The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-11

they werc,-mcn Of the old exploring party
were Cooley. King, and Taplin and first
OF all Cooley. In this situation, | dctermin-
ed to send in n party to the Spanish settle
ments Of New Mexico for provisions and
mules to transport our baggage to Taos
With economy, and after we should leave
the mules, we had not two weeks provisions
in the camp. These consisted Of a store
which had reserved for hard day. mac
arOni and bacon. From among the yolun-
tecrs chose King, Brackenbridgc, Creutz-
feldt, and the guide Williams; the party
under tho command of King. In case Of
the least delay at the settlements, he wps to
send mean rercss. In the mean time we
were to occapy ourselves II removing the
haggasa and oquipagc down TO the Del
Norte, which we reached with our baggage
| ina Few days after their departure (Which
was The day after Christmas.) Like man!
Christmas for ycirs back, mine was spent
on the summit Of wintry mountain, my
heart filled with gloomy and anxious
thoughts, with none Of the merry f,cs' anl
pleasant luxurics that belong TO that lappy
time. Yon may b, sure We con;ras.al niucl.
this wish the Last at Washington, and srtc.
ulated much on your doinss, and male many
warm wishes for your happines. coa!c
you have looked into Agrippas gIass fora
fow moments only! You remember ihc Vol.
umes of Blackstone which | took from youi
fathers library when We wcrl overlooking
it at our friend Bsant's2 They made IN!
Christmas amusemenis. | read them j.
pass the heavy time and forget what wa'
arOuni me. CoitIinlY yol may suppOs
that my first law lesson: will well rclncm.
bar,d. Day after day passed by and n
news from our express party. Snowcjntin
ued to fall alposl necessarily on the moan.
tain. Tac spirits of tho camp grew low
Prouc Laid down. in thc trail aud lroz, {.
death. In . sunsliny day, and having viii.
him means to make fire, hc threw III
blankets down in tue trail and laid there til
he frozc to death. Alter sixteen days hal
elapsed from Kings departure, became $
uneasy at the delay, that | decided 10 wal
no longer. Twas aware that our troops had
been engaged in ho.tilitios with the Spanish
Utal,s and Apaclles, who rangein in the Nor,'
River valley, and became fearful that thcy
(King's plrty) had been cut OF by thgs
Indians; could imagine no other accident.
leaving tho camp employed with the bag.
gage and in charge of Mr. yinccnthal,r,
started down the river with small party
consisting of Godny, with his young ncph-
! owl Mr.. Prnuss and Slundcrs. We carricd
our arms and provision for three days
Falling to meet King, my intention was to
make tho Red River settlement abOut twen-
ty-livc miles north of Taos, and send back
the spcedicst relief possible. Ny instruc-
tions to the camp were, that If they did not
hear from me within stated time, they
were to follow down the Del Nortc.
On the second day after leaving camp, we
came upon fresh trail Of Indians,-two
lodges, with considerable number of ami
mails. This did not lessen our unelsincss
fop our people. AS their trail when we met
it turned and went down the river, We fol-
lowed it. On the 9Th day We surprised an
Indian on the ice Of the river. IIe proved
to ho Utah, son Of Grand River chiei
we had formerly known, and behaved to Us
in friendly manner. We oncampcd near
thom at night. by present of ride, my
two blankets, and other promised rewards
when we should get in, prevailed upon
this Indian to 80 with us as a guide to. t!ir
Red River settlement, and take with hin
four Of his horses, principally to carry on,
little baggage. These were wretche'llr
poor, and could get along only in n ycr.
slow walk. On that day (thc SIXTH W
Left the lodges late, and travelled only SON
six or seven miles. About sunset We di'
covered little snake in grove OF timba |
oT from the river, and thinking perhaps
might be our express party on its return
we went to see. This was the twanty-seo
ond day since they hadleftus, and the six,'
since wc had left the camp. We fonnt
tlIem,-thrcc of them, Brlc.
cnridgs, and Williams,-tho most miscri
bic objects have ever seen. did not rec
ognize Crcutzleldt's features when Brickcn
ridge brought him up to mc and montionc'
his name. Thcy had been starving. Kin
had starved to death Few days beforr
His remains were some six or eight mill
above. near the river by the MD Of II
horses, We carried those three with us
Red River settlement, which we reached
(Jan. 2O.) on the 10th evening after lcayin
our camp in the mountains, having trl,
clled through snow and on foot 100 mil
| look upon the anxiety whiel, induced M
to SGT out FROM the camp as an inspiration.
HadI remained there waiting the part
which had been sent in, every man Of u,
would probably have porishcd. .
We shall yet, dearest wife, enjoy quiet