68 FREDERICKSBURG 
at 4 o’clock, with water standing in pools, and a little 
patch of grass near, which had escaped the fire, I 
deemed it prudent to go no farther, but encamp, rather 
than continue our march without knowing the exact 
distance to the river. It is always advisable to encamp 
early enough to procure wood and water, and make 
all the necessary arrangements before dark. We gen- 
erally endeavored to get into camp in season to let our 
mules graze two or three hours before nightfall; but 
in some instances this was impossible, as our daily 
marches were governed by the state of the grass and 
facilities for procuring water. If we struck a spot with 
these important necessaries by two or three o'clock in 
the afternoon, we encamped. In some instances We 
even stopped at twelve o'clock, while in others we kept 
on our way until dark. 
October 20th, Sunday. I would gladly have re 
mained in camp to-day, agreeably to my original 
intention to rest on Sundays; but it was of the utmost 
importance that we should push on as fast as possible, 
having barely provisions enough for our journey: 
Besides, there was scarcely grass enough for another 
day’s feed on the little spot where we were encamped. 
Early in the morning, therefore, I sent off parties 0 
seek the San Saba River, and a place to cross it. We 
were occupied an hour or two in securing some mules 
which had got loose during the night; but by the 
time the animals were hitched up, reports came in that 
the river was within a mile of us, and a fording place 
had been found. We soon after got off, and, crossing 
some steep and rocky hills, reached the ford. The 
horsemen led the way across the stream, which was 
