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The next day after the attack on our herds, October 18th, Colonel Miles set out with F, I and H companies of the Rifles C? of the 3d Inft? and K of the 8th and the Zunis with eight-days rations to search in the direction of Pueblo Colorado. The principal approaches into the garrison were barricaded as [we?]] seemed liable to attack at any time. We were three days looking anxiously for Whipple's return from escort duty on the Albuquerque road and our uneasiness was not relieved until the 21st when he arrived by way of Zuni which direction he had taken in order to relieve the extreme distress of a party of immigrants who were on their way to California and had been broken? into by a frightful disaster. They had undertaken to go by ? route to California but had been stopped by impassable mountains and deserts where they suffered from want of water But worst of all they had been attacked by the Mojaves, their men nearly all killed and their teams and cattle run off. The survivors started back toward the Rio Grande a hundred miles distant without shelter, destitute of food and the cactus and mesquite soon tore the womens clothing to shreds. They became scattered and lost and some were crazed with suffering and fright. It was meeting some of these which had taken Whipple out of his way to the rescue of all he could find. Six of them were brought to the Fort by him. How this helpless emigrant train could have been permitted by the territorial authorities to undertake a journey on a route never before traveled by an emigrant or any one else except an exploring party and with a guard and guide excepting an illustrated Congressional Report is beyond comprehension.

For nearly ? hundred miles they must have travelled under observation of territorial officials who should have informed the government at Santa Fe of their progress? and purposes. It was the highest criminal negligence to permit