FORTIFIED POSITIOH. '^^ 



tton, we became satisfied tliat it had been some sixty cavalry, who wei 

 then doubtless awaiting our advance at no great distance ; and, from ai 

 pearances, not more than three days had elapsed smce its evacuatiox 

 Feeling ill-disposed to try the patience of our enemy by keeping him m to 

 long a suspense, we immediately started in pursuit 



The route led by a rough pass over a spur of the Toas Mountain? 

 which heads the ^terras templadas southwest of the Cimarone, into a prairia 

 ranging from east to west, forty-five or fifty miles long and thirty or mora 

 broad, and skirting the three principal streams that unite to torm the Colo 

 rado. From tliis point it continued over another spur of the mountain 

 chain into a valley some ten miles broad, ranging trom north to south 

 and intersected by the trail from Taos to the Santa Fe road, striking the 

 latter near the Waggon Mound,*— tlience, for about twenty-five nulea, 

 across a spread of high prairie, (qiute rough and undulating, with frequent 

 hills assuming a mountainous character,) to a considerable creek, four or 

 five miles southeast of the town of Mora. . r -a a 



At this point our scouts reported the enemy as occupying a fortified 

 camp, which commanded the only feasible pass leading to the adjoining 

 Bettlements. Upon the reception of tliis intelligence we withdrew to a de- 

 serted ranche and encamped for tho night, in order to obtain, it possible, 

 more certain information relative to his position and force. 



The country between the de las Animas and tiiis place, as a general thing, 

 gave indications of a good soil, but was quite arid, particularly the prairie 

 skirting the head branches of the Colorado. The hills and mountama 

 were less sterile than thone farther east. They also afforded an abundance 

 of timber, consisting of pine, oak, cedar, and pinion. The creek bottoms 

 embraced considerable quantities of e>:cellent land, though but sparsely 



timbered. , . ■ 



The mountains to the right towered majestically to an altitude of ten 

 or twelve tliousand feet, opposing their snowy crests in stern defiance to 

 the heat of a summer's sun. 



Toward the close of our march, the landscape disclosed a scene of ro 

 mantic beauty and grandeur. Mingled among the pleasing diversity of 

 mountain, hill, ilalc, and lawn, wga.v and llanos, forests and prairies, hei» 

 and tliere a small lake mirrored forth its bright waters, swarming with innu- 

 merable water-fowl, decorated by broad flowery banks, and shut in by rug- 

 ged highlands and rocky clifis, tliat seemed like .some tairy's home, where 

 enchantment held jNlatiire's self in speil-boiind admiration. The creeks and 

 valleys of this section were also enclosed by abrupt banks, that sometimpg 

 protruded their precipitous walls to the very water's edge, and then again 

 expanded to give place to the grass, fruifc;, and flowers of mimic Edens. 



The prevailing rock appeared to be gray granite, forrnginous sandstone, 

 and limestone. Game was ratlier scarce, and consisted principally of bu^ 

 Salo, deer, and bear. 



As a whole, this entire region may be considered as admirably adapted 



♦ Thia mound is a singular natural elevation in the form of a covered wafraii 

 the road from the United States to Santa Fe,— about fifty mile* south of Tui, 



