65 [ 26] 
phur are found at the bottom of the springs. The miountains‘at the eastern 
side of the valley are more distant, about 10 miles.’ The intermediate plain 
is for the greater part covered with chaparral. The Rio Florido, which comes 
from the State of D , and takes generally a a northern. course, runs 
here in a northwest direction through the valley pe the Conchos, 
from the southwest. Santa Rosalia is a town of about 5 000 inhabitants; 
: hes on a hill about 100 feet higher than the river; and towards the’ south 
eading out in a small plateau. Here, on the southern énd of the town, 
the Mexicans had erected a fort against General Wool, when his division 
bie expected to march towards Chihuahua. The forti ifications consist of 
very spacious square, built of sun-dried bricks or adobes, with redoubts, 
‘ice holes, and trenches. Such fortifications of adobes have the advantage, 
that cannon balls will pass through them without making a The 
paid Fa: ue ered on the road leading to the eae a y favorable 
but a hostile army might turn th entirely, awe 
a vik $1 lain east of it, though they would have to mach throli oh apar- — 
On May 1, we rested on the same camping pee 8 to give to the last — 
companies that left Chihuahua after us a chance to come up wi swith, the 
army 
May 2.—The whole regiment being together, we left this morning | our 
camp at Santa Rosalia for la Ramada, (24 m mileay Lieutenant- Colonel 
Mitchell went to-day ahead with a small party, to reconnoitre the country 
between here and Saltillo; the road was more sandy, but nevertheless firm 
and easy to travel. Our direction was ESE.: prtiaae Florido — 
our left, and chaparral all around us. In the eve had a 
May 3.—Made a strong march to-day of 33 miles, to yjuquilla. : The 
road was constantly winding itself through endless Sant: the Rio Flo- 
rido on the left, and mountains and hills east and west, in the pares from 
10 to 20 miles, About half way we passed a ran chewith some wa seh 
thre b Nasa nd ve io ie nity Segue te pane 
iuough na ac fers muidnight in a small valley without walsh one 
