New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-27
CAMP NEAR fEEsIDio DE- RIO GRAEDE.
MpXrCo October 18th lStG

CAMr NEAR frnsIDio DE RIO CRANDr,
MEXICO, October 18Th 1876.
SIR: In compliance with your Instructions have
the honor TO submit herewith brief report of your
and march from san Antonio de BcXar TO The Rio
Grandc
Frst Doy. September Subtitle march com
rnenccd o'clock in the morning aud IN about one
hour the dry bed of the AaZan Arroyo was crossed
water being found there only at uncertain periods NJ
ter leaving this valley the land rises, and is
somewhat rolling but with the exception oil The lines OF
shrubbcTy which skirt the water courses u generally
destitute of vegetation The Leon 10 about three miles
from the Alarm and the Medic four five miles from
the Leon. These streams seldom dry. The Med
M, distant about twentysx miles IRON san Antonio
was forded a; o'clock, p. NJ. This is fine stream OF
water rising N w OF San Antonio and never falling
tributary OF the river of tina, name. The village OF Cas-
trovc Ia located here the Inhabitants are mostly Ger
mans The place is yet III its infancy, and, OF course
incapable of furnishing supplies OF any sort 10 any con
siderable extent II is understood that several hundred
bushels of have been procured in the vicinity this
season The camp n mile west OF the village, On
the right bank OF the river the grazing was not good
the drDgoon horses therefore sent over the river
where the grass had not suffered from the tire.
Srr0ad DGy-It was o clock this morning when
we lef camp In n short time reached hill of
siderable height in descending which the aXletroc OF an
ammunition wagon broken. The main BODY how.
ever passed on alter the necessary means We're taken
repairs and entered upon avid and broken country
differing much from that traverscd the day before
The Cutie crossed about 10 o'clock distant from the
Medina about nine miles The land here IL fertile. and
It small German settlement is formed but there
evidence Of prosperity IN it, appearance. and the
people complain OF much sickness. From the t9ulc 10
the Alsmos there is distance OF i've mes' and thence
To the Iloudo is about miles The country Is roll
inr and rocky has timber than is usual in Texas
among which the stnntcd vcoak, the only KIND found
here is mos, conspicuous The Hondo is good water
but Is not a continuous stream our oncompmcnt
the water was found only in pools, We reached this
position Mt o'clock 7. NJ
Third Doy.-The march OF tins day commenced
n few minutes before sunrise. Soon after leaving
camp the column entered upon open prairie pre-
sen,ng the worst features of the hog wslow species.
Which, in weather, would be almost impassablc-
The Seco is nearly miles from the llondo and
from ts name, is probably dry at certain sco-ons
Tho eahin.I crossed II few minutes after II
O'clock where found the advance, under Col liar
ncy, in camp The soil through which the road OF 10
day passes is generally OF clay with superficial deposits
Of grnve. Distance OF today about 20 miles.
Fourth Day-The whole body started this morn
Ing o'clock The country traverscd throughout the
day is thckly covered with herbs and dwarf shrubs
but the few and OF little size stony Creek is
about miles from the Sabiaal, and from il to the
branch of the Frio the distance isnearly the same
The I'd Dragons, Infantry aud Volunteers were
camped at this place, while the LIST Dragons and Arii
lcry passed on over a road of almost solid limestone
shaded at intervals by scroggy live oaks, to the Lcona
where arrived about II o'clock II was necessary 10
down the banks OF this creek, preparatory the
passage OF the train, which, after the abors OF the
pioneers successfully accomplished Tho wafer
of this is the best the route and II is asserted
that the quantity il annually increasing. In i,s iinme
diae vicinity, the left bank. the soil Is rich, and
covered with unusually dense growth OF timber
The grazing If not good.
