Route from Fort Smith to Santa Fe; Letter from the Secretary of War, Transmitting, in Compliance with a Resolution of the House of the 6th February (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 Excerpt: ... that purpose, and at a convenient day's drive from our last encampment. Our present position is about half a mile from the road, to the left, near the timber.' It is directly in a gap or notch, formed by the bluffs of the "Llano Estacado, ' which here jut in very near the road, and present the appearance of the walls of fortifications, with glacis revetted with turf. There-is one near our camp, detached from the main bluff, that caii be seen.for many miles; and as it is round, very symmetrical, and crowned With a stone cap in the form of a reversed plate, it is a good landmark. We passed a great deal of the small mezquite and numberless plants of the jointed castus to-day. The stalk of the latter is, when dried, a hard wood, and makes good fuel.--... Our road has for a good portion of the day been passing through a continuous dog-town. One of the animals was brought alive into camp this evening, and having, an opportunity to examine it, I was at a loss to conceive.why.it should ever haye been called "prairie dog." It is a very timid animal; but, when irritated, bites severely, as-one.of our young gentlemen can testify. It isbut little larger than the gray squirrel, of a reddish brown color, with head, teeth, and feet, very similar to that animal, and a more appropriate name, in my opinion, would be "prairie squirrel." In passing through one qf their towns, early in the morning, they are observed sitting upright at the mouths tf their burrows, entertaining each other by a most incessant barking, very similar to that of the gray squirrel. On the approach of an intruder they all disappear in their holes, but very soon can be seen poking their noses above ground again to see if the stranger is gone; and if so, the concert is resumed. The...