January 10, 1847
The mules were driven at daylight to tolerable grass in the river below. At 9 and 30’ the pontoon boats arrived; and, at 10 o’clock, three of the pack-mule party, with 420 pounds of flour; to this I added every pound I could spare of my own and the dragoons, which all makes fifteen or sixteen days at half a pound a day. The corporal and two other men were represented as remaining to hunt for the other deposits of provisions, and that they would not be “up for two days” – a singular notion. I immediately ordered the companies to cross as soon as possible, leaving only their empty wagons, mules, teamsters, and mule and cattle details; the empty wagons to be drawn over as early as possible in the morning. The wind blows again, and slow work is made at crossing; the ford leads far down; I sent Francisco, and several of the teamsters followed him afoot half across, to observe the route; it took his mule in places well upon the side.
The weather is said to be colder than known in many years.
It seems, by Weaver’s account, that I have done injustice to this river’s uses, &c.; he says it will admit of navigation by steamboats for three hundred and fifty miles from its mouth from April to September, and that the rich bottoms extend that high; it is probable that sugar-cane would flourish here; he says the Cochanos have rich fields as high up as I have names, where the canons commence; he speaks of a very rich extensive bottom below that does not overflow.
The sick report now numbers ten.
Night. – The boat has made exceedingly slow work; but the battalion is crossing, and will continue at it, if necessary, all night; the moon will not rise before 2 o’clock. I have directed the sheep taken over at 5 o’clock in the morning, when the reveille will be sounded; then one load over after daylight will probably complete it. I have directed a man to ride each mule in the teams; the water will take them above half side.
The sheep, of which a hundred and thirty are still remaining, have done better of late than I expected a week or two ago, when a few were left every day; the cattle are very poor; there are ten left to us.
Talking with Dr. Foster, the interpreter, this evening, I for the first time became aware that I had all the time been laboring under a mistake as to the number of Mexican troops at Tueson; that they were about a hundred and thirty, instead of two hundred and thirty, as mentioned in a late official letter to Captain Turner.
