The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-04
Special Corsspondsscs Of the Nov Orleans crssesn.l
In CAxr, TEN MILES ABOVE VICTORIA, TExAs,
Monday, Oct. 90 1858 I

4 In CAhPs Ikh MILES ABOVE VICTORIA, TEXAS,
| Monday, Oct. 26, 1868. (
N.Y. Dear Colonel-This il our third day BY easy
stages of progression from lndianola for the West
ern frontier OF Texas.
We found the thriving little city of Indanols
crowded with teams from the Texas plains, and
with generally pervadiLg air of prosperity. We
called on Mr.. 0gsbury. the veteran and genial
editor of the Bulletin, who, during our stay In
town, was unwearied in his hospitable attentions
He is much interested in the commercial pros
perity OF lndianola, and q constant advocate of
the projected railroad to Lavaca which is already
connected BY rail with Victoria, forty miles distant
from lDdIanola. party of English capitalists
are COILS deiing the practicsbity Of putting
| tne work through, and thus open up wide
| grazing and stock growing country. Indianos
stands well open to the refreshing breezes of the
| word.
We left the town at PM on the 2lth, with
train consisting of three wagons, one ambulance,
and an escort Of 10 men of the thirty.ffth
infantry. under the command of Col. j. 8. Walker
psymaster, U. 8. A. Traversing a poor sandy
prairie for ten miles, we went into camp at night.
iall by sluggish stream of muddy water, build.
ing our fires for cooking with wood transported
In the wagons. One of our wagons was delayed
by the breasipg OF tongue-a piece OF careless
ness on the part Of the driver which be had to
atone for by going back to IndianOla, repairing
damages. and returning to the party by night
Near midnight we we're aroused By the arrival
OF an orderly from town with dispatches which
hhu dIINeO y idte mall Tor COl. walker.
In The morning one Of our drivers announced
the loss OF three mules. They had been care
lessly turned loose to greze and took the largest
use of their freedom. Two drivers were mounted
and sent 70 scour the plains in search of the
fugltives They returned without success. Thew
were then dispatched in opposite directions by
the road. After their departure one of the
party. by the aid of a pair of opera glasses,
deserted three distant objects moving along the
horizon at pace which distinguished them from
CQtflQ Ia uloin in
mounted man was sent in pursuit, and 10 due
lime returned upon the galop. with the missing
mules. We had regained the fugitives. but were
now minus two drivers and the Two mules upon
which they were mounted SO we had only gained |
one mule and lost two drivers. Nevertheless the
order was given to proceed-two of the escort
being detailed TO drive. About eight miles along
we met one OF the absent drivers returning, hay.
ing abandoned his fruitless search. Early in the
afternoon We went into camp. about two miles
from the westerly end of Green Lake, where a
pond hole afforded muddy water for our animals,
and several other trains encamped in our vicinity
just before reaching this spot we passed to the
north Of beautiful BASIN with green hills rising
from three sides. and studded with scrub oaks look.
ing Ike apple orchards. 1t was the first bit of |
pleasing landscape which had met our view. |
Houses were seen only at rare intervals
Our camp was pitched only few rods from q |
little Mexican hendo, which we visited. We found
the proprietor to be veteran Yankee, with q |
Mexican wife and several children. The trees
and fences about the place we're festooned with
jerked beef. Inside canned fruits were offered for
sale A partition separated the shop frsm the
family domici and in one corner of the latter was
q crib of corn.
As we were about retiring for the night our ears
were RECALLED with serenade of voices from the
taendd. some Mexican teamsters or other Wis. |
ltors were uniting with the family in a melodious
Spanish air There were male and female voices
y the various parts. and the effect was very agree
Early 10 the evening arrived the second tesmster.
who had been all the way back to IndanoIa in
guest OF the fugitive mules, and felt himself quite
severely punished for his carelessness of the pre-
We all supped on fresh beef steaks. and the
lame OF the owner Of the beef was not anxious.
y inquired for. One Of the cattle lords in the |
'icinity evinced some interest in the Transaction
'ut the affair was compromised, learned -
'eimitnng nun 70 take possession Of the fore
Our journey today was Is miles through alter.
late rolling country, prairie and narrow belt of
imber. Ten miles back we passed through the
considerable village II Victoria, the western ter
minus OF the Lavaca railroad. Victoria contains
courthouse, newspaper, Victoria Advocate,) |
large church without windows and numerous |
torres. The citizens had received no later news
nan we had learned at Galveston, and were Quite
unaware Of the last fall in gold. judging BY the
'rices We were required to pay at the stores in |
reenbscks.
The wea' her has thus far continued pleasant.
ne PIarles nave Deen vocal with the songs of |
rds, and the roads crowded with produce and
Merchandise trains going in both directions |
Iany OF the teams are driven by Mexicans Their
'agons are two-wheeed, covered concerns and |
re drawn by oxen with yokes fastened to their
orns. The commissariat of these teamsters con.
s's OF jerked beef and -four. The latter they
lake into bread by the aid of Dutch ovens, which
hey carry IN their wagons.
Ibe nerds OF cattle along our route were almost | I
ontinuous, and in every instance they were &C.
ompsnied by focks of black birds, which seem $
} subsst upon the parasites on the skins Of the /
attic. In numerous instances we saw them thus |
ngaged, to the manifest delectation CT the catte
bich court the accompanying Utilization of claws
I'd bills Of their feathered companions
he sporting member of the party found yerv | u
'r shooting to-day. and came into camp to night
ith six larks shot from the ambulance. On The o
srgin OF the pond hole where we are encamped | 81
added two snipes to the days sport, 30 that 8,
e have the agreeable prospect Of game break d
On the route to-day we were met by respect. .,
lie looking old gentleman who courteously ten. e
RED Us New Orleans paper of October 10, and | IL
sed us 70 give our influence for a railroad 7
rough the country. We expressed our obliga. t.
ms In sturn and promised to accede to his re- e
eet. 81
3.
YORKTOWN, TEXAS. Tuesday, Oct. 81. ST