27th.—After marching 36 miles to-day we came to a town called Santa Cruz, where we encamped.
28th.—We lay by here, and wait for the rest of the army, which will start from Chihuahua to-day.
29th.—At day-break we set out, and after marching 21 miles came to Sousilla, a town situated on the river Couchas, which is, at that place, a considerable stream. I went with one or two hundred others, and took a refreshing bath. At night I cooked a supper of coarse bread, beef and coffee, with the materials of a coral, which we tore down.
30th.—Still travelling on the Rio Couchas. Passed a town called Los Cruezas, and at the end of 28 miles encamped at the town of San Rosalia. Col. Doniphan’s first battalion came up to-night.
May 1st.—At the sound of the reveille all went in line, and after roll-call our captain told us to get our arms in good order for inspection at nine o’clock. Every man was soon busy firing off loaded guns, cleaning out, &c. To-night I went into town and brought a welcome repast for my mess, viz. pork-steak and nice bread.
2d.—Our Captain, after calling the roll, told us that the reveille had sounded thus early for a company to go in advance. Came out a few miles and stopped to inspect a fort the Mexicans had erected to keep Gen. Wool from marching to Chihuahua. It is nicely finished off, with port holes for their batteries, &c. The building covers nearly an acre of ground; but every thing is silent; the place being entirely deserted. A fatiguing march of 27 miles brought us to a ranch called Remado, where we passed the night.
3d.—The country is still barren between these ranchos, which are always found in fertile valleys, mostly inhabited. Some muskeet brush was all we could find on our road to-day; no verdant carpet of grass to relieve the eye from the strong glare of the rays of the sun pouring on the sandy plains as we pass along. A late hour brought us to a large town called Huadaquilla, on the Rio Florida. We travelled 30 miles to-day.
4th.—At ten we left—came out six miles and encamped. On our way we saw several monuments erected to various saints. A pile of rocks marks the grave of one great personage. In the centre of the pile is erected a cross, adorned with artificial flowers. The country around this town is cultivated; provisions are cheap and plenty. All the soldiers are now engaged in packing provisions and water; the latter precious article, it is said, will not be found again till 65 miles are passed over. At four, P. M., we came on and travelled 25 miles in this jornada, and laid ourselves down to sleep in the sand, after taking a cut of meat and bread at nearly 12 o’clock.
5th.—By the time it was light our Orderly came around to arouse us to roll-call. Some poor fellows, half asleep, staggered off into the ranks. We started and marched 40 miles through a thick dust, when we came to a pond of brackish water, which is sometimes found in these deserts. Here we halted for the night. The water was quickly drunk by our famishing boys, notwithstanding it was a disagreeable mixture of salt and sulphur.
6th.—The fatigue and sufferings of yesterday were not allayed by a report in camp that several thousand Mexicans were lying in wait a few miles ahead, in order to cut off our artillery. We marched on ten miles and stopped on the banks of the Rio Cerro Gordo, where we have tolerably good water.