The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-12

BELKNAP- SALT RIvER-scIENrIFIC EXPERT
MENT-GoING INTO cAMP-THE REAL POETRY OF
THE BxPEDITIoN-THE TOWN OF JAcKsBoRo', ETC.
Special Correspondents Of the New Orleans Crescent
1.-The letter preceding the following has not yet
come to hand.
JAcKsBoRo' Texas,
Fort Richardson Nov. "a, 1865.
My Dear Colonel-My preceding letter from the
Texas lfrontiertwas dated at Fort Griffin, sixty
two miles south from this post. On the evening
of the 10th, while we were at an exceedingly
agreeable dinner party at the residence OF Mrs.
Chaffee, in Fort Griffin, where blazing fire, CON-
forting wines and solids contrasted fascinatingly
9th the darkness and blackness without, our
burly Icn.~-i- ,--;i> s-iuar filled the p~-io.
door to inquire il we proposed to let his four mules
stand in their harness at the door all night. Our
wagon train and escort had long since gone on,
and We needed this bluff reminder of the duty be-
fore rs to aid in breaking away from the cheer
full comforts by which We were surrounded and
detained. s.Nn ..t
A rapid drive of eight miles northward on the
road TO Fort Belknap and we were cheered to
find ourselves among the camp fires of our adj
vance. IL had been payday" at the fort and
the incidental hospitality and joiy had been com.
municated to those accompanying the train. In
fact, the camping ground had not been selected
with especial reference to 9cGter and If the supply
of that element was rather limited and turgid the
disadvantage was not keeny realized by the mem.
bers of the escort, most of whom had retired for
their tent. n. -.a 49,. :. a.-.a,f :
We next day progressed ss far as Fort Belknsp,
post of former importance, but now used as o
mail station only. Ii ia situated upon a tall hill
rising from the left bank of the MAN, or SALT fork
of the BraZOs. On account of its saline proper
ties the water of this river is unfit for use.
venerable colonel commanding one Of these posts
informs your correspondent that this water yields
pure rock-salt at the rate Of spoonful to the
quart. He had ascertsined this by an evaporating
test. had learned of the experiment and its re-
suit before through the Army and Navy Journal
which accounted for the large saline residium in
another way. The evaporating pan had been
left under the eye OF a soldier in the temporary
absence of the investigating officer, but neglect.
full Of his charge, he had allowed its contents to
entirely dry up. With vie to avert the appre-
hended displeasure of his superior, the soldier
put more water in the pan, and to make the re-
suit satisfactory to the colonel as possible, ai
ded quantity of salt thereto. And II seems that
the hoax has not been disclosed to the colonel to
this day.
We encamped by some springs at the base of
the bill on which Fort Belknap is located, pitching
our tents in cold, drizzling rain. Fuel was
scarce, and we had no very cheerful night of it.
At z In the morning we were aroused by the ar.
rival of DIR. Cavalo, from Fort Richardson. who
was riding through the darkness, cold and rau TO
render professional aid to DIR. McEldery, seriously
sick of fever at Fort Griffin.
A few hours later and we resumed our dismal
journey northwsrd, and at night we're glad to 60
INTO camp Oh q ntile creek, near an abundance OF
fuel, Is miles short of Jacksboro' our farther des.
tination.
Going into camp is, after ALL the poetry of these
frontier expeditions. The tolls of the day are
over; the wagons are drawn up in line the tired
and patient mules, released from their harness
are grazing all about u.s. or nosing the feed
IN anticipation OF their evening corn. In the rear
OF the wagons are pitched the large tent of the
psymaster, clerk and guest /; the wall tent of the
infantry escort which makes the round trip the
fv hahe hal no all
psny us from the last post, and the A tent of the
wagon master. Between these and the wagons
are the camp fires. around which the men are
cooking, grinding coffee, snd warming themselves
into cheerful forgetfuness OF all the hardshps Of
the day. Our evening camp dinners are rendered
rather sumptuous by plenty OF very fresh beef
taken up along the way, and hot biscuits freshly
knesded from the -four and baked in portable
ovens buried in live Goals. Then there are vege-
tables, eggs, canned fruits, etc., together with
such gene as we may happen TO bag.
The inevitable shade to these pleasant evening
pictures ofsrest, comfort and luxury is the awak.
ing OF the camp at o'clock in the morning. The
fires are out. The warmth and glow of the even
ing are dead. Chiness is in and over the camp.
Sleep was never sweeter. and the disposition TO
bury yourself from the waking world in the warm
blankets never stronger upon you. But the sentry
is inc xorable and calls the hour. So is the colo
nel who. whistliDg, stalks out of the tent 50 is
the cook who calls you to breakfast. So are the
men at your tent pins, and those who would carry
your bedding and baggage to the wagons Il
takes something more than a hasty breakfast of
Williams " wet hash " to restore one to full life
under such circumstances, and you wait impa-
tently for the first warming ray from the east.
Jacksboro', where Fort Richardson is located,
is situated on Lost Creek. one of the many little
streams hereabout which find their way into the
Brszos. II is the shire town of Jack county aud
contains two edifces which sometimes serve as
courthouse and jail. The latter is a small very
rude stone structure, at present tenantless. Scat
tered about them are two or three stores, and q
score or more of shsntIes of the meanest descrip-
ton. about equally inhabited by whites and
blacks, who chiefly derive their subsistence from
the post. The garrison, like those of the other
posts upon this frontier, is now reduced to very
low point, and is in occupation of temporary
quarters. Permanent buildings Of neat and sub
stantial kind are slowly going up on the opposite
side of the creek under the direction of Capt
Porter post quarter master The post is garrison.
ed by skeletons of FIVE companies of the 9th caval-
~ under the command of Brevet Col. Starr. Many
men are out on scouting and others on duty. The
morale OF the regiment is not regarded as latter.
ng. The few government horses remaining at the
post are In a miserable condition for the want of
,helter and proper treatment. sseafE.-
We are cordially entertained and made at home
BY Capt. Porter and Mr.. and Mrs. s arkweather