The party that left us took a route different from that subsequently taken by us; and I am indebted to Mr. Kendall, who accompanied it, for the following account of their journey : --

The high ground to the left turned out to be "the grand prairie," the most extensive table-land of the N. of Mexico. They traversed it in a N.W. course, and estimated the distance to be nearly 200 miles. Before they descended from it they saw a chain of mountains running nearly N. and S., and believed they looked on its southerly termination. In the country towards the N. there appeared to be a river of considerable size.

On descending from the table-land they reached some very rugged ground, and were compelled to go W. and S.W. After crossing several hills they reached a small stream of water: they then reached a river, which they believed to be Red River; but it is very doubtful if either party saw the main stream of this river: it probably bends suddenly to the N. in a very different direction from that indicated in any of the maps. Some 10 miles to the S. were some remarkably-shaped mountains known by the name of the "Crows." After wandering among the mountains, they unexpectedly discovered the Angosturas, which the Mexicans had described to be in the neighbourhood of the "Crows."

The road was along the rough ledges of a rock running for nearly 8 miles between mountains, varying from a quarter to three-quarters of a mile in distance from each other. The direction of these mountains is nearly E. and W. The river was to the right. About sun-down of September 12th, they reached a point where the river suddenly turned off to the N. To the W. was a valley 3 or 4 miles in width, apparently very fertile. For some time the party had been reduced to very great distress for want of food, and had killed one of their horses for subsistence.

Here they fortunately fell in with some Mexicans who had been trading with the Indians; three of them agreed to accompany one of the party back to the river Quintufue, in order to act as guides, and started without unnecessary delay. The Mexicans met with were on their way to the river Moros, and called the distance to San Miguel between 70 and 80 miles. They kept in company one day on a W. course, and left for their homes to the N.W. The party, continuing their route W., came to the Galenas, where they were all able to purchase sheep. On their road from this place to San Miguel five of the men who were in advance of the rest were met by a body of Mexican soldiers: they were taken prisoners to San Miguel, where, soon after their arrival, two of the men who bad left us on the 11 th of August were, without being allowed any communication with them, brought before them into the square and shot. The third man, who left us the same day, was killed when his companions were taken. One of this advance party -- an American, who had lived some years at Chihuahua -- offered his services to General Armijo, the Governor of New Mexico, and joined the Mexican troops, who were preparing to attack those of his own party. He found the Texans at Anthon Chico, and advancing with the Mexicans, described the reception of his companions to have been very friendly, and went through the form of a masonic oath with some freemasons of the company to secure confidence in his statement. The leaders were wonderfully credulous, and, placing the men in the power of the Mexicans, they all became prisoners. Had they maintained their position and communicated to us the hostile spirit they had discovered in the country, which might have been practicable, we should have endeavoured to have made our way back to Texas.

After the party whose capture was thus effected had left us on the Quintufue, we moved higher up the river, occasionally changing our position to secure pasture for the cattle near the camp. The Indians kept about us and caused frequent alarms. On the 4th of September, between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning, they effected an "estampido." They killed and scalped one of our men and in a few minutes drove off our cattle and eighty-three of our horses. The cattle we fortunately recovered back, but the loss of the horses was a great misfortune. On another occasion, in the middle of the day, they speared one of the sentries. Between the time indeed that we first reached this river and the day we left it, we lost thirteen men, only one of whom died from disease, the rest being killed by Indians.

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Adapted from Thomas Falconer
"Notes on a Journey through Texas and New Mexico, in the Years 1841 and 1842"