Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-07-21
Number So.

(. the forts and posts throughout the ter
e ritory of New Mexico. To this point
, are shipped twice year, Spring and
Fall, from St. Louis and Fort Leaven-
worth, all supplies required for the use
OF the army in New Mexico for the
r next six months. Upon the receipt of
! these supplies, they are apportioned
among the different forts and posts, and
J then reshipped. Fort Union is an old
J Post in this territory, but not. in its
present shape, completed until about
1868. 1t has cost the government
about three millions of dollars. The
officers quarters are large and roomy-
too large, in fact-and in this respect
are inferior to those at Fort Lyon. The
store houses are models in themselves,
and the best have yet seen at any
place. The buildings are all built Of
Gdo6es--one story in heighth-plastsr-
ed and then whitewashed outside and
inside. The grounds fenced in are
we'll laid out and quite beautiful. but
even in this respect / like Fort Lyon
better, and in few years, when the
trees, shrubbery and grass fully ma
ture, the latter Fort will exceed the
former in the beauty of its grounds and
surroundings.
We remained at Fort Union until the
afternoon of June 9th. The wagons
started on the 7th with directions to
adhere strictly to the following camp
ing places, viz: Los Vegas, first night
San Jose, the second, and Kos
losky's the third, where we were to
overtake them. We bade our good,
kind friends at Fort Union goodbye,
and started for Los Vegas, distant
twenty-eight miles, which place we
reached in three and q half hours
driving, over a splendid road and
through a beautiful country. We
stopped with Mr.. Kitchen, who made
us feel at home.
Los Vegas is second in size and pro-
portion to Santa Fe, the largest town
in New Mexico. 1t is Mexican town
in every sense of the word, with its
Plaza and one story adobe buildings
surrounding, and narrow streets, more
like alleys, leading in every direction.
A Mexican town or city without its
Plaza would be the play of Hamlet
with the part of Hamlet omitted-in
other words it would not be Mexican.
The Plaza is an open square, more or
less ornamented by means of trees,
shrubbery and flowers, where your
Mexican, lazy and shiftless, loves to
loll beneath the shade when the sun
shines hot The population of Los
Vegas is shout 3,00O-four-6fths Mex
lean.
We had good nights rest, an ex-
cellent breakfast, and started on our
journey at half-past seven, provided
with generous lunch by Mr.. Kitchen.
At noon we halted at San Jose--par-
took of our lunch, and fed the mules.
At one O'Clock we resumed our jour-
ney. On reaching Koslosky's our
wagons were not to be seen. Upon in
quirY we learned they had gone on to
Pigeons Ranch, on account of forage,
there being none at KS. One hour af-
terward we reached Pigeons Ranch,
where we found the wagons parked
and the tents pitched. We had come
ffty-two miles to day, portion of the
road being rocky and very rough.
This is our last night of camping out
tomorrow forenoon we will be in
Santa Fe, and our journey ended. The
feeling it occasions is one of great re-
lief and joy. We can hardly talk of
anything else. Weeat our supper and
get to bed early, that we may get an
early start in the morning.
BY the time the sun had lifted its
bright and cheerful face above the
eastern horizon this morning, June
10th, we were up and off on the road,
with only twenty one miles between US
and our destination. No incident oc-
Cured worthy of note. How slow
our team seems to move this morning.
We cannot go fast enough to satisfy US.
Yet the clock was only striking ten
when we arrived at Santa Fe, and
drove up to the house, which was all
ready for us, having been rented a
month before. We are rejoiced at the
termination of our trip, which, in many
of its phases, was pleasant one, yet
still in the main a hard, tedious trip,
occupying fifteen days. Instead of
any sickness, which l so much dread
ed as liable to occur among the ladies,
we have arrived in far better health
than when we started. 1t is a matter
Of no little rejoicing. Good luck has
attended us all the days ofour journey
ings. Of Santa Fe and its surround
ings we shall have ample time to inform
ourselyes-the result of which shall
form the basis of another communica-
ton at no distant day. The next fort
night must be given up to quiet and
rest. 1t seems as if we were home
once more. The good, kind friend,
made dear to us by former associations
n Texas-when we stood almost alone
ogeLher-and who is our near neigh
it the air of an old home re-
urned to after many years absence.
Nay his years be long and peaceful,
md his friends as the blades of grass
q the meadow--so numerous as to be
of count.
If this journal of our trip across the
,lains seems personal to the reader, re-
member that it was emphatically per-
onal trip. If it seems tedious skip it,
or assure you l have done my best
o prune it down. 1 have tried to make
interesting to the general reader,
nd if in this have succeeded, shall
e satisfied. w. ID. N.
~ The human race is divided
nto two classes-those who go ahead
nd do something, and those who sit
till and inquire. "WhY wasn't it