Fin Doy-Aitcr leaving the bottom OF the
eona the country presents the usual appearance OF the
prairie is OF sterile and Unproductvc character stony,
and wi;hou, much timber We came in sight OF the
Nueces in three hours march, dsian; about ten miles
from the Leona On the lett bauf ol the river there is
open prairie but either from fires or previous en-
equipments, furnished a very scanty supply OF grass
Sirth DaV-The Nueces was torded about SIN
o'clock IN the morning after which the column entered
nor ipsp Astounding
OF charparral aud mezque, and luNulsnt growth OF
prickiy pear Between the Nueces and the Nina an IN
ervs OF seven eight miles, the soil OF clay with me
exception of belt OF sand about hall mike III Wioth
nearly midway between the streams The banks OF the
Nina required little labor 10 render the ford practical
be. 1raverSng a continuation OF the same desert
waste we arrived a, channel OF the Erqupua about
l0ocock this found perfectly dry, and made it
proceed the Chaparcza distant ABOUT ten
miles from the Nina which We reached about noon
The here in stsgnant pools, separated from
the natural bed of the stream.
SereRth Day.--From the Chaparo2a the road lies
through hog wsllow prairie, extending mile or two
which then becomes sandy. and shounds in the usual
amount of ihorny vegetation. The Saline. or Saidito
IS i've miles distant from the Chaparozs It's name
indicates thatswSters are bracksh and Mexican guides
81 report them such, however is not the fact and III
purity OF flavor is hardly surpassed by stream on
the route, temporary bridge Of branches required
few repairs before the passage of the artillery and bag
sage wagons effected Passing over a region of
country OF the uninviting aspect as before
reached the picozs aboat fifteen miles from the Chap
which,
pools of bad water and thcky surrounded with the
pckly pear as almost elude the search The grazing
herc was poor and it deemed advisable TO proceed
farther Four miles in advance We came upon series
of pools the waters of which somewhat brackjsh
and to which doubtless, the name OF SSdo was orSi
nsly given now lnsapplcd as above stated 10 stream
OF pure .resh water Attcr hating here short time,
intelligence was received that there was good water
shead and in about hours march we reached Az
other collection Of ponds, which IN high water are sup
pced 10 form riynct whose confluence with the Cue
,,,,,laS fey WNS
r,ns the Norita The fuel at this place WAS scarce ana
se grazing ,csniy Distance today twenty-five f'iles
EiybA Dcs.--The country traversed today Is
Generally :iat aud supports but very scattered growth
Vegetation We encsnped OF the banks OF :he sup
peed Cuevas. Fuel with difficulty procured here
I'd even the prickly pear was reduced 10 dwarf The
sttsr in ponds. muddy and unpais:ahlc. This en-
aapfncat WAS continued until the sth II having been
s.nined Avail, the arrival of the troops under Col
ssrey, and effect concentration Q! both attachments
scre proceeding the Rio Grande, distant about y
e.!es. These troops CAME up on the 1ih shout 10
selock A. NJ
TeHta Drs-The Army arrived a; the Rio
esSadc this Day IL O'clock. A. NJ. Tho rosd Is
ssadns and passes over several narrow and deep IA
Snes which We're crossed however, wi;hou, much
SSenlty The country is hily. the vegetation stun,ed
I'd scattered and the soil of indifferent quality.
Tie line OF march IS known Wolls Road. Il is
soe c'rcui'ous than the old Preside route eu: by
messing the streams nearer their source perhaps
sasscaols FOR az Army during greater portion OF the
s It's general direction is southweserly the south
\ as being mostly made Yves; OF the Nueces
| trasy be added tina, the march was ACCOMPLISHED
aacer circumstances less favorable ,hsa wss the
aeeess which attended il remarkable /, had been pre-
I 'eted by drought OF several weeks which had NOT
only rendered the road hard and in good condition for
travelling but had reduced the streams 10 iosdable
eeph Over many of the latter i would bc very diff.
gu 70 construct bridges during freshets, and 10 ford
.aen al such times would be impossible large por
ven Of the route lies through country, the soil o.
ssSa Is OF nstare that even light rains would
easert the rosds into condition be impossible
" loaded wagons, even If the streams offered no OBJ
nSces is presumed that East of the Nueces during
sssaoos there is ample sunrlv oil water West Of