The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-10-27
CAPTAIN MARCY's EXPEDITION.

CAPTAIN MARCY'S EXPEDITION.
The Fort Smith, (Ark:) Herald publishes
an interesting letter from DR.. Shumard, Sur
geon and Geologist of Capt. Marcy's expedi-
ton, dated ain camp near River Brazos, 40
miles above Fort Belknap, Texas, Aug. TO-"
We learn from it that the expedition, coh
ssting of Capt. Marcy, Maj Neighbors, Mr..
Parker and DR.. Shumard, together with four
soldiers and FIVE Delaware Indians, after some
severe suffering from heat and thirst, sue
ceeded in reaching the head Of the Big
Wichita, and subsequently the head of the
Brazos. DR.. Shumard SAYS
The Wichita river takes its origin in sys-
TEN of high bluffs, (the borders of the Llano
Estacado,) which, at the head of the river
form d regular semicircle or horseshoe, and
from which are sent out number of small
streams, converging at the distance of two or
three miles from the main river, which from
the source to its mouth, runs through high
bluff banks, composed mostly of clay and red
gypsum. The water Of this stream, as well
as that of the Brazos and Red River; owe
their bitter taste to the gypsum, through ex-
tCIohO UcuS vi WIIClI uli VI tfleIll HOW. hC-
cording to analysis il yields Glauber and Ep-
som salts rs well as other substances,
Having reached the head Of the Wichita,
the party struck off in search of the source of
the Brazos They proceeded due south and
reached the Brazos after travelling about
twenty miles. The Doctor says:
The river, where we first struck it, runs
like the Wichita, through high bluff. banks
composed of red clay and gypsom. The wa
ter, which was about four feet deep, was as
clear as crystal, but so intensely bitter that
even our horses could hardly drink it. Afler
travelling about 80 miles in northern direc-
ton, we came to high hill on the prairie,
from which we obtained an extensive view of
the surrounding country. In due north di.
rection, at the distance Of about 80 miles, ap.
peared two mountains, each shaped like
truncated cone, and at least fifteen hundred
feet above the level of the surrounding plain.
These marked the head of the stream From
them the stream could be distinctly seen like
a cord of silver, meandering through the
prairie to the spot on which we stood Be-
yond the mountains appeared line of high
bluffs, (the LlaLo Estacado,) which, in the
distance, looked like clouds floating upon the
horizon. Having now satisfactorily ascer-
tanned the source of the river, we decided
unanimously to return.
The party, after an absence of nine days,
during which they travelled three hundred
miles, returned to camp. DR.. Shumard says
they obtained not only correct geographical
as well as geological knowledge of this here:
tofore nnexplored region, but made several
highly important discoveries, which may here
after be of considerable importance to Gov.
ernment, as well as to the public generally.
He adds
In this connection it may be well TO state
that gum arabic has been discovered in mex.
haustibe quantities, and OF the very best
quality, while have been enabled to trace
the gypsom field several hundred miles fur.
tlier than when on our Red River trip. Near
the head of the Wichita river, II presents the
enormous thickness of seven hundred feet,
and is Of the very purest quality With regard
to the character of the country we explored
on the Wichita river, have only to say that
it is complete barren waste, totally unfit for
agricultural purposes, and can only be vaua-
BILE on account of its gypsom beds. During
our journey to its source we met with moth
ing but succession of bluffs, ravnes and
hills, all of IN intense red color, and almost
totally devoid Of vegetation. Neither can it
ever be employed for railway purposes; no
one in his senses would ever think of ats
tempting railroad or any other kind of a
road through it, after once seeing it.-N o.
Picayune.