The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-06-09
: From the Baltimore Sun
Lieut.. Beales California TriD, /.

VINO Is well known tor the services he
has rendered in Upper California, in The
campaign Of General Kearney and the
dexpeditions OF Colonel Fremont, made
his recent trip from California to New
York, with dispatches in AZ days, The
quickest passage on record. He cross.
| ed the isthmus in seventeen hours.
| This passage Of Lieut.. Beale is extra.
/ ordinary in another view-he left
Washington with dispatches last fall,
via the Rocky Mountains, reaching
California ahead of all others, and now
returns to Washington with the an.
swers, announcing his own movements
from the beginning to the end of the
trip.
From the Mobile Register, whose
editor had an interview with Lieuten.
ant Beale, during his brief stay in that
city, we gather the following particu.
lars OF his trip out: -.
Lientenan. Beale was sent, early in
November last, as bearer of despatch.
es trotn our Government to the United
States officers in California and the Pa.
clfic. He was entrusted with commu-
nlcatIons TO Colonel Washington, at
Santa Fe, Colonel Mason, in California,
and Gen. Lane. in Oregon, and was re.
qulred TO pass through the extensive re.
gions beyond the Mississippi, to reach
his destinations. He left Fort Leaven.
worth on the Missouri, The Goth of No.
vember, with command OF seventeen
mounted men, all raw recruits, and q |
few adventurers. After tedious and
fatiguing journey, they reached Bent's
Fort, and learned that Colonel Fremont
and his party had passed about ten days
before. crossing the Taos or Ratons
mountains they encountered all the se.
verilies Of winter in those difficult and
gigantic passes, covered with the SHOWS
of an unusually cold and inclement sea.
son. Many Of their mules perished
from the rigors Of the weather and
march, and a humber of the men were
frost.bitten and disabled from further
service. Upon arriving at Santa Fe,
which he reached on the 25th of Dec,
Lieutenant Beale gave permission to
such OF his men as weie unwilling to
proceed, TO return, and seven did so.--
Ho was unwilling 10 be accompanied
in the dangers and trials before him, by
my upon whom he could not rely with
IMPLICIT confidence. To supply the def.
;iency, Col. Mason allowed him to en-.
ist eight additional mounted men, who
we're desirous Of engaging in the expe.
|ition. {
With this force, Lieut.. Beale started Il
rom Santa Fe on the lth of January
md was soon destined to encounter the s
most trying difficulties. The Sierra de n
os Ma,nbros, vaet sanga nf lofty @
n nountains, were enveloped in snow 2
torms, and the route was most hazard. g
us and oppressive. So intense was d
he cold, that several mules were fro. p
EN- 10 death, at night, even under tents g
md covered with blankets. The forti. o
ude of number Of the men failed, and n
sergeant and six privates deserted. Il
u these, as well as Of the seven who q
lad previously left, no subsequent infor- Il
nation has been received. They no
Ioubt perished under the violence of the n
weather., or were assassinated by the C
indians who infest those regions. @
Lieut.. Beale now pressed on with o
ndomtable resolution, through indis. G
.riable difficulties, to the head waters c
# the river of Gila. Passing to the S
outhern side.h followed the trail which !
Winds in zigzag manner along the S
sides of the lofty mountains
hat prevail in this region. This sec. q
ion of the country has been falsely t
aid to furnish opportunities for a good {
DAD or roads to California. From j
lieut.. BeaIe's description, it is a con. b
inuance of the most rugged and mac 4
ess;ble mountains, with vast gorges, s
,eaks and decivities, covered perpetu- '
.Ily with snow, and presenting barriers {
O be passed only by incredible exer- c
ions. No track for wagon, or any r
wheel vehicle, can ever be made along
his route. The men could only pass r
long the ascents by the aid of their Q
lands as well as feet, and even the te. 9
,acious mountain mules were often pre-. G
,ipitated from the declivities, and, roll
ng down the extensive slopes, were T
crushed to pieces, with every bone bro. :
Ken, and even their saddles so Destroy
hat they could not be further used.-
The route crosses the head, waters of
The ella frequently, SO as to avoid the
barriers which constantly iut upon and
overhang the stream. That river, in
this portion Of its extent, is not suscep. I
.ible Of even canoe navigation. Its cur.
rent is Of arrowy swiftness, shooting
over rocks and irregular falls, with ;
short serpentine windings, through mar.
Il =. =