[7] 



18 



Passing the rear wag.ons of the infantry, we found their horses 

 almost worn outj and the^train followed by. wolves. 



Captain Cookj of ihe 1st dragoons, was sent ahead the day before 

 yesterday, to sound Armijo. Mr, Liffendorfer, a trader, naarried to 

 a Santa Fe lady, was sent in the direction of Taos, with two Pueblo 

 Indians, to feel the pulse of the Pueblos and the Mexican people, 

 and, probably, to buy w^heat if any could be purchased, and to dis- 

 tribute the proclamations of the colonel commanding. 

 • Yesterday Wm, Bent, and six others, forming a spy-guard, were, 

 sent forward to reconnoitre the mountain passes. In this company 

 was Mr. .F. P. Blair, jr-, who had been in this country some 

 months, for the benefit of his health. 



Measured 13 double altitudes of polaris, in the north, for lati- 

 tude, and 7 of alpha aquiliie, in the casf, for local time, and the re- 

 sulting latitude is 37^ 12' lO", and longitude 6,4. 56m. 48^. The 

 height indicated by the barometer is 5,898 feet. 



August 6. — Colonel Kearny left Colonel Doniphan's regiment 

 and Major Clarke's artillery at our old canap-ground of last night, 

 and scattered Sumner's dragoons three or four miles up the creek, 

 to pass the day in renovating the animals by nips at the little 

 bunches of grass spread at intervals in the valley. . This being 

 done, we commenced the ascent of the Baton^ and, after marching 

 .17 miles, halted with the infantry and general staff, vrithin a half- 

 mile of the summit of the pass. Strong parties were sent forward 

 to repair the road, which winds through a picturesque valley, with 

 the Raton towering to 'the left. Pine trees (pinus rigida) here ob- 

 tain a respectable sizcj and lined the valley through the whole 

 day's march. A few oaks^ (quercus olivaformis,) big enough for 

 axles, were found near the halting-place of to-night.. When we 

 first left the camp this morning, we saw several clumps of the 

 pinon, (pinus monophyllus.) It bears a resinous nut; eaten by 

 Mexicans and Indians. We found also the lamita in great 

 abundance. It resembles the wild currant, and is, probably, one 

 of its varieties; grows to the height of several feet,.and bears a red 

 berry, which is gathered, dried, pounded, and then mixed with 

 sugar and water, making a very pleasant drink, resembling currant 

 cordial. We were unfortunate in not being able to get either the 

 fruit or flower. Neither this plant, the pinon, nor any of the plum 

 treesy nor grape vines, had any fruit on them; which is attributable 

 to the excessive drought. The stream, which was last year a rush- 

 ing torrent, is this year dry, and in pools. 



H 



c 



The view from our camp is inexpressibly beautiful, and reminds 

 persons of the landscapes of Palestine. Without attempting a de- 

 scription, I refer to the sketch. . 



The rocks of the mountain were chiefly a light sandstone— in 

 strata, not far from horuontal- and the road was covered with I 

 many fragments of volcanic rocks, of. purplish brown color, porous, 

 and melting over a slow fire. 



The road is well located. The general appearance is something 

 like the pass at the summit of the Boston and Albany railroad, but 

 the scenery bolder, and less adorned with vegetation. 



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