The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-07-31
The Expedition to snn,n re.

The New York Courier and En-
qnirer, referring to the preparations
making for an expedition to New
Mexico, under the command of Col
oncl Kearney, embodics The fellow
ing facts;
From independence to Santa re,
the distance is set down by Mr..
Gregg, in his valuable work upon
the Commerce Of the Prairics, at
77J miles, and the trip across is per-
formed, under favorable circumstan-
ces, in about forty days. For near
~ 900 miles the roate lies through
an uninterrupted prairie, except the
marrow fringes Of timber which Dor
der the streams. at the distance of
200 miles from Independence, buffa-
10 begin TO be found, and hunting
affords at once excitement and food
for the expedition. Quagmires are
frequently encountered, over which
paths are readily made by crossing
them with brush and throwing earth
upon it. At the distance Of 270
miles, the Arkansas is crossed, and
at this point the prairie soil, which
before has been rich, fertile, and
covered with the most beautiful veg
citation, becomes more barren, and
presents thenceforward far more
cherries ard drcary appearance.
Between the Arkansas and Cimarron
rivers, distance fifty light miles,
intcryenes q sandy desert, formerly
difficult Of passage and destitute of
water and the route for some dis
lance farther, continues to be one
of considerable labor. After cross
ing the river, dense Tickets are en-
countered, and the face Of the coun-
try assumes the character Of noun
famous region, being broken into tall
cliffs, deep gorges and a generally
rough and hard surface. After pass
ing the Upper and Cold Springs,
which are three hundred and thirty
miles from Independence, the tract;
becomes perfectly plain and easy,
and from the top Of Round Noun
tain, fifty miles farther ahead, mag
nifcent view is obtained of the i'm
mense plains which lie adjacent,
destitute of timber except around
the bluffs of rayincs, and only occa-
sionally covered with herds of count
less buffalo. "Looking southwark"
says Mr.. Gregg, ga varied country
is seen, Of hills, plains, mounds and
sandy unduIations but on the whole
Northern side, extensive plains are
spread out, studded occasionally
with yariegated peaks and ridges.
Far beyond these, to the Northwest
ward, and low in the horizon, sill
very stripe appears upon an azure
base, resembling a list of chalk
white clouds. This is the porenni-
ally snow.cnp summit Of the Eastern
spur ofthc Rocky Mountains" The
road soon becomes rough and rocky,
and from the Rio Colorado to San
Miguel, a distance Of about 100
miles, itruns Southeast, nearly par
allcl with the spur of the snow clad
mountains already mentioned. This
region is celebrated for its sudden
and severe storms of thunder, hail
and rain. For the last fifty miles
before reaching San Miguel, the
road stretches over an elevated plain
and is entirely unohstructcd. San
Miguel is the first settlement Of any
kind upon the route. 1t stands in
the valley Of the Rio Pccos and is
little more than a series Of irregular
clusters of mud huts. From that
place to Santa Fc, the distance is a
ljttlc over fifty miles, and the road
is rough and uneven, running over
hills and crossing deep gullies.
Over this route the expedition
will, without much difficulty, take
possession of Santa Fe and the adj
iacent portions Of New Mexico.
The entire population of the whole
department is less than 10000, and
of these, by far the greater portion
are lndians.-None Of the people
have any special attachment to the
central government, and it is con-
fdently said, upon what appears to
be good authority, that they would
very checrIully cooperate with the
American forces, in throwing of the
very slight authority which nominal
ly binds them to the Republic. The
country is valuable, for its mines of
gold, copper, zinc and lead, which
are very abundant and extensive and
of wealth which has never yet been
even ascertained, much less devel-
opcd, and for its agricultural capa-
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E'on Oregon.