The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-11-17
of The COrpus Chd.tfstar ]


MILITARY PosT OF THE ,L,EsoEA.
Gen. Cazneau's great chihuahua train arrived al
this point on the 18th inst from Corpus Christi, be-
ing twenty-five days from the Rocky Crossing on
the Nueces River. The road from that point is
nearly direct and better one cannot he found IN
the United States. 1t passes, nearly the whole
distance over rolling prairie country, with few
ravines 10 cross, none that present distractions
worthy Of note1 withplenty Of grass and abundance
Of water every few miles | do not think that any
SIX mites OF the route were passed without meeting
abundance of water
AT this point Gen. Cuznean's road unites with
that of the Government engineers, and thus prac-
tfcabe road is new open direct from Corpus Christ
| to FL Paso. am convinced, from personal obser
vanon, that this is the nearest and decidedly the bes
road that has yet been discovered to TEL Paso, aut
consequently to California. Abundance Of grass
yatUr to be found every neh-oT the road
and there are no distractions worthy of note on the
entire route. Had we not been detained on the
west bank OF the Nueces, we should have made this
point in twenty days from Corpus Christi.
make the entire distance from Corpus to the
head waters Of the Ieona 200 miles. This might
(. be shortened some fifteen or twenty miles by cut
ting through a few miles OF .chaparral, which we
thought it better to avoid.
On. the llth inst we struck the Leona river, at
the San Antonio and Preside Rio Grande Crossing
(the upper road-the lower one as laid down in
De COrdova map is not TO be found, being almost
entirely Deliberately This is decidedly the finest
river lhave yet seen in Texas the water being clear
and Geld, running with great rapidity, and never
rising or falling more than four inches ]. springs
from limestone rock, aud is most delightful to the
taste. The horses and oxen drank Il with great
avldlty, and appeared to enjoy it much as the
human portion OF the train.
Fhe day after striking, the river, we came to a
veritable eorn-iicid in the prairie. The grain had
all been gathered, but there abundance of
watermeloHs and pumpkins remaining in the. field
and very refreshing they were in The heat OF the
day. While Specializing to who the persons
We're that had planted this oasis in the Wilderness
some OF the party who had gone ahead rode up in
company with couple Of Stalwart Americans who
were introduced TO as Messrs. lowering and
Wcstall, the proPretors of the, aforementioned
field. They We're FROM San Antonio and have.
been settled atthis place about eight months. They
invited us to their hTbitation, which consisted of a
tent with stockade around it to keep of the In
dams, who had paid them one on two visits but had
not done them any material damage They were
much pleased at the idea of the road passing by
their rancho, and treated ussYth much hospitality
and kindness.
-Four days after leaving this rancho, we arrived
at our present camp On The west bank Of the Leona,
three miles below the military post, where shall
probably remain day or twolonger to retit The
post is under the command of Lieut. Col. Hardee
and is garrsoned by one company Of the Sth In
lantry, Capt. Merchant, and enc company of the
2d Bragoons Lieut.. Mead commanding. At this
place we found Ex-Governor Smith, bound for
California, who will probably join our train.
A week or two ago, Col Hardee received orders
to make scout in the'vicinity of the Lower Rio
Cirande, aud started out for that purpose. Two
days afterwards an express arrived from Gen.
Brooke recalling him. as information had been re-
ceived that the Camanches, Wacos, Lipans,
Wichltas, and other tribes of Indians, had held a
grand council, and decided upon immediate war
with the whites. 1t was therefore deemed advsa-
bic to have all the troops at their posts. This
news, it true, may seriously affect US, but think
we shall be too strong for any force the savages
| may bring against us,
| My lime being limited, will close by stating
that the health Of the whole train has been remark
| ably good and remains to the present time. l
shall write you again from our next stopping place
! but where lhat may be lam unable 70 say. c. c.