380 
RIO SAN PEDRO 
ble to graze our animal s here, I sent men up and down 
the stream in search of better grass, which tiiey suc- 
ceeded in discovering about three miles further south, 
with springs of w^ater near. I therefore directed the 
camp to be removed there the next day. 
General Conde called, and said he was about to leave 
with five men for Santa Cruz. In consequence of his 
offers of service, I requested him to engage for me some 
flour and beans, both of which I had been informed could 
be procured there ; also to get me twelve mules, as I 
had just learned that four more of ours had proved unflt 
for use. General Conde said he had an officer with him 
who had resided in Santa Cruz some years before, and 
was well acquainted with the country ; that we were 
not more than twenty -flve miles off ; and that he should 
reach there before night. I told him that I would fol- 
low him in the afternoon. 
Having now decided to proceed myself to Santa 
Cruz for provisions and mules for the surveying par- 
ties, I directed the camp to be removed to the springs, 
three miles above, and there await my return, which at 
the farthest I believed would be in a week. This 
journey, too, would enable me to deliver to her parents 
the captive girl, who was yet with us. I took leave 
of Lieutenant Whipple, Mr. Gray, and Colonel Graham, 
when the latter informed me that he should strike 
Cooke’s California road, which we believed came within 
a short distance from our camp, and return to the Cop- 
per Mines that way. At his request I furnished him 
with some sheep for his journey. 
That no time might be lost, I directed the mules 
to be hitched up at once, intending to take one wagon 
