The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 34, July 1930 - April, 1931 Page: 36

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

on the road to this place, country beautiful, many groves of timber,
high hills on the north west. We saw a great number of deer this
morning, their tameness surprised me. Within three miles, we
passed the encampment of the first and 2 Regmts. here I found
one of C. M. Clay's men, who Peters had left with them without
reporting him, without making any provision for his subsistance,
without money, so I found him, sick as I was, scarce able to ride,
this morning. Shiply, Baker, and myself all worse, I immediately
reported myself and those with me to Gen'l Wool's quarters, pre-
sented our condition and our wants. The whole town, each and
every department were in a perfect uprore and confusion, oweing to
a part of Wool's command taking up their march for the Rio Grand
this morning, this division consists of 8 companies of Arkansas
cavelry, 2 companies of the 2d U. S. Dragoons, one of the first,
one of Cap't Washington flying Artilery, 4 camp Ill. Infantry, and
Cap't William's comp'y of Infantry from Clark County, Kentucky.
After two hours dallying and some vexation in going backward
and forward from head quarters, to the quarter master forager,
and stable masters, surgents office, hospitle, etc., I got my horses
in to the quartermasters stable, and our selves into the hospittle, I
am quite unwell and my Journal must end here untill I get better
and have more leasure. All three of the boys are also quite sick,
with every prospect of their being worse. When I will get through
with nursing the sick, when [I] will have a moment I can call my
own Heaven only knows. The hospital is a miserable place, mis-
erably managed, and attended. Filled full of poor miserable crea-
tures. I was offered the office of assistant steward of the hospital
the day I came here, but declined it. I was also offered a bed-
room and board in town free of charge. This I also declined. I
could not think of leaving the boys in a hospital unassisted, un-
cared for. Could I have taken them with me, I would have gladly
accepted the last offer.
Peters had left two days before my arrival for Laredo. He left
not a cent of money for us. Rothrock says he thinks he gave him
all the money that he had when he started away. What became of
ours, I know not. I discover he gambles sometimes. I had
money when I left Little Rock. I afterwards drew 5 dollars from
Peters to be prepared for any expense that might arise, this I'll
hold untill there is a just settlement of our accounts, and he