em, the post has the appearance of a small settlement. The
soil about is sandy, and the place being exposed, it suffers when
the high winds spring up. This fort is usually garrisoned by several
companies of soldiers.

As it has such free access to the mail communication with the States,
it is, comparatively speaking, quite a desirable fort for an officer
to be stationed at. The difficulty of procuring fuel for the fort, and
also other necessary articles, is the great objection to the present
location, but its importance more than counterbalances these;
therefore, the post will probably be kept up either where it is, or in
the immediate vicinity, for many years to come. Colonel Fauntleroy had
received orders from the Department General to proceed to the town of
Taos and take command of the entire expedition. The little force had
been made as powerful as the resources of the country would permit.
The Mexican Volunteers, soon after their enrollment, purchased
woolen shirts and felt hats, the color of which, in each company, was
similar; this fact, with a little drilling, gave them quite a military
appearance. Never were men prouder of the position they now held than
the volunteers under consideration; and a more daring and expert band
of horsemen has been seldom collected. So pleased were they at being
recognized as soldiers, that they could not, when afterwards marching
through their own towns, resist the temptation of jocosely taunting
their countrymen whom they chanced to meet, for being obliged to till
the ground. We have before said that these men were mounted. At first
sight it would appear as though they would soon be on foot, for their
horses appeared to be in a sad plight for so severe a campaign as
that which lay before them. As has often occurred before, looks are
frequently deceptive. In this instance, it was found to be the case;
for, no sooner did these hardy ponies reach the mountains than their
wonderful powers of endurance began to be exemplified. When the noble
dragoon horses began to droop from hunger and overwork, these little
fellows were fresh and strong as the day they started. The reason of
this was that the Mexican horses were well versed in taking care of
themselves, and when the snow fell and prevented their having
free access to the dry grass beneath, they were not in the least
disconcerted; for, with the aid of their fore feet, they readily
pawed the snow away and thus obtained full rations; bu