126 
DELAWARE CREEK 
badly, that we were forced to halt about 11 o’clock at 
night. We bivouacked in the snow without fire. On 
the morning of yesterday, we were obliged to melt 
snow in order to obtain water for our breakfast. We 
found the road through the mountain, particularly in 
the gorges, much obstructed by snow of such an adhe- 
sive nature, that our animals could work their way but 
slowly, although without their riders. We found but 
little snow in the most difficult portions of the pass. 
Pratt’s horse became so completely disabled, that we 
had great difficulty in urging him along, and have been 
much delayed on his account. We did not succeed in 
finding the “ Ojo del Cuerpo,” which, according to 
Ford and Neighbors, “breaks up in the plain;” but 
we were obliged to encamp without water for our 
animals, and with but a gill for each of ourselves. 
This morning we started very early, and soon came in 
sight of an encampment, which, on reaching it, we found 
to be Coon’s train, which left San Antonio on the 10th 
June, with government supplies for El Paso. This is 
the train whose stray cattle and broken wagons have 
so frequently furnished us with food and fuel, since 
crossing the Pecos. We were received with great 
hospitality by Mr. Percy, who is in command in the 
absence of Mr. Coon. 
“ I would suggest the propriety of stopping at the 
spring, at the base of the mountain, where there is 
good grazing, and to recruit the animals before 
attempting the pass. I fear we shall be obliged to 
leave Mr. Pratt here, as his horse is utterly unable to 
go on. 
“ A party of men are going back as far as the spring 
