FORT YUMA. 147 
a large circle of devoted friends among civilians, as 
well as among his brother officers.* 
At 8 o’clock in the evening we left camp, our hearts 
filled with sadness. Passed several wagons in good 
condition which had been abandoned by their owners, 
among them some large ones, which bore the letters 
U.S., showing, as we were afterwards told was the 
ease, that they had belonged to government trains, the 
mules of which had perished. The whitened bones of 
animals marked the road in many places, terrors to pass- 
ing emigrants. At twelve o'clock the moon arose, 
before which time we had much difficulty in finding 
the road; for so little was the desert travelled, that it 
was only by taking a star for our guide that we man- 
aged to keep in the right direction. J rode a mule all 
this night, and found it no easy matter to retain my seat 
in the saddle. Such, in fact, was the case with many 
* T cannot refrain from relating an anecdote to show that Colonel 
Craig’s kindness was extended to animals as well as his fellow beings. 
In our various marches across deserts, our animals often suffered much 
for want of water, and in consequence of the intense heat, required great 
attention. Notwithstanding the Colonel had men to take care of his horse, 
so fearful was he that he might not receive proper care, that at the close 
of amarch he always accompanied his horse to the water (when it was 
to be had), and, after seeing the animal well washed and cleaned, would 
himself give him the luxury of a good sponging. The result was, his 
horse was always in fine condition, and without the ailments incident to 
constant use under the saddle in a hot climate. On one occasion when 
we made along march, and encamped without water for the animals, 
and but a scanty supply for ourselves, a little was spared to the officers 
to wash themselves in the morning. The Colonel made a request to 
each of them, to refrain from using soap, that he might have the water 
they had used for his horse; by which means he collected a gallon for the 
use of his favorite. 
