82 
APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 
Reached camp at half-past 4 p. m., near a ravine, with water, running southeast. Water 
not good; grass excellent; wood abundant. Same arrangement continued regarding the 
animals. The vicinity of the Indians put all hands on the qui vive. No observations taken 
during the day or at night. General direction, north 10° east; miles, 12 T y 
Camp No. 38— Sunday , April 16, 1854.—Lieutenant Marshall, accompanied by five of the 
topographical party and five soldiers, all mounted, with two pack-mules and four days’ rations, 
started at half-past 6 a. m. for Fort Chadbourne, to get some articles necessary for the expe¬ 
dition, and also to explore the rivers, &c., in that direction. He will join us in four days on 
the Brazos river. 
Left camp and crossed the ravine, and proceeded over a good rolling prairie. We crossed 
also, in a short distance, two dry ravines. At about six miles distance we passed over the 
most eastern tributary of the Colorado. The banks of this stream are thickly covered with 
timber—mezquite, hackberry, wild china, plum, willow, and scrub-oak. It contains an abund¬ 
ance of fish—trout, buffalo, catfish, sunfish, perch, and bass. We caught a great many of 
them. The stream is deep ; the water beautifully clear and fresh. 
We had to cut down the trees on both banks, and level them a little, to allow our wagons to 
pass. This-, however, did not cause much delay or trouble. We nooned here for two hours on 
excellent grass. We then moved forward over a firm prairie, and camped at half-past 5 p. m. 
on the 1 ‘dividing ridge between the Colorado and Brazos rivers,” on a dry bed of a stream 
which runs into the latter. No water ; wood and grass in abundance. 
The country still continues to improve. The trees assume a greater variety, and are of a 
larger growth. The grass is good and short; speaking generally, it is of an excellent quality. 
The scenery is varied and pleasing. The plain, clothed profusely in many places with flowers, 
looks quite fresh and gay. Our animals travelled well, and looked in excellent condition ; same 
arrangement in respect to them as usual. Observations for time taken in the day; none at 
night. General direction, north 71° east; miles, 16^. 
Camp No. 39— Monday , April 17, 1854.—Left camp at half-past 6 a. m., crossing the dry 
bed of the creek on which we camped. After proceeding about five miles over a very rolling 
country, we struck Marcy’s trail; crossed and left it to the north of our route. One mile 
farther we came to a stream of running water ; this is a tributary of the Brazos, and a con¬ 
tinuation of the ravine we passed in the morning. This stream has an abundance of trout, 
bass, sunfish, and catfish. We caught some of them. A moccasin snake was killed on the 
bank. This reptile is as poisonous as the rattlesnake, and more dangerous, as it gives no warn¬ 
ing before attacking. 
All of our animals were plentifully watered, and our kegs filled. We nooned about two 
miles from this water for a couple of hours, on a dry bed of a ravine, which, though somewhat 
steep, we crossed without difficulty. From the summit of a ridge the country to the eastward 
appeared much broken, and difficult to travel; we found, however, that it was not so bad as it 
appeared. Reached camp on a tributary of the Brazos at 15 minutes after 4 p. m.: there was 
water here, but it was brackish and bad ; the mules drank it freely ; wood and grass in abund¬ 
ance. The soil passed over to-day is excellent; mezquite, hackberry, and scrub-oak abundant: 
the former attains a large growth. The grass is also excellent, particularly along the sides and 
bottoms of the ravines. Vegetation is very forward ; the face of the country improves as we 
proceed. We have lately obtained some curious petrifactions—particularly some petrified teeth 
,of an enormous size, belonging to an animal unknown to us. Mules grazed, &c., as usual. No 
observations taken during the day ; some at night, for time and latitude. General direction, 
north 70° east; miles, 16. 
Camp No. O—-Tuesday, April 18, 1854.—Left last camp at 20 minutes after 6 a. m., and 
proceeded over a fine rolling prairie ; passing many dry ravines. At about six miles from 
camp we came to a tributary ,of the Brazos—it had good water. The banks on both sides had 
to be eut down ; the wagens passed oyer safely. All the ravines we crossed yesterday after- 
