The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-28
4 Correspondence Of the New Orleans CRESCENT
fonr CoscHA, Texas, Nov. IA, Is

Special Correspondence Of the New Orleans CRESCENT
foRr CoScHA, Texas, Nov. ii, 1868.
Ny Dear COlOnel-My last was written from
Fort Mckavett, which place we left for Fort Con-
cha on the morning of the 10th, with q small
cavalry escort. That night we encamped st
Kickapoo springs. after travelling Is miles. Here
clear, cool and very sweet water bursts IN several
copious streams from ledge and crosses the
road. II was the finest water privilege" we
had met in Texas. Here we're encamped a IA
liRue party of soldiers from Fort Concha. and q
Mexican family cooking their dinner. The wife
and mother, fat wench, cooked and displayed
her natural charms with an unconscious freedom,
while the daughter leisurely pulled cigarette.
The head of the family, assisted by a stout
negro, busted himself in moulding bullets at the
fire. playful soldier got possession OF the
mould, but was made to surrender it to the Next
can at the point OF knife reeking from piece OF
beef. When informed of the result of the presi-
Dental election, of which we had heard only the
day before, controversy ensued among party
of soldiers, which happened to include but one
Grant man. The discussion, although Roodns-
tured, waxed obstreperous and finally came to a
point at which the Grant man and one of the Sey-
mour men each seizing bucket Of water threw
stream and continued the bath until both were
thoroughly drenched and apparently satisfied.
The same cooling mode of argument might be
probably initiated by politicians in civil life.
We made a pleasant encampment near the
springs, just below which We found water
growing in luxuriant abundance. With these and
huge Texas pumpkin, the latter of which We
roasted in the camp fire and then added to the
composition of johnny cake, an agreeable addi-
ton was made to our dinner and breakfast.
From Kickapoo Springs TO Fort Concha.
distance of about 30 miles, the country is almost
uninterrupted open prairie. On the route Is
auother pleasant watering place called Lipan
Springs, where is a small tract of irrigated and
productive land. Such spots, however, are of
rare occurrence in the whole country north of
San Antonio. One acre of such In ten thousand
q q a OhsarVpr
| il seems a country only fit to be inhabited by
prairie dogs, several villages of which we passed
on the llth. Anteopes, by virtue, it is supposed
| of extraordinary Locomotive powers, are often
seen hereabout. One large herd bounded along
within our view on the llth for an hour, endesv-
oriDg but afraid to cross the road before Us.
| Buffalo used TO come down as far as Fort McKa-
vett but they are now rarely seen 30 far from
their favorite haunts. In a few days, however,
we shall be among them. If your correspondent
| shoots white one he will send the robe TO you,
| and then you can "match" Gen. Grant, to
whom an officer on the frontier sent like present
| not long ago.
| Fort Conchs ia a pleasant post on prairie near
| the western bank of the main Concha river,
(tributary Of the Colorado near the junction of
the North Concha. Ii is at present garrisoned by
one company of the 18th infantry, sDe OF the 35th
| and one OF the 4th cavalry. The post is COM
mansed by Brevet Lieut.. Col. Gordon. major of
| the 4th cavalry, of which he is also IN command.
he is an old frontier officer, has served under Gen.
Harvey in his Indian campaigns in the West,
| and is a gentleman Of rare humor, cOnvivialty
and hospitality. He and his subordinate officers
| at this post have done everything to make our
| visit an agreeable one. The other officers at the
post are Brevet Major Rendlebrook and Lieuts.
| Irwin and Whit, of the 4th cavalry, DIR. NOtson,
post sturgeon, DR.. Pelsez, of New Orleans, surgeon
at Camp Charlotte, "a picket post forty-hve miles
| distant Rev. Mr. Mccall. post chaplain Brew eft
Lieut.. Col. Cresson. and Lieut.. Burnham, of the
35th infantry, and Lieuis. Crowell and Turnock of
the 18th infantry. A company of the 4th cav
| airy recently ordered from here to Jefferson.
| The quarters of officers and men are chiefly tents,
which, however. are generally provided with
| stone chmnies. An elegant stone hospital and
stone houses for officers are nearly completed,
together with two spacious buildings for commits
| sary stores
| when the projected new camp Is fully COM
pleted it will be the finest post this frontier 1t
| is at presents neat and picturesque city OF can
vas, admirably policed and governed, and every.
body in it appears TO be happy and contented.
Mr.. Trsinor, of the trading and contracting firm
of Adams Weeks, at San Antonio, hiss a large
stock or goods here, including most OF the neces.
saIies and Injuries of life. In a room adjoining
his store is fine billiard table, which is much
pairopized by the officers of the post. The chairs
at his well-suppied mess table are often occupied
by guests, officers and VISITORS the latter OF whom
are sstOnished BY almost every decacy Of the city
market, beside claret, champagne, olives, etc
The large transportation facilities Of the firm, as
contractors for army supplies, enable them TO
supply this and other posts with most Of the COM
4
of Fort Copcha abounds IN pets whose presence
tes,i6es Of the amable character of the officers and
men. A tame young buffalo walks about the camp
ana soiictousy pokes his nose into the tent doors.
A domesticated eagle stands upon an embark.
ment near the well and scolds at all who presums
upon familiarities with his august person. A
prairie dog has made his hole near the soldiers
quarters and submits rather coyly to the fondling
ment. Several blooded dogs stalk about the
camp with confident ease. and tortoise-shell cat
is one of the dsrlings of the garrison.
| On the 18th Col. Walker, chief Of our party, &C
companied by DR.. Palace and another gentleman,
| considerably allowing your correspondent to re-
main at Concha for a breathing spell, left for
Camp Charlotte, picket post near an Indian route
| of travel between the North and South, forty i've
miles in westerly direction. He returned yes
| terday without adventure.
Last evening we drove about ten miles down
the Copcha, on turkey hunt. We had no sue
cess, but came across an outpost where the SOL
ders were Teasing upon turkeys and antelopes
| A party Of Indians had encamped near them q few
| nights previous. They were doubtless of the
gang who have been raidiDg recently on the stock
yards of KickapoO Springs and the home mail
post.
estimate the substantial advantages OF the from
tier military posts of Texas. Most OF the country
between them and any considerable portion OF the
population of the State. Is unfit for habltation and
| oDly adapted to grazing. Its value in the latter
respect is owing rather to its enormous extent
than TO the uxuriance or richness of its grasses.
The land, with the exception OF inhRtesimal por-
tons, is absolutely uniiabe and devoid of timber.
To what extent are the few people who squat IN
such a country, when there is so much good land
| elsewhere attsinable. entitled TO the costly pro.
lection which the government attempts to extend
TO them, To what extent, indeed, 1t might be
asked. does government protect them after all its
enormous outlay to that end? Owing to the long
distances, and the imperfect communications be-
tv cen the posts, the Indians End difficulty in
coming down between them and raidDg upon the
horses and mules of the settlers and mail company
at their pleasure. By the time they have secured
their plumber, and the alarm is given they are
beyond the reach or knowledge of the cavalry
among the unexplored hills and canons of the
For scouting purposes the diminished gsrrisons
now at the posts altogether inadequate. With
| all due respect to the opinion of Northern human
itarians, the observations of your correspondent
in Texas have more than half convinced him Of tbs
| correctness OF the opinion entertained by many
officers at these posts, that the Indian question
could be settled with far more promptness and
economy and more in the interests of real hu
manity by a wholesale and vigorous war upon
| the red devils in their own dens, than by the