The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-08
should be treated kindly and be literally paid for what


lhe better to protect the ferry established upon the
ver and to keep it for the troops and supplies
to be forwarded by Inspector General Churchill com
mandng the rear column, Captain Fraser directed
to construct redoubt tefe-du -pom on the right
bank and the left, field work to be defended by two
companies sufficient force TO carry into effect such
purpose being detached from the column the general
pushed on to San Juan Bauiista This town contains
two thousand inhabants--a Meyicans The buildings
are OF stone, or unbumt bricks. (adobe) and with but lii
lie preparation, are capable of being easily defended
against superior force Not the slightest resistance
however, offered although the people are represent
ed as being exceedingly hostile toward But few
weeks before our ARRIVAL three four companies of dra
goons said 10 have been quareed there but they had
fallen back on the main forces assembled at Monterey
Preside, Ike BeXar Guerrero Nc, was one of the points
established early the settlement of the country for the
confinement and labor of state prisoners and BY an
edic of the king of Spain, published in 1872 was Gre
ated military post, and made of the Gordon then
formed Tor the protection OF the frontier
The Jesus erected large mission within mile of the
city similar TO the Alameda Pursima Conception San
Jose, San Juan and Espada, Antonio 1t is massive
structure built entirely of stone, and falling to
decay When we passed it, the wind bowling through
rs ruined arches like voice OF mourning for those gone
cowled monk; yelled and timid devotee have long
since passed away, and the grass and wl- grow
IN the deserted corridors, and the crumblng walls
courts
The country in the vicinity Of this city, we found to
be very fertie-especiay where it articiay irrga
almost every description of garden vegetables besides figs
oranges, peaches and other fruits were raised with
but little labor, and IN considerable abundance. We
able to procure sufficient supply Of forage for the OF
the command and at very reasonable rates.
Gong from thence westward, the column was obliged
to march twenty-slX miles without water, when it arrived
at the town of San Juan de Nava situated in the middle
OF an immense plain, and watered entirely by irrgang
bitches which are said to have their fountains in range
OF hills twenty miles to the left of the trace. This town
is represented as containing twelve hundred inhabitants
and is built entirely OF adobe Three fouhs of the
houses were not occupied at all and fast becoming
untenable The people, with two or three exceptions,
were wretchedy poor, and ignorant even than the
Indians OF our plains The business of the place is the
raising of stock which is tended by herdsen and dry-
from point to point upon the PRAIRIE that spreads out
almost to the horizon upon every hand In The imme-
date vicinity OF Nava there extensive fields of corn,
and there Likewise, sufficient supply procured to
forage all the animals of the column
From Preside to Nava, the whole country perfect
level In the time Of the Jesuits, it all highly cult
yated; but now there is not single human habitaon
smiling with plentiful crops of corn and grain, and
was enlvened by the voices of husbandmen-the lowing
OF cows-the bleatng OF numerous hocks--the tnkng
OF bells, and the noise and hum of fe-how beautiful
must have BEEN compared with its present desoation
and how great the contrast from its present solitude !
Marks of the igatng dykes traverse the plain in every
direction; and at distant intervals along the way-sde
are seen the ruins of many an ancient granary-once
filled with plentiful harvests-but empty, and fast
crumbing back to the level from whence they were
reared
few miles west OF Nava, and to the left of General
Woods trace there beautiful island of timber which
the Mexcans call FL Arbolada de los Angelosthe Grove
of the Angels 1t is said to surround fine spring of water,
and is considered by the inhabitants as sacred place
This is merely mentioned to illustrate the fact that in this
country as in all Others where the people ignorant
and superstous, every natural object of beauty SUBJ
limity-whether mountain, plain grove, or river-s in
vested with some name wonderfully calculated to call
forth both poetic and religious associations.
The next city we visited was San Fernando de ROsas,
containing between three and four thousand souls 1t is
embosomed in extensive of timber, which, from
its sze and the character of the trees supposed must
hnvyo hoau milan yhontl
fine stream OF clear water, called Arroyo Esconddo
Hidden Creek0 runs ON nearly three sides of it, and
stretching OF on every hand lies one Of the most fertile
San Fernando each surrounded by the residences of the
most wealthy citizens, which, although built of stone
and in the Mexican style, have air of neatness and
TASTE we had hardly expected to see. The people we
found to be very friendly in their feelings towards us,
and whatever supplies we required, they furnished with
much cheerfuless. When we commenced line Of
march the next day, every eye turned to take
more look OF San Fernando literally of the Roses And
the presented with the quaint dome of old church
a by cross ana rising above the surround
there through the dark green trees and its singular posi-
hon like that OF an oasis notin desert but on an nn
habted waste, of the most picturesque and pleas
ing we had ever Witnessed and shall long love
to remember.
Our course became more southery, the direction
being for the head waters of the Santarita and pass
through the Sierra de San Jose We had not proceeded
far before the country began to be sterile and
broken and long ranges OF mountains to skirt the hor
Zo DOM upon our right nanu ana upon our leit Wnlle
in front, formidable chain of them presented barrier
which appeared impossible should ever be able to
pass with our artillery and immensely long train of
wagons. However, as we proceeded, valley after valley
opened before us, through which road wound its way
upwards, until at last we attained their very summit
Even were there room enough in this letter for such
purpose, would be impossible to describe the magn-
cence OF the view then spread out before Toward the
east we looked down the widely extended plain
which we had long been ourneying In the distance the
grove of San Fernando was still visible; while at
feet the valley of the Santarta lay like map, with the
the dark line OF foliage that rnges its banks On either
hand the peaks of the range upon which then stood
appeared less and less they became removed
perspective until in the far Oft blue, their outlines faded
from sight, and mingled with the faint unduatons OF
the surrounding horizon While, the west, the Sierra
with its seated crest ung aloft in strong relief against
the clear sky and its precpous sides hung about with
estoons of white and purple clouds.
The San Jose mountains are clad only with sparse
covering of grass, spnked here and there with isolated
tufts of soto cactus, palmetto, and Yucca aloiolia
they reported being very rich in silver and copper
Many years ago, mine is said to have been opened
few miles to the left of road, and operations in it
carried with considerable success but at length
the Camanches became troublesome, the workmen
were obliged to abandon it.
From these mountains descended through tortuous
gorge to the Llano dc San Josea broad plain extending
with few interruptions the foot of the Sierra de Santa
Rosa, distance of thirty miles; and our route lay di-
rectly it. Midway this plain and only three miles
apart encountered two formidable riversthe Alamos
and Sabnas which, at their junction. form the Soado,
auent to the Rio Bravo from the west and uniting with
il at Guerrero. They each about forty yards in
width, upwards of four feet in depth, and, besides had
current of almost incredible rapidly In short they
absolute torrents to which we had neither bridges
l.u... l~..