The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-15

Winter March Prairies.
ON war with Mexico has developed so many traits OF
daring courage and of extraordinary enterprise that it
would seem ii the days of Cortes had revived No
numbers to stay the progress OF armies; Diff
cues dangers or harshps seem 10 damp the enterprise
of our officers Heat and cold, hunger and thirst wet
and dry TO be encountered with that steady and cool
courage that enduring perseverance, which rccois from
no difficulties and rumphs all impediniens We
particularly struck with these reflections reading
the 'extract from the Journal OF Lieut. James w Albert"
of the corps of Typographical Engineers.
This young officer had been attached to the command of
General Keany, and started with it from Fort Leayen-
worth for Santa Fe On the route he was taken extreme
y ILL., and was left at Bents Fort with bat faint expecta
lions of his recovery His strong constitution, however
and those attentions which it impossible he could re-
ceye the march, enabled him. in tme 10 get the better
OF his disease, and to recover his health.
ks he sufficiently restored he pushed on
6aal e in the hope of yet being able to join General
Kearn& But it too late the general had been alrea
ly many days his foute to California On his arrival
Santa Fe he found orders from Mai Emory chief OF the
Typographical Engineer staff with General Kearny, d-
recting him, If his health would admit OF it, TO make a
thorough examination and survey OF the department OF
New Mexico, and to return TO the States after having
completed the duty. Under this order, understand
that Lieut. Albert visited nearly every town OF epute in
that department. that he possesses the most interesting
and sketches
He had completed his dutes when he received the or
ders of the AID uant General, TO which he refers and the
part OF his ourndl which pabish. includes only
the incidents of his march home from Valvede to Fot
Leavenworth.
Extract from the Journal of Lieut. James ". Abert, IT,
s. Typographical Engineers
On the 18th OF November we reached Vaverle, IS
miles below San Pedro, the most southern point in the
.f hara
uAtl received an order from the Adutan Generals
Offices directing me TO proceed 10 Washington and report
to The Colonel of Typographical EIiglneefa.
We had now been waiting inactive from the middle OF
November until this time for the news OF General WOODS
arrival at chihuahua, when should have gone to thai
place IN company with the traders who were assembled
here ia great huibers Before receiving this last order
felt it optional with myself to the route might fake
get back the United States but now determined TO
take the one road which ! knew was open, although
the wide ptares, where one seldom finds tree for shell
ter yet felt confident that shnrd he eble setacross
had not gone half a days Journey from Valverde
when overlook party of eighteen men who had been
discharged by Mr. Gentry and were on their way TO The
States at took them in my employment, consid-
ering myself fortunate IN hnding party IN complete
readiness, thus obviang the necessity OF delay al Santa
We had mich cold weaiher--the Rio Grande being
frozen across almost every night; bat nc soonef does the
sun appear than the breaks up and is borne rapidly
down BY the stream On the road walked much pos
sibe causing my do the same, and took every OPP
Il
exchanging all mine, which were much worn out by the
toilsome marches Obliged to make whilst sur
veying New Mexico. AT that time the grass very
poor and three nights in one week our mules were with
out water for "a hours Now we travelled UP the valley
of The del Noe ard coild always purchase ana
fodder ior the night at the towns near which we en-
camped
On the 10th December we arrived at Albuquerque, 1870
miles north of Valvede and 10 south Of Santa Fe; here
found two companies OF United States dragons under
Capts Burgwin and Grer; they were obliged TO send out
20 miles into the country for wood Cedar and their ami
mails had no grazing ground nearer than % miles,
Between Albuquerque and Santa Fe we found much
snow-it was the first of any depth. On the 2ls OF De-
cember encamped near the village of San Felipe,
Pueba town, and the next morning found that one OF
my mules had been driven Off also several horses be-
longing to Messrs. Hoffman and Voting whilst search
ing 10. their We warned by some oil these Indians
not TO go to Santa Fe the Spaniards about to kill
all the Americans there.
| On the 23d of December we reached Santa Fe, and
found the Americans in high state OF excitement on ac
Of intended revolution on the part OF the nhab
tants OF New Mexico all the cannons had been parked
in the plaza and the number OF men detailed for guard
had been greatly increased. Some eight nine OF the
ring leaders of this intended rebellion were i'll conne
men and according to the proclamation OF Gen hearns
had forfeited their lives and had they been hung AT
it would have had the effect think, TO stop all further
movements Of This nature; As Lieut. Peck seemed to
prefer remaining here, and had no necessity Tor his ser
! vices, ordered him to remain at Santa re
| Early on Monday, December 2sth,l left Santa fe not
wthsanding severe snow storm which commenced
about daybreak our road was srewn with carcasses OF
dead oxen and fragments OF broken wagons-the oxen
were vokesteers belonging to the United States and had
persisted for want OF proper care ON the part OF the team
! sters.
| On the 3lst of December were up before day light
and hoped TO make long march, but were caught IN
very snow storm between "St Jose" and "oIo
Vernal" The road became 40 covered with snow that we
lost way, and, getting rall made by the Mexican
''carreas leading to the places where they procure pine
wood, we waited the whole day in the cedar forests.
| AT one time the snow so blinded us that we were OBJ
liged to encamp and wait until it should abae at length
procured guide and reached "Ojo ,Vernal" about
dark, with of my men half frozen and another com
petely disabled by kick from mule ~.
On the evening OF January LIST we reached Vegas and
as it was the last Mexican town should see on our
route, determined to lay in supply OF corn for my
mules The only persons who had such corn as wished
eneavored to take advantage of my necessity and asked
as much as $40 the "fanega" had nowhere else paid
more than So, and therefore offered them that sum,
which was refused was therefore under the disagree
able necessity of pressing the Tor the use OF the
United States governments giving TO the owners Ger
tGcae the effect that had pressed it, and statement
of all the circumstances so that the quartermastef al
| | took ii fanegas, which were many we could
carry with provisions and baggage, ard divided them
| equally between the two wagons.
AT Vegas we heard horrible stories of the bloody acts
| of the Auapahoes, who had been committing many cruel
murders and had off cattle and mules from
| the MeXcans
| We now experienced great difficulties in crossing
streams. Our mules unshod and extremely innid
in regard to venturng upon the ice, and, although we
took and cut roads across the floating ice, they
would shy and get upon that which had not yet been
here, hounderng and slipping constantly they would
at length give up in despair, and were compelled TO
get ropes and drag them over by main force.
We at last began dread the crossing of these rivers
which caused much delay and wearied our ANIMALS
| one inn