68 ANTI-SCORBUTICS. 



which would serve as building-material, and near the bank of the creek 

 we observed black- walnut. 



Within a distance of six miles around our camp, I should estimate the 

 amount of woodland at eight thousand acres. The grass is of the very- 

 best quality, and the soil cannot be surpassed for fertility. 



We are, at this place, directly at the base of one of the most lofty 

 and rugged mountains of the range. Its bare and naked sides are 

 almost destitute of anything in the shape of a tree or plant, and it is 

 only here and there that a small patch of green can be discerned. Huge 

 masses of flesh-colored granite, standing out in jagged crags upon the 

 lofty acclivities, everywhere present themselves to the eye, and the 

 scenery is most picturesque, grand, and imposing. 



We have for a few days past been much annoyed with a species of 

 large, black horse-fly, which attacks the animals most savagely, and 

 leaves his red mark wherever he touches them. These, with a species of 

 small black gnat, are the only insects that we have been troubled with. 



The two men who for several weeks have been suffering from the 

 scurvy are no better, and I am fearful, if we do not find the wild onion 

 soon, that they will be in a bad state. 



I have caused all the men of the command to use freely what few 

 anti-scorbutics we were enabled to procure from the subsistence depart- 

 ment, as also all the wild vegetables that could be obtained upon the 

 march ; but these do not seem sufficient to fend off the disease, when 

 men have for a long time been confined exclusively to animal diet, and 

 constantly subjected to other causes that predispose the system to the 

 disease. 



The soldiers are by no means anxious to make use of the an ti- scorbutics 

 from the commissary department, as they are obliged to pay for them 

 by submitting to a deduction in the amount of their ration, which, at 

 most, is a very small allowance for men who are marching or laboring 

 hard. This fact is so well established, that when citizen teamsters are 

 employed in the quartermaster's department, it is either necessary to 

 give them an allowance of fifty per cent, more in the amount of pro- 

 visions than the soldier gets, or an addition to his pay to enable him to 

 purchase an equivalent. Dr. Shumard has made use of all the 

 remedies in his possession in the cases of scurvy that have been under 

 his treatment, but he is of opinion that they avail but little in the 

 absence of vegetable diet. Our men have discovered some green grapes 

 to-day, which I hope may relieve the sick men. Several gentlemen of 

 the party ascended the mountain near our camp this evening, and 

 obtained a fine view of the adjoining country. They discovered that 



