APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 57 
come to. On our arrival the animals were hobbled and turned out to graze until sundown, | 
when they were driven in, fed with corn, and tied to the wagons till sunrise, when they were 
grazed a couple of hours before starting. As we are now in a dangerous locality, the animals 
are tied to the wagons as a prudent precaution. Observations for the time taken during the 
day, and for the latitude at night: the latter had to be discontinued, as it blew a perfect hurri- 
cane from about 4 o'clock p. m. until we left camp next morning. The night was excessively 
cold and severe. A strong guard posted; while the cattle are grazing (although hobbled) there 
is a guard placed over them. General direction, south 84° east; north 45° west; miles, 4,4. 
Camp No. 14— T'hursday, March 2, 1854.—Left camp at 81 a. m., and moved in the direction 
of Independence spring. Our road was a good gravelly one, with a gentle descent from camp 
to camp. A black-tailed deer was shot, skinned, and stuffed; we were also fortunate in finding 
some curious speciméns of cactus. We reached camp—the above spring—at twenty minutes to 
11 o’clock a. m. This is a spring of clear and pure water; it issues from a deep and large 
hole, through a quicksand bottom, in a rapid stream. Means were taken to sound the depth of 
this hole, but without effect—a pole of considerable length going down without meeting any 
obstruction. This spring is no doubt supplied from the mountains in its vicinity. Grama-grass 
good and abundant, "There is here a sufficient quantity of mezquite and brush to answer for 
cooking purposes. On reaching camp the animals were watered and turned out to graze, being 
hobbled as usual; brought in at sundown, fed with corn, and tied to the wagons during the 
night. No observations taken.' General direction, 89° east; miles, 6,5. 
Camp No. 15— Friday, March 3, 1854.—Left last camp at 10 minutes past T a. m. Our road 
for this day was over a rolling prairie, and, with the exception of one steep and rocky hill, was, 
on the whole, pretty good. "There are, however, some deep and rocky gullies, worn from the 
rain descending from the higher ground, which caused some little difficulty. At about twelve 
miles from last camp we halted for a short interval to rest. "The mules travelled well to-day ; 
taking all things into consideration, they are in good condition. Reached our camp, head of 
Delaware creek, at fourteen minutes to 3 o'clock p. m. About one and a half mile from this 
camp we crossed the dry bed of a creek. The wagons were halted here, and wood placed in 
them for the use of the command. There is at this point an abundance of dry and good wood. 
Along our line of march to-day we perceived several graves, over which were placed flat 
stones. No inscription told the names of those who ‘‘slept beneath,’’ nor recorded the manner 
of their death. There is something so melancholy about these resting-places, removed as they 
are from the habitations of civilized man, that reflections of a serious nature are called up in the 
minds of the most volatile. 
On our arrival at camp the animals were watered, hobbled, and turned out to graze. As it 
is contemplated to remain here for a couple of days, they were not fed with corn, but were turned 
out to graze under a strong guard. The grama-grass is good and plenty. Observations for 
time and latitude taken this day. General direction, 84? east; miles, 16,1. 
Same Camp—Saturday, March 4, 1854.—Lieutenant Garrard left camp this morning with 
one wagon, escorted by five soldiers and five men of the train; the former rode in the wagon, 
the latter were mounted. All were well armed. Lieutenant Garrard's object is to find a more 
direct route south of the Guadalupe range, and to proceed until he could see the Alamos, one of 
our former encampments. (See No. 7, Thursday, Fffruary 23, 1854.) It was decided that the 
command would await his return at our present camp. The assistant wagonmaster was sent 
to hunt up wood at a nearer point than the place we had taken it from the previous day; but 
he was not successful. On his return, two wagons, under a guard, were ordered to bring wood 
from the dry creek we passed yesterday. 
Our present camp is twenty-six and five-tenths miles from the peak of the Guadalupe mount- 
ains, opposite to it and directly east. This camp presents some interesting features. On 
examination we have found upwards of eight springs, located in a space of about two hundred 
yards, One of these rushes out in a bold and rapid stream, over a limestone bottom. The 
8e 
