46 SAN ANTONIO 
CHAPTER IIL. 
SAN ANTONIO TO FREDERICKSBURG. 
Advanced party formed for the journey to El Paso—Arms and equipments 
—Mode of travel—General order—Storm on the Prairie —Guadalupe 
river—Refinement among the German settlers on its banks—Terraced 
hills of Texas—Mormons in the valley of the Piedernales—Fredericks- 
burg. 
Tue long though necessary delay in getting the train 
ready to move, and the slowness with which it would 
probably proceed, ‘convinced me that it would not be 
possible for it to reach El Paso on the first Monday of | 
November, the 4th of the month, the day fixed upo?, 
for the. meeting of the Joint Commission. After 
advising with General Brooke, Colonel Johnston, and 
others, as to the practicability and safety of my pro 
ceeding in advance with a small party, I came to the 
_ determination to do so, and announced my intention 
to the members of the Commission, requesting to be 
notified of such as would volunteer to accompany Me 
The whole would willingly have gone, although the : 
proposed journey would be attended with severel 
duties and considerable danger, as we should not have ad 
the advantage of a military escort, which must remai2 | 
with the main body of the Commission and its stores. — 
RUMOUR oS | TERR See ee 
