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. 
The 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 upon 
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 severer 
duties and considerable danger, as we should not have 
the advantage of a military escort, which must remain 
with the main body of the Commission and its stores. 
