34 
INDIANOLA 
completing the outfit of the party, I took up my 
quarters at the Verandah Hotel, while the rest of the 
Commission encamped on the banks of the river, about 
four miles from the city. Colonel Craig, with the 
escort, had not been with us on the march from Indi- 
anola. As no protection was yet required, he proceed- 
ed, immediately on landing at that place, to his camp 
near San Antonio, where his train was preparing for 
him. 
September 2Sth. Another sad event took place 
to-day. In making up the party for our journey to 
El Paso, it was necessary to procure teamsters in Texas, 
no men having been engaged at the north for such 
duty. When we started from Indianola, four or five 
persons who had been engaged for other duties under- 
took to drive teams. All the others had to be pro- 
cured there or at Victoria; and the quartermaster was 
obliged to take such men as he could find, giving in 
all cases the preference to such as had been in the 
government employ, or who could bring good re- 
commendation. But with all his care, several despe- 
rate characters were engaged. One of these, named 
Turner, had had a quarrel with Mr. Tennant, the 
butcher in the employ of the Commission, a very 
worthy man who had accompanied us from Washing- 
ton. In the camp to-day they were seen having high 
words. Turner, it appears, had endeavored on sev- 
eral occasions to get the former into a fight without 
success. To-day Tennant was heard to say that he 
had no fears of Turner, if he would lay aside his knife 
and other weapons, and fight him fairly ; at the same 
time drawing a small knife from its sheath and throw- 
