The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-10
LIEUT. BkALRs wAGokRoAD aEEPEDirIOE

.
will endeavor now 10 make amends for my neglect
by writing you long letter and will try 10 comply with
some Of your various requests by giving an account Of
myself and OF the various adven that have hAppencd
10 10 the party The date OF your letter the
day after Christmas aud you that, though
very grateful TO you for kind wishes respecting
that day, was thing but happy one wrote home
time ago partial account OF our trip over the
plains, which suppose sent 10 you from W. viii
NOT therefore, give you any detailed account Of what
happened 10 us when irst started from Fort smith
We delayed in the beginning by being obliged
to wait for the escort which did leave Fart Smith fo
q week after took departure.
We started with but forty days full ratioas for
party and very found that great mistake had
been made for had been out but twenty days when
it discovered that 1t would take at least seventy
days to reach Albuquerque and as the fact
reported to tho chief" lieutenant Beae) he directed
the eommissay sergeant TO issue only half rdOn In fu
ture. . ....4 ..- .........
We soon found that what We had heard and read about
the hardships that sometimes TO DO endured In
trip the plains in winter time in respect
aggerated for truly say that until then had
conceived any idea OF the reality The cold intense
nearly the whole time, and several times brought
TO halt by the northern and snow storms
encountered. You cannot imagine the severity of
''norher'' the plains indeed, il would be folly TO
attempt TO describe IT, for nsthng but experience could
give any proper idea of the truth. will however
endeavor to describe the most that met
with When almost twenty-five days
route struck the waters of the Washta river and that
evening enc-mped under high bluff the banks of the
river, In the midst of very heavy snowstorm. Soon
after we had tents up and fires built the storm
Increased in severity IL commenced to blow very hard
and at the time of very large size
mingled with the falling snow. etza.assa.. . I'D.
do not think experienced such cold as / did
that night while guard. My guard came on at ten
o'clock and continued until twelve Part of the time
compelled to lie down the ground to avoid being
blown into the river, and may safely say my two hours
seemed at least six. When 'relief out
found that two of the guard nearly dead with cold
and firmly believe that If we had remained out two
hours longer they would have reached camp alive
But soon forgot all our suferings when
crept beneath blankets in TENTS and sleep gave
temporary relief from gloomy forebodings of
what In store for ahead The next morning when
''oamp called found that the storm had If any
thing increased in severity and the animals had suf
red much during the night that they hardly able
to draw the wagons, the chic" concluded to remain
quiet that day, for the purpose of giving them
little rest We passed nearly the whole day beneath the
shelter of tents, doing little If anything, and
graduating ourselves that not on the route.
During the next night the storm moderated and when
the rose it shone in sky without cloud. That
morning made early start, and by the time that
the ON the horizon route. IS Y
When We first started, we diverged from the river
to slightly undulating PRAIRIE covered with the
peculiar 10 this region the TALL eathery tops of which
covered with the snow looking in the sunlight
the breeze gently agtated them like vast lake of
molten silver and reminding of some descrip-
lions in the Arabian Nights than anything that
well imagine. only wish capable of giving you
faint idea of the reality for it certainly the
most beautiful sight 1t has been my good fortune to
behold and excited the admiration OF everyone in the
train proceeded EDWARDS. However, not
destined to enjoy II long, for some very ominous
looking clouds appeared in the northwest and 1t not
very great while before suffering call the ills
man flesh is heir to- while joarneyng the plains
in winter time think never q stranger sight than
the approach of that Storm First to the northwest
dull grey mist gradually ascending, which
covered the whole sky giving everything most sombre
aspect and making the mercury of spirits fall far be-
the zero point in "A short time. Soon
ping up the horizon bank after bank of dark,
heavy Clouds interspesed here and there with those
beautifully white clouds you sometimes the break
ing up of storm at home, which continued for
time apparently stationary while the breeze died
away, leaving everything quiet far the eye could
..s@# s aa-a aat a. 20 t
in little while there commenced blowing in faces
the coolest wind you imagine, and il not long
before had repetition of the weather of the previous
week. ............
Since writing the above have been unable to continue
my letter. account of my having been on trip up
the country for the last two days Several OF received
invitation, the other day, to wedding at canton
Chico which, q matter of course, Immediately
accepted II my first visit to the town, and
therefore, had curiosity TO CRAFTY, very quietly
settled myself down by the fire. with box Of cigars &c.
by my side, and enjoyed myself much could be
pected under the circumstances. About clock Lieut.
b. with whom had been staying, came in the
and informed me that If anxious to the
W,
his suggestion arrived at the residence of the
pair and to regret found that too late it
intended that the twain should be made at the
church However we consoled ourselves with the re-
freshments which we found in abundance, and before
long heard the approach of the happy couple, pre-
oedcd by music and in very short time the
filled with the guests and almost Immediately the dancing
commenced. ~.
There was one thing that surprised me very much,
when the bride rst into the she dressed
entirely In black, with black ornaments. After the
dancing had commenced she disappeared, but shortly
returned and then arrayed entirely la white jewel
ny to match. She was very pretty girl, very much like
Miss c. i'm Appearance only not so handsome and
reminded me of American than any of the
women have since have been in New Mexico
must confess that have been greatly disappointed in
regard to the beauty In this country had expected
the dark Spanish in perfection but found to my
surprise very few OF them could compare with the
most ordinary looking OF American girIs 1 wish
could give you idea of their dnncing but I am
afraid that cannot make myself understood viii not
attempt it,
Waltz il the national dance and the GER
tanly the most graceful and the best walters have
ever seen The step Ia different from that we dance at
home and at first found it difficult but caught
the Time and before long able 10 get around the
room without any mistakes.
We will be very busy for the next two three days
loading the wagons and getting everything ready 10
nue on our to the Colorado We expect 10 leave
here soon .the chief returns from Santa Fee and
we will leave Albuquerque rode about the first of
March, ~ @ Hrr
THE CHARTER ELEp7YON IN RiOHH0AD.
. IFrom the Richmond (va) Enquirer, Apri, o. a
L.