The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-22
From the Providence Journal.
MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION
CAMP NEAR FREDERIcKsBURG,( ~
TEXAS, Oct. Is, 1850.
MARCH FROM SAN ANTONIO.

MARCH FROM SAN ANTONIO.
Here we are, on the very confines Of civillza-
ton, on the dividing line between the farlhest set
dement's of the Indian country. But, in truth we
we generally found but one house, or rather log
hut, as often once in Is miles, with no trace of
a settlement or inhabitant between. Beyond this,
there is no white inhabitant till we reach the FL
Paso.
We left San Antonio four days ago, with a
small party Of 80 men. This party consists of 90
of our engineers all mounted, selected among the
stoutest and bravest men of our company-a
blacksmith, wheel-wright, carpenter, harness
maker, and stone cutter, (Mr. Smith, Of X. l.)
cooks.and laborers, and spies. We have six wagons
laden with provisions and baggage, including one
spring wagon with seats, (known in the army as
an ambulance to ride in when necessary, and to
carry any one who may be sick, These are each
drawn by five mules. This constitutes our whole
party, 26, all mounted, and all armed as well as
can be. We hope to reach FL Paso in IS days. un-
less detained by rains or accident. will give you
a short account now of our journey from San
Antonio.
49, AN OPEN BIvoUAC.
The first day we did not reach our watering
place and camping ground till dark. 1t was so
pleasant that our young men thought they would
not pitch their tents but bivouac on the ground in
the open air. Mr.. Thurbur alone pitched his tent
The blankets were spread, and by O'Clock all
midnight, we were aroused by the pattering of
rain, the bowling of the wind, peas of heavy
thunder and flashes of vivid lightning. Such a
squirming there was in camp--not place was
there to shelter ones head. The young men had
no mothers near to tuck up their bed clothes or to
close their windows. Their only alternative was
to wrap their blankets around them the closer and
let it rain. A number crowded into Mr.. Thurber's
tent, but they had scarcely reached it when gust
Of wind laid it PROSTATE Then came confusion ;
but in few minutes a lantern was lighted and the
tent again setup. Twas listening to the pattering Of
the rain, with all my sympathies for my suffering
comrades at their height, when out burst a most
hearty laugh from the righted tent at their sad pre-
dicament, and the next song, IN which all joined.
They continued this singing as long as the storm
lasted, which was lsome two hours, when they
quietly sank down on their wet beds to sleep.
Ii is not necessary to say that all were up with
the sun, for it only required daylight to set the
men at work to get themselves out Of the pickle
they were in. Things were picked up in their
wet state, breakfast was taken, when cup of coE
fee revived us all, and at clock we were on our
march. But the rain of the preceding night had
made sad havoc with the roads, which were now
so muddy that it was with great difficulty our
mules could draw the heavily LOADED wagons
This day we only made Is miles, and did not
reach our place of encampment till o clock in the
afternoon. We then spread out our blankets in
the sun and got somewhat dry before night.
| PROFESSOR AND A LIBRARY.
This is the only really interesting, or rather ex
citing, incident in our march from San Antonio.
The road over which we have come is wretched
most of the way-rocky beyond description-very
billy, with some hills of considerable eevation.-
On the banks Of the Guadalupe river, which is
about so to one hundred feet wide, and which we
forded, we found three log houses, and not hav-
ing seen a human habitation or living creature
during the day, we very naturally rode up to them.
The buildings were rude anV Won
saw, in fact more so ; you may therefore judge Of
my surprise on entering the first one, to see
man of about forty, with a long beard, dressed in
pair Of coarse pantaloons and a checked shirt
open at the breast-showing skin tanned by the
hot sun almost as dark as that fan Indian, and