Narrative of an Expedition Across the Great South-Western Prairies, From Texas to Santa Fé - With an Account of the Disasters Which Befel the Expedition From Want of Food and the Attacks of Hostile Indians #229070

About nine o'clock at night we met a regiment of dragoons, under Colonel Munoz, on their lway from Durango to Santa Fé troops that had been despatched by the Central Government to take part in any hostilities that might occur with the Texans. Being from a more southern and temperate climate, they suffered excessively from the cold, so much so that many of them were leading their horses and setting fire to every little tuft of palm or dry grass on either side of the road. Around these blazing tufts, and scattered along the road for miles, were to be seen knots of half-frozen dragoons, mingled with a large number of women, who always follow the Mexican soldiery on a march. How the latter, who were but half clad even in the warmest cli mate, could withstand the bitter cold of that dreary night, is to me incomprehensible.