expedition being so suddenly frustrated, the commander had no other alternative open to him but to return.  This he did by going to the Rito Colorado, a small town that lay on his route.  Here the command was joined by Major Brooks of the 3d Regiment of U.S.  Infantry, who had marched to the relief of Col.  Cook with reinforcements.  As soon as the necessary preparations were gone through with, another scout was undertaken under charge of this last-named officer, while Col.  Cook and his men retired from their active service.

Major Brooks, without much difficulty, struck upon a recent path made by the enemy, and on it, gave them chase.  The Indians were making their way to the Utah country, and on arriving there, the plans of the major were completely balked, owing to the great numbers of fresh trails that he discovered in those parts.  They were so numerous that they crossed and recrossed one another at all points, and were so similar that his best guides could not distinguish the one made by the Apaches from those belonging to the Utahs.  The result was that this command, after being in the field for fifteen days, was compelled to return without accomplishing anything.

These two nations, the Utahs and Apaches, have been so long intimate, that many of their habits and customs are the same, and very often it requires them to speak their respective languages, before they can be recognized; but, usually, the Utahs are cleaner and better dressed than their faithful allies, the Apaches, whom they use, in time of peace and war, as tools.

After allowing sufficient time for the Apaches to collect and reorganize so that they would be more accessible, a third expedition was made ready and placed under the command of Major Carlton of the First Regiment of United States dragoons.  Major Carlton employed as his guide, Kit Carson.

This command, at first, traveled to the north one hundred miles, until it reached Fort Massachusetts.  Here it halted for one day until the final arrangement could be finished.  Major Carlton then divided his party, sending one division, which consisted of his spy company, under Captain Quinn, to examine the country on the west side of the White Mountains, while he took it upon himself to inspect the territory on the east side of the same range.

Captain Quinn followed up the valley of San Luis.  When he reached the Mosco Pass, he turned off through it, in order to get into the Wet Mountain Valley, where it had been previously agreed upon that he should meet with and report progress to his commanding officer.

The Mosco Pass is a narrow opening in the White Mountains, which latter is but another name for a branch of the Rocky Chain.  This pass has been traversed by Col.  St. Vrain, many years ago, with wagons; but, at the present time, such a feat would prove to be an impossibility, as the mountain streams have washed down large rocks and other obstacles, which now present difficulties which simply men and animals