Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-12-14
sTAJ1NTON VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER H. 1858.
from the Washington Upiox
Captain Marcy's Winter Expedition on the
Plains.

from the Washington Union.
Captain Marcy's Winter Expedition on tn
Plains.
This able officer is now in this city under OF
der for special duty.
The expedition of Capt Marcy from For
Bridger to New Mexico last winter, on whic
he was despatched by General Johnston, for tn
procurement of horses mules, and cattle for tn
army at Camp Scott, was one of the most re
markable on record. The route he pursued
which lay in pretty direct line across the Q
hinty and Rocky Mountain chains, had beer
traversed before in the summer time by hunter!
and trappers, but had always been set down, g
ven by those hardy men, as impracticable in th'
pronounced the expedition impracticable. Cap
tain Marcy set out from Fort Bridger, however
on the 9th of November last, with forty sol
ders, twenty-five citizens, thirty days rations
and sixty five mules and Reached Fort Massa
chusetts, New Mexico, six hundred and thirty
miles from Camp Scott, with the loss of but 6
single man, on the 18th of January, performing
the journey in the depth of winter.
Immediately after entering the mountains, 1--WE
derive our information from official papersO the
snow became so deep that it was impossible for
the animals in their jaded state to make any pro
gress through it. Forty men were accordingly
placed in advance of the mules ID break track
for them. This course, which was pursued from
day to day. enabled the party slowly to force its
way up the western slope of the mountains; but
the snow rapidly increased in depth as they ad.
vanced, when, as they approached the summit OF
the mountains, 1t lay about i've feet deep upon
the level, and here the leading men were obliged
to crawl on their hands and knees to prevent
sinking in to their necks.
The progress of the party was necessarily very
slow, and although they lsbored most faithfully
every day from daylight till dark, yet they
advanced only nineteen miles in five days. The
animals, finding no forage, except the pine leaves,
became weaker continually. Many of them had
died, and those remaining were reduced to state
bordering on starvation. The majority of the
men had worn out their shoes before one-half
the Journey was performed, and owing to their
exposed condition, several had their feet badly
frozen, rendering it exceedingly painful for them
to march or sleep.
On the Sd of January the rations were all con-
sumed, and the party was reduced to the necessi-
ty of subsisting upon such animals as became ex-
hausted and could perform no further service
This meagre and unwhoesome diet with men
who were undergoing the most intensely severe
labor that the human system is capable OF sus-
tanning, soon told upon them, and after few
DAYS they became weak and emaciated, while
the amount of labor they could perform sensibly
diminished. Yet this little band of excellent
soldiers all of whom had volunteered for this Sc
we're service, performed the hard task allotted
to them cheerfuly and with alacrity, and no one
of them during the entire march ever uttered 8
murmur or manifested the slightest insubordna-
tion. The brave men had undertaken the diff
cult and dangerous service for the laudable pur-
pose of procuring food and animals for the COM
rades they had left at Camp Scott, who, there
was good reason to believe, from the famished
condition of the small number of animals which
remained to them after the long march from
Fort Leavenworth and the attacks OF the Nor
mons on the trains would be in condition OF
want before the party could return
It is known that Captain Marcy obtained the
desired supplies in New Mexico, except Ameri-
can horses and that he returned safely to Camp
Scott with his welcome purchases.
The return route Of the expedition was from
Fort Union over the Raton Mountains, thence
skirting the western base of the Rocky Mount.
aims across the head waters of the Arkansas and
South Platte rivers to Bridger's Pass at the La
ralnie river; thence along Bryan's trail to Sage
creek; thence north across to Bitter creek, and
down that to Green river, and to Camp Scott
the whole making distance Of seven hundred
and forty miles.
1t is noticeable fact in regard to this road,
shat it affords a passage from the scaters Of the
atlantic to those Of the Pacific oithout going O..
uer a mountain The ascent to the summit kuet
of tile Rocky Mountain chain IS here so uery gen
tie as to be almost imperceptibe, and for 60 miles
anon the platterre forming the diciding ridge the
eye cannot distinguish Whieh course the ~ater
takes"
| will be remembered that great apprehension
was felt lest the Mormons who, in strong parties,
were sent out to waylay Capt. Marcy, should sue
ceed in stampeding the animals and cattle he
was bringing in from New Mexico. This officer,
however had effectually provided against any
such disaster. He had enlisted in his party,
while in New Mexico, all the experienced hunt
ers, mountain and frontier men that could be
found, and thus prepared to act on the offensive
by anticipating the enemy and stampeding their
own horses and mules. There is no doubt that
he would have astounded the Mormons by COM
pletely succeeding in this project had they fallen
in with him in their scouting excursions.
Capt Marcy is the author of the valuable re-
port on Salt Lake Valley, which has been pub,
iished by the government, in large volume, and
to which the country is indebted for nearly all
its accurate information in regard to the Nor
mon country.