The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-28

BY CAPT. JOHNSTON, ATTACHED TO GEN KEARNYs CORPS,
CONTINUED from yesterdays Union.)
October 2la--Marched at half-pas and going down
tie river few miles, we commenced climbing rugged
mountain of basac rock, where our mountain howrt-
zers will find trouble in climbing For seven miles oui
track Law the mountain up and down steep declv
ties AT one point we had magnificent view down the
ella, which lay before us, running southwest AT a
long distance south, the horizon was limited by mountain
peaks between and them, and 10 the limits OF the her
izon until came to the Sierra del Buso, southeast
there was vast plain of Oblivion covered with CANA
grass. This PLAIN connects with that OF The Del Nore,
that ride south OF the Sierra del Buso from the
Del Norte to the Glla without crossing single mountain
In passing the mountains to-day, we encountered the
usual basac rocks, then siente then basat, then els
patty granite then red sand stone (small specimen
This was standing northwest and southeast, vertical
across route and cliff overhung us, probably OF the
same rocks with dip 10 the northwest, dipping from 81
ezra del Buso Then 10 elspatty granite again, like that
of the Wisha salt, very easily disntegrated the live
cedar, and tree resembling oak, on the hills but scat
tered. Cana and other grasses quite abundant. Saw
one deer and one flock OF cartridges Saw dwarf spe-
of mulberry On the hills the misetoe abounds also
the sweet cotton and willow, thnly scattered along
the river. Very little brush in our way. The poison
oak must be for some wise for grows here too
sort of wild squash, which grows from Bents Fort to
Red river is also found here Our mules begin to show
that would bear cultivation, even by irrigation The
upland is gravel and sand the bottom sort of volcanic
dust, made very loose by the undermining OF myrads OF
rats and MICE of new varieties Caught two kinds Of
fish in the clear of the ella, batting with grass
hoppers Our howizers did not get up this night Lieut.
Davidson being in charge Of them lay out a. ae Ias
mule rolled down steep decyIty, and disappeared IN
the dark ravine, where he had some difficulty IN
finding them 1t was p n9weyel m unared lamp Oh
October 22d.-Ihe howitzer arrived and we marched
at 10, crossing the ella several times, we moved
down il for four miles; then crossed 1t, and made
circuit of fourteen miles to the south sde to get around
a canon, through which the river flows Our road was
bad from the number OF cutters cut deep through the d.
luvion of which the whole country except the mountain
peaks is composed forms the substance OF the plains
Of the Del Norte and the ella, and from its general level,
no doubt was deposited in the bed OF an ocean. we
passed number OF lesser mountains or hills, apparently
composed OF black basat; and the canon OF the ella
here caused by OF crossing the course OF the
river through which the water has cut way Under
this OF bast there lies succession of white sand
stone rocks with dip to the north, and curved east
and The character of these rocks the same as
those which occur on the Del Nore at our camp on the
18th Ocober and, general, the formation of the coun
try, far this river, similar TO that on the Del
NoIe. The vegetation to-day is more OF tropical char
seven feet high made its appearance. shrub also
made its appearance appeared to be without leaves and
looked like large lunches of the green thorn which de-
fend the trunks OF the young honey ocusts in Ohio II
bore smell like blackbenies There were two new vari
cites Of cactus the road and the Spanish bayonets
grew in great abundance Encamped on the bluffs, one
hundred and eighty feet above the water the grass being
scarce in the bottom. Distance is miles.
October 31s-Marched at quarter to 8; having sent
Carson off at with four dragoons to explore ahead the
route AS he on his route from California made sixty
miles to point eight miles up the San Francisco, with
out water take Indian road nearer the Gila and
hope to shorten the distance without water After march
ing ten miles, we halted the San Francisco, Fright
bank,) where we finally encamped. Carson reports that
can make seven miles more on the river, and must
then bear of to avoid the canon No Alter we had
distant hill and made signals. We called them,
sent messengers to them, and waved white flag. Our
messengers Capt Moore and CARSON shook hands with
Them but they would not be induced come to camp
They have been [harshy dealt with Americans in the
employment OF Chihuahua, who have hunted them at
fifty dollars scalp, as would hunt wolves and
American decoyed large number of their brethren in
rear of wagon to trade and fired fieldpece among
them Ii is wonder, then, that two parties OF Gods
creatures, who knew each other before, should
meet in desert and not approach enough to shake
hands II would be well for 10 get them to
might buy some mules; ours are tagging and we might
mains of pottery at camp; beaver dams in great numbers
in the San Francisco; flags and willows along the Dor
ders very thick larger cotton wood the tap root
OF the pumpkin Of the plains, three feet by six inches
perennial apparently.
Nopember 1a-First day of winter. 1t came with a
freeze making ice half inch thick and reminded us
to give up the routeiby Albuquerque in consequence OF
fear of snow on the Washaeh mountains Marched
at the usual hourquarter to Sand crossed over to the
ella again, eight miles, to upper end Of the canon
Here halted to water and refresh before taking the
journey (which Carson found to be sixty miles without
water Near this point there evidence OF former
settlement; but nothing but pottery Their pieces OF pot
terry very ancient in appearance. From the camp to
the upper end OF the canon the grass very fine CANA
and will furnish, at any time, fine camps for any number
OF Inc grass along me edge OF the water
the river grows in thin strip very luxuranty There
is usually hicket of willows about yards Deep
along the borders of The stream; then in the bottom
which is subject to overflow cotton woods grow, of two
and three feet in diameter; this strip usually two or
three hundred yards wide We commenced at quarter
J. our passage of the hills the north side of the
canon. Our ascent rapid and by an Indian trail
The road very rough. ftemarchng ten miles, we found
spring hghup the mountains, where watered; and
going three quarters of mile further, encanped
One of the howitzers got broke the road and three
mules gave ont in them Lieutenant Davidson and party
came IN some time after dark and reported that he had
been Obliged 10 leave them four miles behind him; a
party oil SIX men was sent out to guard them until to.
morrow and measures taken 10 have them brought up
The formations near the mouth of San Francisco, and TO
the upper end of the canon, diuvion fast turning to
stone. everything sandstone and limestone of late lorna
ton below this, the black basalt appears in seams and
caps Among the hills, also, TO the northwest we came
upon granite (mostly felspaern) scanned with basalt in
dykes and intermXed occasionally with other igneous
rocks-some indicating the presence OF iron in large
quantities. Near our camp oucrop of dark -coored
stats. capped with pudding slone which changed to a
slicioas satethe same substance which forms the ce
probably make fine mill stone; the dip of the strata is
very deep TO the west The vegetation to-day was
novel the cactus (paya) made its appearances il bears
me fruit, and Is sometimes thirty feet high has fifteen
uies or more il "a feet in diameter, and has interior
structure OF hard woodone for each flute The agave
the season. The musca OF the Mexicans had bloomed
an many cases tins year, and died having fulfilled its CEN
fury 81 probation, Il the emblem of one hundred
ears IN TIE Aztec picture writing The was visi
Die ON mountain % deg east-probably mountain at
the head OF salt nyer. Southwest from Num- route is
sad to s open from near this point to NUM- and Cebolle
"a a view from the hilltop sonih shows plain probn
bIx tond the N1n Pedro. which nrohabv unites