Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-17
Written for the PUBLIC LEDoER.l
BOOK ,OF.TRAvEL SKETCHES
NUMBER XII. y,
A Mid Winter Scout.
BY AITCH.

The early winter Of 1868 was drawing
on apsce, and the weather was waxing
colder about as rapidly as the old moon
wened. 1t was just after the great fight
between The Mexicans and the miners,
at Bear River City, and the mountain
passes toward the Colorado were swarm
| iug withlhordes of fexaspersted and blood
thirsty "Greasers, retresting toward the
southwest frontier. t s4 @ 3
We had heard the news of this serious
disturbance from the lips of a scout, two
days before, at our camp on the Cinque
river, and it was thought we'll to recon-
noitre the route ahead, in advance of our
moving train, which brought stores from
the lower Nevada country, that we could
| i'll afford to lose. The main party were
10 comparative security, while encamped
there, yet it was impossible to tsrry long
thus, on account of the rapidly increasing
severity of the weather. s.i
Therefore it had had heen decided in
council that four of us, Dick Armstrong,
Matt Lambert, Charley Dillon and my
self should proceed in the advance as far
as Dunmore's Gap, to assure ourselves
that this usually dangerous route was
sufficiently free to ensure the safe passage
| Of our train. The latter, IN charge of the
remaining thirteen Of the company, was
| TO continue ia camp until the end of the
sixth day, where, in default of our return,
they we're to move up, by easy stages,
cam pin q each night at stated points, that
we might have no difficulty in finding
| them in any case.
The close of the second day found us
encamped on the brink of Little Grow
Cascade, fall on the river of that name,
a deep and rapid tributary Of the Green.
II was q cozy place, easy Of defense, sur
rounded on three sides by towering
cliff of rocks, the precipice and cascade
on the other, down the side Of which
wound the narrow path of approach.
Therefore, as we bad discovered recent
| Indian signs in the evening, farther down
the stream, it was decided to tarry here,
| for prudential reasons, at least one day,
and carefully reconnoitre the tributary
CANYONS. The morning Of the third day
dawned Breakfast was eaten early, our
| few camr fixtures were carefully secreted
| in q cleft in the rocky wall, and we vault
ed into our saddles and we're ef by
o. clock. ~ ~ taHf
There were but seven horses 10 our en-
tire company, the remainder Of the ami
mails being pack donkeys. Oars we're
the flestest ard best Of the lot; il wasfor
this reason we we're elected to the party
Of observation.
Lambert took the lead, and in single
fle the scout was begun. Better than q
mile and a half Of rapidly descending
narrow path brought US to the bed Of q
tributary stream Of the Little Grow.
The road here was broad aud open,
though somewhat rocky, and iu places
cut through by the wash Of heavy rains.
The narrow canyon Of the stream crossed
itst a righi-angle, presenting q level
bottom, winding 10 its course and Cliff
enyironed, yet affording easy passage
for apy number of horsemen, for many
miles toward the south, at least.
We fled 10 the right here, and pursued
The latter new direction, riding now IN
double file up the gradual slope. Every
ear was keeuly alert, 10 catch the slightest
suspicious sound, every eye vigilsnt,
surveying the valley. in al directions,
TO guard against surprise On. ON, At an
easy gallop, We pressed toward the crest
Of the ridge