The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-04-06


morning. BY the way, these staff Off
GERS seem to consider it part Of their
duty to shorten distances and diminish OBJ
s%tructions, whenever they are inquired of
on these subjects. At an early hour next
morning, the whole command was on the
banks of the Almos, ready to Cross
But the first view of the river dissipated
all hopes Of crossing ii easily. II was
seventy yards wide. and four feet deep,
and swept downward with amazing yelo-
city, foaming, roaring, and tearing along
as though it were determined to prohibit
any invasion of its light and transparent
waters. Men could not wade il-their
feet were swept from under them in three
feet water, before they had reached the
centre of the current; neither mules nor
horses could pull their wagons across
1t became necessary to take the horses
and mules from the wagons and attach
long ropes TO the wagons, which reacl ed
across the stream. and men on the oppo-
site side pulled them across. By eleva-
ting the leading wagons, as had been done
at the Rio Grande, they were safely taken
over with their contents. The men
crossed on the wagons or by holding TO
them.
The current Of the river was as rapid
as the Ohio al the Falls near Louisville,
or the Mississippi at the Rapids. An ex-
animation of it for several miles showed
no decrease in its velocity. The volun-
teers took hold of the ropes with alacrity
and fairly worked themselves into favor
by their good conduct during the day.
Leaving a portion Of the troops to as
sist the provision train across the stream,
the principal part of the army, with the
baggage and ammunition wagons, march
ed on to cross the Sabinas, five miles dis
tant, before camping. This was found
not to be so wide, but, if possible, more
rapid than the Amos, with quicksands
on either bank. The men were fatigued
with the labor of the morning when they
reached ii; but here was an obstacle still
to be overcome, and with redoubled ener-
gy they set TO work to master it. The
same course had to be pursued in crossing
the wagons as at the Almos. Men and
ropes were found far more serviceable
than horses and mules. There were not
wagons sufficient to cross the men on,
and a bridge Of empty wagons was made
across the main part of the siream by
fastening the wagons together; sill tie
men had to wade to their waists to get on
and on tho Uagons
This was bad enough, but the hard
ships Of the day were aggravated by an
other circumstance. 1t took SO much
time to cross over the artillery and staff
wagons, who were given a preference
over the volunteers that more than half
the company wagons Of the regiment of
volunteers had to be left on the opposite
side of the river from the troops. The
consequence was that, after Juggling all
day at the ropes, pulling wagons over,
and going without any dinner, the MAORI
ty Of the men had to lie down at night in
their wet clothes without tents, blankets,
or food.
| cannot omit to mention that Captain
Eustis, of the Dragons, learning our con-
dtion, promptly sent down in the night
some provisions, which was most accep-
table to the men. This was by far the
hardest days service we had seen, and,
owing to the occurrences of the morning,
officers and men amongst the volunteers
lay down to rest in no good humor.
Many were the accidents and narrow
escapes of the day. Several men were
washed away from the wagons, and were
only saved by extraordinary exertions.-
One Of the artilerists was washed off the
gun carriage, and both wheels passed over
his legs, yet they were not broken, as the
swiftness of the current doubtless pre-
vented the whole weight of the cannon
from coming upon him. Several mules
were drowned. A quartermaster's wagon
was upset i'd the Sabinas, and his papers
and stores foated down In admirable con-
fusion.
Neither was there any want of COM
manders: for both the generals, with all
the colonies, the whole staff, and all the
wagonmasters, were giving orders at the
top of their lungs, and with the mos. vio-
lent gesticulations.
In the midst of this babel OF orders and
counter orders. mingled as it was with
the roaring of the mountain torrent. the
shouting of officers, and the imprecations
of wagoners, Maj. Warren quietly slip
ped off to n side amongst ti.e bushes
to take the matter more easily. Under
some brush by the side of the river, he
discovered an Arkansas volunteer sitting
down, from whose clothes the water was
still dripping. His head was between
his knees, and he was deeply s%oliloqui-
zing.
@WelI," said he, "if this is war, / amt
in no more"
@What is the mattera' inquired the
major.