[ 26] “4 
Teed 19. pains im miles mone ,a small place on a creek of 
the very tortuous road led over a hilly and broken 
cna oa mn of the hills vi anion towards the ENE., the — 
distant mountains of Saltillo. About five miles from Vequeria we passed 
a creek with very clear water, the San Antonio, which unites below, near 
Patos, with the Vequeria creek. ’ In several places to day, but principally 
in small valleys, we met with groves sh yuccas, or palmettos, of unusual 
height, exhibiting sometimes a dozen branches in the emo WNy and grow- 
ing from 30 to 40 feet high. 
Northeast from Vequeria is an openi ng in the surrounding saomntains, 
through wha the mountain chain of Saltillo appears agai 
through this pass is the shortest and most direct for Saltillo, but csr 
wagons one has to take a southeastern course to avoid the mountains 
About one mile from Vequeria, in the pass leading to Saltillo, - Patos, a 
small town. 
May 20.—Made 22 miles to-day, from Vequeria to San deans Having 
ascended for some time, we came to an elevated and wide plain, sur- 
rounded on all sides by high mountains. Towards the east we distin- 
guished already the mountains of Encantada and Buena Vista. We 
passed several ranchos and haciendas on the road, among them the Hacienda 
de los Nepteasios, where all the houses of the. “ péons”’ were built en- 
tirely of the yucca tree. From the thickest trunks they had made the 
doors; from the smaller and the branches, the walls; and the roof was 
covered with the leaves. While I stopped in one of the huts to taste some 
tortillas, my horse came near unroofing another by eating itup. Sucha 
simple ang primitive structure of houses would authorize us to presume a 
very mild ee but I am told that the winters are generally very rough 
in this high plain 
We encamped at San Juan , a place renowned by the battle fought here 
in the revolutionary war against Spain. At present, nobody lives here. 
On a hill of limestone stands a deserted rancho, and below is a green spot, 
_ with fine spring-water, and some miry places around it. Here we camped. 
eral Wool’s camp is about 15 miles from here, in Buena Vista. 
May 21.—As we expected to meet General Wool to-day, there was a 
general brushing up this morning in the camp; but as it was impossible to 
create something out of nothing, we looked as ragged as ever. In the 
marching line, too, an improvement was tried. Usually, during the march, 
the —— selected their places more according to fancy than military rule 
was not uncommon to have our line stretched out to five miles, or 
fanee-teanbia of the regiment marching in the vanguard. But, to-day, to 
my utter astonishment, the heroes of Sacramento fell into regular line line, and - 
marched so for nearly half an hour, till the spirit of independence broke 
loose, and the commanding voice of Colonel Doniphan had to restore order 
again. However, after about’10 miles march over the plain, we arrived 
in “‘ Encantada,”’ where some Arkansas troops were encam Accord- 
ing to orders A headquarters, we encamped here also. The battle-field 
and General Wool’s camp at Buena Vista were five or six miles from here, 
and visits were soon exchanged. between the two camps. With some 
friends from the Illinois seieents , L rode in 1 the afternoon over the battle-— 
field and to General Wool’s camp. 
_ Encantada is the ania. opening of 8 a pass that is here about five 
miles wide, and narrows itself towards the battle-field to about two miles. 
