Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-30
Captain X. Ii. Marcy's last winter E1-
petition.


The expedition Of Captain Marcy from
Fort Bridger to New Mexico, last winter, on
which be was despatched by General John
ston, for the procurement Of borses, mules,
and cattle for the army a; Camp Scott, was
one of the most remarkable en- record. The
route he pursued, which lay IN pretty irect
lice across the Uhinty and Rocky Mountain
chains, had been traGersei before 10 the
summer time ty huascrs and tFappers, cut
hal always been Set down, even by those
hardy men, as impracticable IN the winter
season. The old mOuntalneer BrIdger pro-
uounced the expedition iDpractIcahle. Cap
tain Marcy set out from Fort Brdger, how
ever, on the 9th November last, with forty
soldiers, Twenty-Five citizens, thirty days rs-
tion., and sxsy-ise mules, and reached
Fort Massachusetts, New MEXICO, six hundred
aud thirty miles from Camp Scott, With the
oss Of but a siogle man, on the l7th OF Jan.
uary, performing the journey 10 tue depth O!
the winter.
Immediately alter entering the mountains,
we derive cur Information from CttlIal pa
pers,) the snow became so deep that It was
im possible for the animals 10 their Jafed
state to make any progress through 1t. For
ty men were accordingly placed 10 advance OF
the mules to break track lor them. This
course which was pursued from day II day,
enabled the party slowly to force its way ny
tho western slope Of the mountains; but the
suuw rapidly increased as they advanced,
when, ss they approached the summit OF the
mouutains, it lay ABOUT five feet deep upon
the level, aud here the leading men were
Obliged to crawl on their hands and knees to
prevent sinking TO their necks.
The progress of the party was necessarily
very slow, and although they iabored most
faithfully every day from dayligh. till dark,
yet they advanced only nineteen miles 10
i've days. The animals, fadiag no forage,
except the pine leaves, became weaker con
tinually Many of them had died, and those
remaining were reduced to a state bordering
on starvation. The maj ority of the men had
worn cut their shoes before one. half the jour
ney was performed, and, owing to their ex-
posed condition, several had their feet badly
frozen, rendering it exceedingly painful Tor
then to march or to sleep.
Ga the I'd Of January the rations were all
consumed, and the party were reduced to the
necessity CT subslssIus upon such OK the AMI
mails q, became exhausted and could perform
stENiCe. Luis ulcaSlS uuu
wholesome diet with men who were undergo
Jog the most intensely severe labor that the
human system Is capable OF sustaining, sooD
| told upon them, and after few days they be-
came weak and emaCiated, while the amount
Of labor they could perform sensibiy dinln-
ished Yet this little band of excellent sol
diers, all Of whom had volunteered fer this
severe service, performed the hard task al
lotted them cheeruily and with alacrity, and
no one Of them during the entire march ever
uttered a murmur or manifested the slightest
! ipsu GUrdiuatiua. The brave men had uGier-
taken the difficult and dangerous service for
the lsudable purpose OF procuring 1000 aud
animals for the cImrades tbcy had left az
Camp Scott, wbo, there was good reason to
believe, from the tamshed condition 1T the
small number OF animals which remained to
then. after the long march from Fort Leagen.
worth, and The attacks VI the MOrDOns on the
trains, would be in a condition Of want before
the party could return.
II Is known thss Captain Marcy obtained
the desired supplies in New Mexico, except
American horses, aud that be returned safe
| yt0 Camp Scott, with his welcome purchases.
The return route Of the expedition was
from Fort Union over the RatUa Mountains;
thence skirtIng the western base U! the Rocky
! Mountains, across the head waters OF She
Arkansas and South Platte rivers to Brdger'5
pass at the Laramie river; thence along Bry.
aus trail to Sage creek; thence north across
TO Bitter creek, and down that 70 GTeeD
river, and TO Camp Scoti--the whole making
dhtance OF seven huGared and forty miles.
|! is u noticeable fact IN regard to this
road, 'tbs, it affords passage from the wa
ters of tho Atlantic to those Of the Pacific
without going over mountain. The ascent
to the summit level OF the Rocky Mountain
chain is here SO very gentle as TO De aimoat
iupereeptible, and tor sixty miles upon the
plst,erre forming the dividing ridge, the eye
cannot distinguish which course the water
takes"
1t will be remembered that great appre.
henson was felt lest the MornOns VINO, IA
srong parties, were sent DOT to way!ay Capt.
Marcy, should succeed III staWpcdlDg the
aniuias aud cattle be was bringing 10 from
New Mexico. This officer, however, bad Ell
iectually provided against any such disaster.
lie bad enlisted IN his party, While 10 New
Mexico, all the experienced hunters, noun
tain AID frontier men that could he fnuod,
and was thus prepared to act on the oi-
feusve by anticipating the enemy and STAN.
teilng their own horses and mules. There
is no doubt that be would have astCundeI tie
Mormons by completely succeeding N this
project had they fallen in with him III their
scouting excursions.
Capt Marcy is the author Of the valuable
report on Salt Lake Valley, which has been
published by the government, III large vol
ume, and to which the cOuntry is indebted
for nearly all its accurate Information IN re-
gard 70 the Mormon country - LHiOH.
Boys Tongue Fastened 20 Lsmp-post.
HIS Father Cuts II aWay--On Saturday
morning a little fellow, about eight years Old
q son of Mr.. Gilleau, bookseller. while play
ing With some other boys on North street,
approached a lanp.post and care!es-ly ap-
piled bis tongue TO its gTay-irOsted surface,
When 10 an instant to the boys own horror
and utter establishment OF his playmates, he
was held fast by his tongue 20 the pest, suffer
ibg very severe pain, and totally unable 10
hcip or extricate himself. OF course the
bog could not speak, and could only mani
fest his feelings by signs with his hands
Various applications Of warm tea, steam, &c,
were made by some neighbors, who heard
the unusual noise made by the other boys,
and came to learn what was the matter bu,
Of no avail, such was the action Of the cold
iron that the hold was even getting tighter.
When after about ten minutes had eiapse