526 RINGGOLD BARRACKS 
was no lack of prominent objects; for thousands of 
deer and antelope were scattered over it. Never 
before had we seen such numbers. Droves of mus- 
tangs also appeared. The deer and antelope were 
usually grazing in herds of from ten to fifty; and as 
we approached they leisurely trotted off to a short dis- 
tance, and again stopped. We shot none; for as I was 
desirous to reach Corpus Christi before night, we were 
pushing forward on the run, and could not be delayed 
for the sake of game, tempting as it was. Among the 
antelope I noticed several of a pure white. 
Ten miles brought us to Agua Dulce (Sweet 
Water), where there were some filthy pools of water 
and several ranchos; and twelve miles further to the 
Oso, a small pond, or rather mud-hole, the water in 
which was so bad that the animals would not drink it. 
The road being good and the weather cool, we again 
dashed off on arun, when an additional nine miles 
eladdened our sight with the blue waters of the Gulf of 
Mexico, which stretched out before us in a long line, 
bounding the horizon for many miles. This was a de- 
lightful spectacle to us after an absence of two years 
and a half, and especially as it was the termination of a 
land journey of nearly two thousand three hundred 
miles. At three o'clock, p.m, we reached Corpus 
Christi, and drove to the excellent hotel of Mr. Noes- 
ler. Here we met Captains Gibbs and Rhett, Dr. Jar- 
vis, and other officers of the United States army, from 
whom we were gratified with late news from home. 
My first inquiry was for the means of reaching 
New Orleans; and finding there was no steamer run- 
ning, and no means of reaching there except by tak- 
