Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-26

the valley of the Rio del Norte, dragging
or packing the baggage by men. With
great labor the baggage was transported a
cross the crest to the head springs of lit
tie stream leading to the main river. A
few days were sufficient TO destroy that fine
band of mules which you saw me purchase
last Fall on the frontier of Missouri They
generally kept huddIed together; and, as
they troze, one would be seen to tumble
down and disappear under the driving snow.
Sometimes they would break off, and rush
down toward the timber till stopped by the
deep snow, where they we're soon hidden by
the pouderie. The courage of some of the
men began to fail.
In this situation determined to send in
party TO the Spanish settlements of New
Mexico for provisions, and for mules to
transport our baggage. With economy, and
after we should leave the mules, we had not
two weeks provisions in the camp and
these consisted of a reserve of maccaroni,
bacon, sugar, &c. intended for the last ex-
tremity 1t was indispensable to send for
relief. | asked for volunteers for the SER
vice. From the many that offered l chose
King, Breckenridge, Creutzfeldt, and the
guide, Williams; aud placed the party I'M
der the command of King, with directions
TO send Inc an express in case of the least
ielay at the settlements. 1t was the day af-
er Christmas that Ills party set out for re-
lef. That day, like many Christmas DAYS
Tor years past, was spent by me on the side
of the wintry mountains, my heart filled
with anxious thoughts and gloomy forebo-
Iings. You may be sure we contrasted it
With the Christmas of home, and made
warm wishes for your happiness. Could
gu have looked into Agrippa's glass for a
Jew moments only! You remember the
'lumes of Backstone's Commentaries
}hch | took from your fathers library
when we were overlooking it at our friend
Brants They made my Christmas " a.
maSementS." ! read them to pass the time,
and to Kill the consciousness of my situa-
ton Certainly you may suppose that my
first law lessons will be remembered
The party for relief being gone, we of
the camp occupied ourselves in removing
the baggage and equppage down the side
of the mountain to the river in the valley,
which we accomplished in few days.
Now came on the tedinm of waiting for the
return of the relief party. Day after day
passed, and no news from them. Snow fell
almost necessarily in the mountains. The
spirits of the camp grew lower. Life was
losing its charm to those who had no rea-
sons beyond themselves to live. Proue lay
down i'll the trail and froze to death. In a
sunshiny day, and having with him the
means of making fire, he threw his blan.
ket down on the trail, laid down upon it,
la; al he
were not then with him.
Sixteen days passed away, and no tidings
from the party sent for relief | became
oppressed with anxiety, weary of delay, and
determined to go myself, both in search Of
the absent party, and in search of relief in
the Mexican settlements. was aware that
our troops in New Mexico had been enga
ged in hostiities with the Spanish Utahs
and with the Apaches, who range in the
valley of the Rio del Norte and the noun
tains where we were, and became fearful
that they (King and his partly had been cu
off by these Indians. | could imagine nc
other accident to them. Leaving the camp
employed with the baggage, under the com
mand OF Vincent Haler, set off down the
river with small party, consisting of Go
ders, (colored servant.) We carried ou
arms and provisions for two or three days
In the camp Cleft under the comm and o
Vincent Haler) the messes only had provis
ions for few meals, and a supply of five
pounds of sugar to each man. If | failet
to meet King my intention was to make thu
Mexican settlement on the Colorado, lit
tie affluent of the Rio del Norte, about hal
degree above Taos, (you will see it OIL
my map) and thence send back the speed
lest relief possible to the party under Vim
cent lIaler.
On the second day after leaving the cam
we came upon fresh trail oflndians-tw
lodges with considerable number of ami
mails This did not lessen our uneasines
for our long-absent people. The India
trail, where we fell upon it, turned and wen
down the river, and we followed it. On tn
fifth day (after leaving the camp we SUI
prised AN Indian on the ice Of the river
He proved to be Utah, son of a Gran
River chief whom we had formerly know
and he behaved toward US in friendly mai
ner. We encampcd near them at night
BY present of rifle, my two blankets
and other promised rewards when we shoul
I get in, prevailed on this Indian to 90 wit
5 US as guide to the Little Rio Colorad
settlement and to take with him four of h
horses to carry our little baggage. Tt
( horses were miserably poor, and could onI
4 get along at slow walk. On the next da
: (the sixth of our progress) we LETT the Ii
e dian lodges late and travelled only some 81
/, or seven miles. About sunset we discove
= ed little smoke in grove of timber, q
S from the river, and thinking perhaps
: might be our express party king and h
t men) Oh their return, we went to see Th
It was the twenty-second day since the par
l. had left US, and the sixth since we had lie
), the camp under Vincent Haler. We four
h them-three of them: Creutzieldt, Brac
= enridge, and Williams-the most miserab
e objects had ever beheld l did not reco
l. Mise Creutzfeld's features, when Bracke
r ridge brought him up and told me his nan
e. They had been starving King had stal
TX ed to death few days before. His renal
I'd were some six or eight miles above the r
n er. By aid Of the Indian horses we CARR
We these three with us, down to the valley,
n the Pueblo on the little Colorado, which
n reached the fourth day afterward, (tenth