz distant about ten miles from thu
Nina, which reached about noon The water here II
stagnan POOLS separated from the natural bed Of the stream
ScrtnM day-From the Chaparoza the road lies through
prairie, OF TWO, WHICH ulei DC
comes sandy and abounds in the usual amount Of hony
gcation. The Saline, Saidto is five sir miles distan
from the Chaparoza its indicates that its waters
bnckh, and Mexican guides report them such however
not the fact and in purity Of flavor il is hardly surpassed
by any stream the route Atemporay bridge Of branches
required few repairs before the passage Of the artillery
baggage wagons effected Passing region Q
country Of the unnvng aspect before, reached
the Pcoza, about fifteen miles from the Chaparoza, which
like the latter consisted only Of detached pools Of bad water
and hcky surrounded with the pricky pear almost
elude the search The grazing here was poor and it wa
deemed advisable proceed further -Four miles in advance
we upon series Of pools the waters Of which some
what bracksh, and which, doubtless, the Of SaidC
was originally given, msapplied above stated, 10
stream Of pure fresh After hating here short time
intelligence received that there good ahead
and in about hours march reached another collection
Of ponds, which, in high water, supposed to form vu
let whose confluence with the Cuevas, ten eleven miles
farther west is conjecurcd, forms the Norita The fuel
this place scarce and the grazing scany. Distance to
day twenty two miles,
Eighh dayTbc country traversed to-day is generally
fiat and supports but very scattered growth OF vegetation
We encamped The banks Of the supposed Cuevas Fue
with difficulty procured here, and even the pricky pca
reduced TO dwarf The in ponds, muddy and
unpaatabc This encampmcnt continued until the slh
having been determined await the arrival Of the troops
under Col Harney and effect concentration Of both detach