COMPANY DISBANDED. 267 



tain at the head of the Cimarone, — liaving discovered the enemy's scouts 

 hoverhig in the distance on two or three occasions during the interval. 

 The day following we crossed the mountain, upon whose summit was a 

 beautiful plateau, some ten miles in width and of iniknown kngth. 



The soil gave every evidence of fertility, and was well watered. I 

 noticed a number of strawberry vines — the tirst I had seen in the country, 

 as well as a profuse array of tloral loveliness. A considerable lake also 

 appeared, whose banks were of perpendicular rock measuring a descent 

 of fifteen or twenty feet; while on its shady side a pile of snow bade de- 

 fiance to the heat of summer, and looked pleasingly strange amid the sur- 

 rounding verdure. 



After a lengthy search, we finally found a place of descent upon the 

 opposite side of the mountain, which led us into the valley of the extreme 

 left hand fork of the Rio de las Animas. 



The bottom of this stream, as it emerged from the mountains, disclosed 

 a soil of extraordinary fertility. Among its indigenous productions I 

 noticed a spread of fifty acres or more, so densely covered with onions that 

 hundreds of bushels might be gathered in a short time. This plant was 

 of a different kind from any I ever before saw. Its color was white, size 

 about equal to a pigeon's egg, and appearance much like that of the com- 

 mon onion ; but it had flag-shaped stalks, and was much less ofiensive in 

 taste and smell than is natural to this species of roots. 



Continuing down the valley of this creek, we struck the de las Animas 

 on the third day subsequent, and on the seventh, arrived at the egress of 

 that stream from its frightful caiion, nearly opposite Bent's Fort on the 

 Arkansas. From this place an express was sent to the latter point to ob- 

 tain, if possible, some information relative to the expected reinforcement 

 from Texas, and, also, in regard to the movements of the enemy. 



The next day, however, the messenger returned with a report so far 

 from encouraging, that it served still more to depress our fast-sinking hopes. 

 A general despondency seemed to weigh like an incubus upon the minds 

 of both officers and men. Our inability to hold out under existing circum- 

 stances was too apparent, as the sphere of operations embraced a circuit 

 of fiv^e hundred miles or more, over deserts and mountains, that would 

 waste us away with fatigue, watchings, hunger and thirst, by long and 

 dreary marches to be performed on foot, through a country swarming with 

 savage and half-civilized foes. A council was accordingly held, which re- 

 sulted in the almost unanimous decision to disband. 



Discharges previously made out, bearing date May 24th, were now pre- 

 sented to each one, absolving him from all further connection with the 

 Texan army, and, on the morning of the 29th inst., our little band separa- 

 ted in three parties ; one of these, consisting of four men, left for the can- 

 on of the Cimarone ; another, headed by Col. Warfield, started for Texas ; 

 and the remainder commenced their return journey toward the Platte 

 river. 



The story of the former of these fractions, so far as relates to the diffi- 

 culties between Mexico and Texas, is briefly told. Our adventurers bear- 

 ing for the Cimarone reached their hoped-for Elysium ; but, soon after, 

 having fallen into an ambuscade of one hundred and thirty Mexican troops, 



23* 



