Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-04-26

FUR THEIR IND Final ACCOUNTS.
We resume the extrncs from Col. Fremont's let
ters, preacng them with some brief descrp ION Of
The localities made memorable by disaster, fr the
Information of tn sc WIN have not recent maps at hand
1t is known thai lie great Rocky Mountain chain with
general direction nurh and south, sends branch
low ards the south from between the heads the of
Arkansas, and the Rio del N0rfe; and this branch
forms the dividing ridge between the upper valleys of
these rivers, and between the head waters Of the
Red Rirer andtle Del No1te and having accomplish
ed these purposes it subsidies and disappears in the
plains of Texas. The highest part Of this branch
chain, and the governing object in it to travellers, are
the Spanish Peaks, first known to American gcogra
PLY BY the young Lieat. Pike These Peaks about
north latitude 81 IL deg, and west longitude from
London lU5 deg, and about line longitudinay
with the Puebtos of the Upper Arkansas distant from
them half deg, and in sight They are at great
distance, and are guiding objects to travellers The
road to Santa Fe passes below these Peaks and
the chain about two degrees south Col Fremont
passed above Them and entered the valley Of the Del
Nnre high above the Mexican settlements, and above
Plfes St0ckdde. and intended to follow the Del Norte
to its head, and to cross the great Rocky Mountain
chain through some pass there to be found. He was,
therefore, speak going into the forks of the noun
tans-into the gorge of two mountains--and great
elevation shown by the fact of the great rivers which
flow from the opposite sides Of the Rocky Mountains
at that part the Arkankas and Del Norte on the east
the Grand river fork Of the Colorado of the Gulf Of
California the west. 1t was at this point the head
of the Del Norte where traveller had ever gone be-
fore that Col Fremont intended to pass to survey his
last line the continent, complete his knowledge
of the country between the Mississippi and the Pacific
and crown the labors ofong explorations by showing
the country between the great river and the great
to be lnhabitabe by civilized people, and practicable
fora great road and that several lines, and which
was the best. lie had been seven years engaged in
this great labor, and wished to complete it, 1t was
| the Oft tppnnhpr that he hair
from the Arkansas valley into the valley Of the Del
Norte and although late, with the full belief Of the
old hunters and traders at the Puehlos the guide in
elusive, whom he there engaged that he would 20
through lie was provided with every thing to carry
the men to California, and with grain carry all the
animals all the mountains into the valleys of the
tributaries ofthe great Colorado of the West, where
| the would be light wood and grass sufficient,
game abundant, and the hardship of the expedition
all surmounted and left behind. In two weeks he
pccted to be in these mild valleys Unhappily, the
guide consumed these two weeks IN getting the head
Of the Del Norte distance which only required tour
or live days of travel, Col Fremont showed in
ing back This the of the first calamity
| the loss The horses and mules The same guide
consumed twenty-five days, when sent with the party
tor relief, In making the distance which Col. Fremont,
with Cooley, Preuss and servant) without guide,
on foot, in cold weather, deeper and half fam
lshed, made in six That was the OF the second
and rreparable calamty--the death If the men.
The immediate scene Of suffering in this great dis
aster where the ascent of the great mountain for
ced and its summit scaled must have been about north
latitude 80 - and west longitude from London 10Y,
the elevation above twelve thousand feet and the time
that of dead winter-Chrstmas From the point
| the noted Objects Pixies Peak and the three Peaks
would bear about E. N. E. and the Spanish Peaks
| about E. s. T.
With this notice oflocates, to which mournful in
terest must long attach proceed to give extracts
from the remaining and final letters from Col Fremont
The first of these is dated. "
"TAos, New Mexico, Feb. 6, 1S49.
CATER a long delay, which had wearied me to the
point Of resolving to set out again myself tidngs have
at last reached me from my i'll fated party
Mr. Vincent Haler came in last night, having the
night before reached the Little Colorado settlement
with three or four others. Including Mr.. King and
Mr.. Proulx,* we have lost eleven of our party.
Occurrences, since left them, are briefly these 50
far as they came within the knowledge of Mr. Haer
say briefly, because am unwilling to force my
mind TO dwell upon the details of what has been suffer
cd. need repreyefrom my terrible comtemplations.
am absolutely astonshed at this persistence Of mis-
fortune this succession of caamities which
vigilance ofmne could forcsee or prevent.
You will remember that had left the camp (2l
men) when l set of with Cooley, Preuss, and my ser
vant in search of King and succor with directions a.
bout the baggage, and with occupatio9uicient about
it for three four days after which they were to fol
low down the river. Within that time expectet
relief from Kings party. if it came at ALL They re
manned seven days. and then started their scaut pro
visions abont exhausted and the dead mules on th,
This name was printed Prove il cur la=t- Is writ