Page:Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico.djvu/65

Rh are found at the bottom of the springs. The mountains at the eastern side of the valley are more distant, about 10 miles. The intermediate plain is for the greater part covered with chaparral. The Rio Florido, which comes from the State of Durango, and takes generally a northern course, runs here in a northwest direction through the valley into the Conchos, coming from the southwest. Santa Rosalia is a town of about 5,000 inhabitants; it lies on a hill about 100 feet higher than the river, and towards the south spreading out in a small plateau. Here, on the southern end of the town, the Mexicans had erected a fort against General Wool, when his division was expected to march towards Chihuahua. The fortifications consist of a very spacious square, built of sun-dried bricks or adobes, with redoubts, loop-holes, and trenches. Such fortifications of adobes have the advantage, that cannon balls will pass through them without making a breach. The fort is directly on the road leading to the town, and occupies very favorable ground: but a hostile army might turn the fort entirely, by going through a wide plain east of it, though they would have to march through chaparrál.

On May 1, we rested on the same camping ground, to give to the last companies that left Chihuahua after us a chance to come up with the army.

May 2.–The whole regiment being together, we left this morning our camp at Santa Rosalia for la Ramada, (24 miles.) Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell went to-day ahead with a small party, to reconnoitre the country between here and Saltillo; the road was more sandy, but nevertheless firm and easy to travel. Our direction was ESE.; the Rio Florido always to our left, and chaparrál all around us. In the evening we had a thunder storm, with rain. La Ramadais a small place on the Florido.

May 3.–Made a strong march to-day of 33 miles, to Guajuquilla. The road was constantly winding itself through endless chaparrál; the Rio Florido on the left, and mountains and hills east and west, in the distance, from 10 to 20 miles. About half way we passed a rancho with some water; farther on, the road forks: the right hand road leads directly to the town; the other by a large hacienda. Before Guajuquilla we crossed the Florido, and passing through town, encamped south of it. Guajuquilla looks more like a town than any other place we have seen so far, on the road from Chihuahua; its population is from 6 to 7,000. The surrounding country is well cultivated, and seems well adapted for raising cotton. The produce of the cotton crop was in the last year 140,000 arrobas. Some copper and silver mines, I understood, are worked in the neighborhood, but I could not see any of the ores.

May 4.–Marched this morning but three miles south of Guajuquilla, to the Hacienda de Dolores, a large estate with well irrigated and cultivated fields. From here we will have to travel 20 leagues without meeting water. The prospect of this "Jornada" made us rest here till evening. Two Mexican loafers, suspected as spies, were made prisoners to-day; they confessed to have been sent out by General Ugarte; that he was roving about in that neighborhood, and intended to attack us in the Jornada. The news received very little credit on our part. One of the spies was taken along, but he made his escape during the night.

About 4 o'clock in the evening we started for the Jornada, and travelling through chaparrál and very uniform plain, we made that evening yet 20 miles, and encamped about midnight in a small valley without water.