The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-17

In closing this TeporS 1 desire 10 cay a. word ID
conclusion OF the officer who bears il. His reputa-
ton in his own service would render unnecessary
any concentrations of mine, but the department OF
which you are at the head being unaequainted with
his merits.I desire to make them known to you.
He has evinced on this journey an aosivity, zeal, In
t~elligence and courage rarely to be found combined
in any one man, and has been TO me not only a most
able assistant, but an agreeable companion through.
out the entire exploration; and ! esA, as an especial
favor from the department, if the work IL to be
continued, that he be not detached from his present
duty. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
=. f. BEALE, Superintendent, DC.
Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary Of War, Washing
ton, ID. {.
LIEUT.. BEALE'S EXPEDITION FROM FORT
DEFIANCE TO THE COLORADO RIVER
From the San Francisco Alta California, Dec. l2]
We present our readers this morning with an out
line narrative of Lieut.. B9ale's exploration OF the
southern wagon route, taken from the note book of
Mr.. J. H. Porter, attached TO the scientific corps of
the expedition. Lieut.. Besle arrived here on Thurs
day from Los Angeles. The object of the expedi-
ton, (Which is just completely as specified in the
written instructions of;ths Secretary Of War, was to
proceed from Philadelphia to Indianola, Texas,
where the camels had been landed from the gtoreship
Supply, Lieut.. David Porter, and from thence to
Fe, and from that place to commence tire survey of
the wagon road through to the Colorado river, near
the supposed mouth Of the Mojave.
ARRIVAL AT SAN ANTONIO.
bici As T.. stlcA&l us Ddiby u az sui
Antonio on the 18th Of June. From San Antonio
they proceeded to Camp Verde, on the Verde river,
where the camels had been conveyed to await his
requhition and that of Capt. Pope, of the United
States Typographical Engineers, who had been de-
pute1 by government to construct artesian wells
uponsthe Pecas, inATexas. He selected twentythree
out Of the ninety camels at that place and three
dronedaries. Together with the animals were two
Greeks, @Turk aud two Arabs, wholeft him at San
Antonio, beingsdesirous of returning home.
THE START.
The party left San Antonio on the 25tffof June;
the eamels packed with a large portion of the grain
camels, of which there were seyeh, are capable of
carrying a load of one thousand pounds. They passed
over the old wagon road, extending some seven
hundred miles between San Antonio and III Paso.
The principal stopping places on the route were
Leon Springs, The Hondo, the CGrlanchique, Fort
Clark, Rio San Felipe, Rio San Pedro or Devil's
River, Camp Lancaster, the Fecas, Escondido
Springs, Leor Springs, Barelia Springs, Fort Davis,
22d July. Tho expedition followed The road leading
through the valley Of this stream, along a fertile and
vel. watered country, and affordirg sustenance 10
hundreds of thousands of sheep. They passed El
Paso a few miles to the southward, and reached Al
berquerque or the 10th of August.
THE cAMELs.
The camelo performed this journey between San
Antonio and Alberquergue-a distance of not less
than a thousand miles, in which there was a consi
derable space TO be passed devoid Of water or grass
without, in a single instance, exhibiting any sign
of fatigue or distress, nor showing any signs OF
thirst. They kept pace easily with the teams, at an
average rate of four miles an hour, though, when re-
quired, this rate could have been doubled without
their suffering the least inconvenience.
ALBKRoUERoUE.
Alberqusrque 10 a primitive Mexican town, built
of adobes, and il the depot of the troops of that guar
ter. 1t IL TIE centre Of the supplies for the United
States forts in that section. Its population is about
G,O00. The expedition was cordially and hospitality
received AZ every stopping place. The vicinity u
entirely destitute of grass.
THE ROUTE THROUGH NEW MZxlco.
Leaving some Of the wagons. which had become
unnecessary TO transport the baggage, the expedi
ton crossed the Rio Grande, and blrned towards
Colorado. They crossed The dry bed of the little
Puerto, and proceeded en- the road lying within
sight of the river and among the mountain spurs
extending through New Mexico. They passed
through the pueblo Of Laguna, inhabited " a mixed
population Of Indians and New Me,icans. They
were now travelling upon Coronado's ~route-who, in
1880, passed through this country, the first explorer
of New Mexico. Continuing upon the road 10 The
new town of Zuni, situated about cight
miles from the aboriginal rims of Chat name,
they passed the Rio Frio, running through a
volcanic basin, Of ancient formation.
They waited upon the Piscado the arrival of
Colonel Joring, who was returning with his com
mand from the ella. While the expedition was pro-
ceeding TO Zuni, Lieutenant Beale, in company with
Colonel Loripg, made a detour towards the north
ward, in the Navajo country, To Fort Defiance, q
distance Of ninety miles, TO procure an escort OF
United States troops, for which be had an order
from the Secretary Of War.
THE INSCRIPTION ROCK.
Passing over this country, which Mr.. POKER con-
siders the mos, beautiful he ever ~traversed, ans CO
vered with almost interminable fcreAts of noble and
lofty pine trees, they arrived, on the cath of August,
at FL Moro, or the Inscription Rock. This remark
able natural formation merits a particular description.
from the forest which lirts the bases of
the backbone of the Western Continent, without any
previous indication Of its existence, and In the
midst of an almost exclusively volcanic country,
q smooth wall Of white sandstone rises from the
grassy plain which spreads away from its base to an
altitude of a thousand feet. At its southeastern
base Is the spring known az FL MoTo. IL is wedge
shaped, and its summit is crowned by an ancient
aboriginal fortress, evidently the WORK OF the saMe
artizans whose tumuli are visible fren Peru to VIE
oonsin. Sloping from the southwest IL an artificial
lealing 10 the western entrance Of the noun
tain. which formsa natural corral capable Of holding
at least i've thousand bead Of animals, and entirely
impregnable, except bya very narrow passage easily
and partially fortified. In this corral grow
the loftiest pine trees, whose heads are far below the
crest of the rock which towers above them. The
from this point proceeded to within twelve
mics of Zuni. where they encamped and awaited
Mr.. Beale's arrival FROM Fort Defiance.
THE ROUTE FROM H. MORO.
He arrived on the 2sfh with his escort. and after
with the indiana for corn, they started
upon Whipplc's trail, and encamped upon a plain
from this camping place passed over a compare
lively level country, well uatered, and Astounding
In fine grass. Ranges Of mountains, OF volcanic
origin. were vikible in all directions-some Of them
capped with snow. This mountainous feature Is the
prevailing topography between Zuni and the Colo
RADIO. They came in sight of the Colorado Chiquto
On the Ith of September; on the 9TH they crossed IL
without difficulty. The river IL q very winding,
and muddy stream. Al the ford there were
pnly four feet of water. The carnels, from the first,
made the marches without fatigue or tagging. They
their course on the parallel Of IS degrees, |
finding excellent water at convenient intervals, and |
he most luxuriant blue grarnma grass
AN UNEMPLOYED COUNTRY. /
The course now lay through an UNEMPLOYED region, |
the wave line, intersected by ranges of
Irregular serrated volcanic mountains. They en-
by the guide, Sevedra, 10 which Lieutenant Beale
gave the name of Kings Creek. The trail Of 1853, |
made by Lieutenant Whipple, being obliterated by
lime, and also that Of Aubrey, Lieutenant Beale sc
Iected a road for himself, and thus from the point
above mentisned the travellers, until reaching the
rnlnrnhn were naaainr nvnr a fcrrn incnonifn. tx. L