The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 127
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Opening Routes Across West Texas, 1848-1850
Rio Grande to Coffee's Bend near the mouth of the False Washita.
The chain of posts within this survey included Forts Duncan, Inge,
Lincoln, Martin Scott, Croghan, Gates, Graham, and Worth.
Whiting's instructions from Brevet Major General George M.
Brooke, Commander of the Eighth Military Department, October
1, 1849, were very elaborate. He was directed to embrace in his
report the general character of the country, condition of the roads,
building material, fuel, water, subsistence, forage, population,
climate and strength of the military posts.45
Whiting's report in the form of a journal was submitted to
Major George Deas, Assistant Adjutant General of the Eighth
Military Department, January 21, and March 14, 1850, re-
spectively. The report of January deals with the reconnaissance
from the Rio Seco to the mouth of the False Washita while that
of the latter date describes his examination from the Rio Seco
westward to Eagle Pass. The report falls into three divisions:
(1) character of the country; (2) routes; and (3) military posts.
The reconnaissance embraced a great variety of country. Above
the Woll road Whiting traveled along the southern slope of a range
of rugged hills.4" Leaving the Medina, he followed this range
northeastward to the elevated table-lands of the Brazos. Watered
by numerous creeks, this region was very desirable. Far to the
north and west the vast prairie presented an unbroken and sterile
plain. As the settlements were approached the country was broken
by numerous ravines bounded by steep cliffs. Here were found
many passes used by the Comanche, Lipan, and Waco Indians on
their predatory excursions to the lower Rio Grande and the settle-
ments near San Antonio.
Northeast of the Guadalupe, in the direction of the line of the
military posts and beyond, Whiting entered a different type of
country. The sameness of the scenery was relieved by the rugged
mountains of the Colorado. The distinguishing feature of this
locality was its rock formation. Primitive rocks appeared every-
liquor and gambling, the principal customers being the soldiers from
Fort Duncan. Olmsted, 315, as cited in note 34; Freeman, as cited in
note 23.
45Brooke to Whiting, October 1, 1849. MS., L. R., C. E.
"This range is the lower limit of the great limestone formation of the
northwest prairie. From the base of these hills stretch the beautiful
valleys of Las Moras, Nueces, Frio, Medina, and Guadalupe. Whiting
to Deas, January 21, 1850. MS., L. R., C. E.-127
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Texas State Historical Association & Barker, Eugene C. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934, periodical, 1934; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101094/m1/141/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.