The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-01

water good, and abundant,
To the Saco River IL
To the Ranchero .
To the Sabina
To the Little Sabnal
To the Rio Frio $50 miles from Bexar.
To the Leona-
To the Nueces l2-loo miles from Bexar
To the Arrest Creek %
10 the Dry Creek
10 the Chapperosa
10 the SaadnO
To the Fish Creek ~
70 the Creek
To the Cuevas 10
To the Rio Grande l2--l64 miles from San Anto-
MO to the west bank OF the Rio Grande.
Observations for the determination of longitude and
latitude have been made often practicable; but as
they have not all been reduced, have thought it best
not to give imperfect list of them but to have them
designated on the typographical map which Lieut. Sit
greaves is preparing.
have thought best, in this short descriptive memoir
to condense my notes as much as possible and to conne
myself to strictly practical results.
October 10th Crossed the river with several officers
of the staff, under orders from the commanding general
The Rio Grande noble river, SIG feet wide at the
ford water feet deep bottom hard gravel and the cur,
rent very swift Several wagons crossed to-day bat
with some difficulty. The party was accompanied by a
squadron of the ID Dragons under the command of
Colonel Harvey, which encamped about two miles be-
Preside del Rio Grande is about five miles from the
river the general course of the road being So degrees
ly situated, small creek falling into the river There is
good deal of corn and sugar grown in the vicinity About
mile from the town, in the direction OF the ford the
ruins of monastery the walls OF which, built of stone,
are thick and in excellent state OF preservation it
could be rendered strong defensive work Within the
town stone tower, built, and formerly occupied
guard house. Returned to camp at night.
October 11M-Lieut. Sitgreaves accompanied by Lieut.
Bryan, went to examine VOLTS ford, rather ferry,
about miles from the usual ford The river at this
point, wide, with very rapid current and not ford
able In the afternoon examined the river below the
ford but could find crossing place. Lieut. Franklin
was engaged in reducing his astronomical observations.
October l2M.-The whole advance of the army, COM
handing general and staff, crossed the Rio Grande,
marched through Preside, and encamped about miles
south Of the town. Grazing good but water hard and
sulphurious.
handing general, to obtain information in relation to the
route to Santa Rosa. Met General Shields, sway
to camp, from Camargo.
October 1lM.-Receved orders from headquarters to
proceed tomorrow morning, with squadron of Arkan-
mounted men, under command of Lieut.. Col Roane,
to econnOtre the country as far as Santa Rosa at which
town required to wait for further instructions
October 15M-Left the Preside camp at ~ o'clock in
the morning, with Pike and Preston's companies There
is no water between our camp and point two miles east
of the town of Nava, although the entire country was
obviously once irrigated, and in high state OF cuva-
ton The distance Ito Nava from Preside we estimated
at q miles. We marched through the town; but not
ing cut up with dches we were compelled to return to
the east side, where pitched tents The water
was excellent and grazing good wood scarce but corn,
fodder, and other supplies abundant.
October l6M-Marched at u a. m, and reached San
Fernando de Rosas in three hours The estimated dis
lance is eleven miles. The town situated the south
west bank of the river Escondido beautiful and limpid
stream of pure water which rises about ten miles south
west of the town, and flows, after passing it, about thr
ty miles to the Rio Grandc some twenty-five miles above
Preside.
San Fernando contains about 600 inhabitants and is
wel-built and respectable looking town. The people
are well dressed. and are said to be well Oft. good
deal of corn is grown here and in the nelghborng vii
lagos of Morales and San Juanthe former containing
about 900, and the latter 100 souls.
The command passed through the town. recrossed the
river and encamped about six miles beyond, where the
water excellent grass good, and fuel abundant
There are several ranches between the town and the
camp-penty of corn, and other supplies, ),
extreme severity The weather, which had been excess
lively hot suddenly changing to low emperature-the
wind being very penetrating
marched only eleven miles, Gas there was said to be no
water for twenty -four miles,) when encamped at the
Santa Rita Springs which here formed beautiful little
lake OF pure and palatabe water Fuel plenty but graz
ing Indifferent.
The Santa Rita Springs are the sources of the water
which supplies the towns of San Juan, Morales and Ma
and formerly carried as Tar as our camp near Pre-
sidio iTrgang the whole intermediate country, dis
lance of than forty miles, through which it was
carried in artificial channels
came to the intersection of the San Juan and Morales
road and afterwards crossed of the spurs OF
the range OF hills which saw on our left about fifteen
miles distant, march from Preside; their course
being nearly north and south; the Perote road passes
through them About three miles further on, we
passed through the range at an easy ascent.
The ground, for about eight miles, is much bro
ken, but the road good and the country easily defend
ed against invading force AT distance of l6 miles
from Santa Rosa came to pool of good mater, which
all Mexican accounts had represented to be brdck, and
and unfit for horses to drink The pas
turage here very good but fuel Sent back
able encampment for the army When running stream,
the water discharges into the Sabna. From this pool it
was IA miles the Rio Alamos, the first ten miles of
which level prairie OF good graaa The next
miles descent to the river, where encamped.
The Perote road comes in at this ford, about mile
back the banks of the river covered with growth of
cottonwood
October l9h--The Alamos is about 100 feet WIDE a
feet Deep hard pebby bottom, and the current perfect
torrent With great difficulty passed our train over
and two men, who were earned off their horses by the
force of the current After crossing the river, the road
turns suddenly TO the left, and half mile further the
roads diverge the left leading to the ferry being the
direct Monclova road and the right hand the Sa
bnos ford being the Santa Rosa road At the ferry, tn
river is not fordabe.
-Four miles from the Alamos, came to the
Sabinos-a river neither wide, as swift,
nor as deep as the former the bottom hard.
We crossed II without much. difficulty. The shores
cypress trees. This river at times overfows its banks TO
great extent showing that it sometimes discharges an
immense volume of water, when it must be utterly I'M
possible pass it, Neither this stream the Alamos
could be permanently bridged. Good camping ground on
the right bank, with plenty of grass and fuel Water
us to the "Three Ranchos-a good camping ground on
beautiful mountain stream four miles further is another
good eDcampng ground; one and half mile further,
about half mile from the town of Santa Rosa, en-
camped the left bank of the above mentioned stream
Glowing into the Sabinss,) broad and extensive
nj a a volcanic