Randolph B. Marcy: The Prairie Traveler


Home
Google




UntraveledRoad Library
     Randolph B. Marcy
          The Prairie Traveler
Prev

Fort Smith to Albuquerque

Next

I.—From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Santa Fé and Albuquerque, New Mexico. By Captain R. B. Marcy, U. S. A.


   Miles.
Fort Smith to
15.Strickland’s Farm.—The road crosses the Poteau River at Fort Smith, where there is a ferry; it then follows the Poteau bottom for ten miles. This part of the road is very muddy after heavy rains. At 14 miles it passes the Choctaw Agency, where there are several stores. There is the greatest abundance of wood, water, and grass at all camps for the first 200 miles. Where any of these are wanting it will be specially mentioned. The road passes through the Choctaw settlements for about 150 miles, and corn and supplies can be purchased from these Indians at reasonable rates.
11.Camp Creek.—Road crosses a prairie of three miles in length, then enters a heavy forest. The camp is on a small branch, with grass plenty in a small prairie about 400 yards to the left of the road.
12.Coon Creek.—Road passes through the timber, and is muddy in a rainy season.
12.Sans Bois Creek.—Prairie near; some Choctaw houses at the crossing.
14.Bend of Sans Bois Creek.—Indian farm.
15.South Fork of Canadian, or “Gain’s Creek.”.—Road traverses a very rough and hilly region. There is a ford and a verry upon the creek. Indian farm on the west bank.
12.First ford of Coal Creek.—Road crosses over a rolling prairie, and at four miles the Fort Washita road turns to the left.
Second ford of Coal Creek.—Indian Farm.
4.Little Cedar Mountain.—Very rough, mountainous road.
6.Stony Point.—Very rough, mountainous road.
5.Shawnee Village.—Several Indian houses.
14.Shawnee Town.—Road passes several small prairies. Indian settlement; store on opposite bank of Canadian River, near the camp.
21.Delaware Mountain.—Road passes over a very beautiful country, with small streams of good water requent, and good camps. It crosses small prairies and groves of timber.
5.Boggy River.—Road passes a country similar to that mentioned above.
3.Clear Creek.—Road turns to the right near a prominent round mound. Beautiful country, diversified with prairies and timbered lands.
7.Branch of Topofki Creek.—Beautiful country and fine roads.
9 1/2.Cane Creek.—Excellent camp.
5.Small Branch.—Road passes about two miles from the old “Camp Arbuckle,” built by Captain Marcy in 1853, since occupied by Black Beaver and several Delaware families.
11 1/2.Mustang Creek.—Road runs on the dividing ridge between the waters of the Washita and Canadian, on a high prairie.
17 1/2.Choteau’s Creek.—Road passes on the high prairie opposite Choteau’s old trading-house, and leaves the outer limits of the Indian settlements. Excellent road, and good camps at short distances.
11 1/2.Choteau’s Creek.—Road runs on the dividing ridge between the waters of the Washita and Canadian, on a high prairie.
12 3/4.Head of Choteau’s Creek.—Road runs up the creek, and is good.
17 1/4.Branch of Washita River.—Road runs over an elevated prairie country, and passes a small branch at six miles from last camp.
5 3/4.Branch of “Spring Creek”.—Good camp.
16.Head of “Spring Creek”.—Road traverses a high prairie country, and is excellent.
13.Red Mounds.—Road runs over a high rolling prairie country, and is excellent.
5.Branch of Washita River.—Good road.
15 3/4.Branch of Canadian.—Road continues on the ridge dividing the Washita and Canadian rivers; is smooth and firm.
17 3/4.Branch of Washita River.—Road continues on the “divide.”
18.Branch of Canadian.—Road continues on the divide from one to four miles from the Canadian.
19.On Canadian River.—Good road.
16.Little Washita River.—Good road; timber becoming scarce.
13.Branch of Canadian.—Good road.
17 1/2.Antelope Buttes.—Road runs along the Canadian bottom, and in places it is sandy.
14.Rush Lake.—Small pond on the prairie. No wood within half a ile; some buffalo chips; poor water.
16.Branch of Washita River.—Good road on the divide.
10 1/4.Dry River.—Road descends a very long hill, and crosses the dry river near the Canadian. Water can be found by digging about a foot in the sand of the creek. Good grass on the west bank.
17.Branch of Canadian.—Road winds up a very long and abrupt hill, but is smooth and firm.
22 1/2Timbered Creek.—Road passes over a very elevated prairie country, and descends by a long hill into the beautiful valley of Timbered Creek.
11 1/2Spring Branch.—Good camp.
14Spring Branch.—Good camp.
17 3/4Branch of Canadian.—Road passes a small branch 3 1/2 miles from the camp.
18 3/8Branch of Canadia.—Road passes a small branch of the Canadian at 8 miles from the last camp.
17 7/8Spring Branch.—Good road.
9 1/2Branch of Canadian.—Good road and camp.
18 1/2Branch of the Canadian.—Good road and camp.
10 1/2Pools of water.—Good camp.
10Large Pond.—Good camp.
25Pools of water.—No wood; water brackish. The road passes over a very elevated and dry country, without wood or water.
181/2Head of Branch.—At 13 1/2 miles the road crosses a branch of the Canadian.
19 1/2Laguna Colorado.—Road here falls into an old Mexican cart-road. Good springs on the left up the creek, with wood and grass abundant.
7Pools of Water.—Road runs through cedars.
10 3/8Pajarito Creek.—Grass begins to be rather short in places, but is abundant on the creek.
13 1/2Gallenas Creek.—Good camp.
152nd Gallenas Creek.—Good road.
16 1/2Pécos River at Auton Chico.—This is the first settlement after leaving Camp Arbuckle. Corn and vegetables can be purchased here. Grass is generally short here.
15Pécos River opposite Questa.—Road runs through the cedar, and is firm and good. Camp is in sight of the town of Questa, upon a very elevated bluff.
21 3/4Laguna Colorado.—Road passes through a wooded country for a portion of the distance, but leaves it before reaching camp, where there is no wood, but water generally sufficient for trains. In very dry seasons it has been known to fail. The road forks here, the right leading to Santa Fé via Galistio (45 1/2 miles), and the left to Albuquerque.
22 1/2San Antonio.—Good road.
18 3/4Albuquerque.—Good road.
Total distance from Fort Smith to Albuquerque, 814 3/4 miles.
Total distance from Fort Smith to Santa Fé, 819 miles.

Prev
Table of Contents
Next

Copyright 2006 UntraveledRoad (Website). The text is in the Public Domain.