Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-03-21

being only few miles off, a piece of in
formation which relieved my mind con-
siderably. OFF we started through the
dark night, up hill and down hill for about
two hours, until we suddenly noticed a
light at short distance. My first impress
sion was that we must be near the town,
but another hours ride, during which we
had lost sight of the flame, convinced me
that the light came from nothing else but
camp fire. The road became narrow
and rocky, here was the Rio Grande before
us, the mountains of Old Mexico opposite.
but not sign of animation or the vicinity
of civilization. The distance, from the
spot where we had seen the Mexican was
at least ten or twelve miles. 1t became
evident to me that we must have lost the
right road, and as probably running right
into the country of the wild Camanches,
very savage and bold tribe. The camp
fire reminded us al ance of what the men
at the half way house had said. After q
short consultation, therefore, with my
driver, a soldier of the 9th U. s. Infantry, 1
removed the ambulance to a canon close by,
so as to keep it out of sight, for the moon
had just come up and threw a pale light
over the whole scenery. 1t was then agreed
that I should remain while the driver
would proceed on horseback to reconnoitre
the grounds and discover if possible our
whereabouts. Half an hour now ensued,
and one which will never forget If
should live one hundred years. There i
stood on the grass in front of the ambu-
lance with Spencer seven-shooter all
ready for use in case of emergency and
eagerly listening to every noise which
might relieve US from the awful uncertainty.
Fortunately the children were asleep, tor
any noise was dangerous and might be
heard at great distance in the silence of
the night. My wife vowed that If she
should euer get out of al scrape, she would
not be caught in tl. wilderness again.
Finally Iheard my horse coming back in
full gallop. / knew it was my horse and
knew that either very good or very bad
news would be brought to US. listened
again and discovered that the rider was not
chased, and few minutes afterwards the
driver appeared with the glad tidings that
we were within two miles of large mill
duu lOuT IuliSS buc IOWu, Iudb Gut
road we had taken was the right one, and
that the campfire was on the other side Of
the river. Relieved from a heavy load
of anxiety, we proceeded again without
further delay, but so close it appeared to be
that although had no reason to doubt the
truth of my drivers statement, kept re-
volver in my hand until we had reached
the mill, and ascertained that the fire
which had given us SO much and so we'll
founded reason for alarm was really on the
opposite shore, and that no danger was to
be apprehended, for the Rio Grande is only
fordable at certain places. We reached
Franklin, and soon afterwards Fort Bliss
where our friends were surprised to find us
come in such late hour of the night, fol
the clock of the Fort had just struck eleven
received some well-deserved reproaches
from my fellow-officers for venturing out
thus alone with my family, and made up
my mind not to do so again. did not
however, keep one promise which had
made to myself, for only few months
later circumstances compelled me to make
much longer trip under similar circum
stances, of which I will give you an ac-
count some other time.