The Permian of Texas 229 



On the fourth of May, after a long journey, we 

 plowed through the valley named, and well named, 

 the Big Sandy, and passing through groves of splen- 

 did live oaks, pecans, water elms, and locusts, 

 reached Decatur, the terminus of the Fort Worth 

 and Denver Railroad. Here I delivered to the agent 

 my precious load of fossils, which had cost me so 

 much expense, labor, and anxiety, and set out on the 

 return trip to Fort Sill; where, on the twelfth of 

 May, after a journey without incident, I turned over 

 my command to Major Henry. The next time I 

 heard of this splendid officer, he was a brigadier 

 general in command of Porto Rico. 



