FROM FT. KERNEY TO FT. LARIMIE
Leaving our letters in the P. O. went on some 10 or 12 ms. & stoped for
the night, there was no wood, & was not likely to be fore some distance
according to the guides. [May 27--44th day] The grass being poor, & no
wood, & believing that it was better on the north side, & I guess our
cattle thought so too, for they all got into the river last night &
started to swim across, but after a while they give it up & come out. we
concluded to cross the river at the first ford we came to. We had
proceded some 4 or 5 ms. up the river; when we saw several waggons
standing on the bank, & the men watching something in the water; we soon
saw there was a waggon & team fording the river, we could hardly
descerne the team which was nearly under the water, and the waggon
looked like a little boat, it was preceeded by two men on horseback, who
rode side by side, surveying out the ford & marking it by sticking up
little sticks in the sand; we watched them till they were safely across,
& the pilots had returned, but there was a board stuck up here which
informed us, that the ford was safe, & that a large train had passed the
day before. I felt a little nervous when we were about to cross, for the
river here is all of one mile & a half wide, & a more foaming madening
river I never saw, & its banks being very low, & the water the color of
soapsuds you cannot see the bottom where it is not more than six inches
deep, consequently looks as deep as the Missouri when it is bank full, &
the many islands & bars which obstruct this swift current makes an awful
noise, you cannot make a person hear you, when you are in the river, at
5 yds. distant; and I call this one of the greatest adventures on the
whole route, for from the quicksands giving away under the waggon
wheels, there is danger of upsetting, which would be a very great
disaster indeed. Blocking up our waggon bed, we started in, for our
cattle do not mind mud, or water, the men with their coats, hats, &
boots off, with a kerchief around their heads, with whip in hand, into
the Platte river we go; but we are only one team in 20 that is now in
the river, making a line from bank to bank; we were about 2 hours in
crossing, & I do not think our team pulled as hard & for so long a time
on the road, at any place; for our waggon was heavy loaded with about 15
hundred lbs, & the wheels sunk in the sand about 6 inches most of the
way, but we did not stop but once, for fear the waggon would get fast in
the yielding sands, for there were 2 or 3 teams stuck, when we crossed,
2 were mule teams, their feet being so small they sank in the sands &
could not pull out; but when we got across, one of the men who traveled
with us, went back & pulled out one team; but there was no one anxious
to go in a second time. There being abundance of grass here, we turned
out our cattle after they had rested a little, but there was know [no]
wood, so after changing their clothes, & passing around the brandy
freely; we hiched up an went on some 4 miles father [_sic_] up the
river, & encamped in a beautiful place, on the bank of a stream called
Elm creek,[46] under the shade of two large elm trees; here was good
grass, plenty of the best of wood, & some water, for the creek was very
low, & as the sun was 3 hours high or more, some went out a hunting
while the old Dr[47] Beth & I went to cooking, we soon had the best of a
fire, cooked some meat & beens, stewed some apples & peaches, boiled
some rice, & baked buiscuit, & fried some crulls, & as I had a glass
pickle jar full of sour milk, & plenty of salaratus, I had as fine cakes
as if I had been at home; & when they returned in the evening we had a
general feast; for we had had no wood to cook with before for several
days, the men had seen plenty of game but the time did not permit of
their pursuing it, saw also deer Elk and buffalo tracks. [May 28--45th
day] We started out, but I would gladly have stayed today, rested &
cooked some more, for the guides said we would have no more wood for 200
ms, & we must now take to "picking up chips."[48] When a few miles out
we came to a very bad slue, deep & muddy, it would be a fortune to some
one to bridge it, it could be easily done, for it is not wide & the
timber could be had on Elm creek which is but a few miles back, & any
one would rather pay a reasonable toll, than to pull his team (cattle)
so hard. Saw several head of stalk [_i. e._, stock] which had give out,
one old cow by the road with a paper pined on her head, it stated that
she had been left to die, but if anyone choose, they might have her, but
requested that they would not abuse her as she had been one of the best
of cows, she looked so pittiful, & it called up so many assotiations in
my mind that it affected me to tears. Drove on and encamped; turned out
the cattle & put up the tent, then for a fire, no wood, but _chips_ in
abundance, no alternative, soon had a large pile of them, & set fire to
them, when they immediately blazed up & burned like dry bark, it was
laughable to see the boys jump around it, particularly Beth & saying it
"wooled them" bad. On saying that I feared the dust would get in the
meat, as it was frying, George said he would as soon have his broiled as
any way, so laughing, & jokeing we forgot our antipathies to the fire
some said it had improved all the supper, even the coffee. [May 29--46th
day] Hear of people killing buffalo, the ground is strewed with their
bones. Passed a prairie dog town,[49] killed two, that we might have a
near view of them; they resemble both the squirrel & puppy, teeth feet
and tail like the squirrel their shape is more like that of a puppy;
their color is redish grey, their size about twice that of a fox
squirrel, some pronounce them good to eat, they bark nearly like a
little puppy but their note is quicker & more like a squirrel, as we
first came in sight, they comenced barking & running from hole to hole,
& it is believed that they are all connected by subteraneous passages,
which is probably the case, for they are not but a few feet apart, and
on the near approach of any one, they will "disappear in a twinkling," &
appear as if they turn a summerset right down into their hole. They set
up straight on their hind feet when they bark, & they are so near the
color of the sand that you can hardly see them, unless in motion. Shot a
young hare, which made us a fine dinner. The water along here is very
poor; the river water is said to be healthiest, but it is warm, & muddy.
[May 30--47th day] The road is along the bank of the river, which is
very straight, & on each side of which, are high sandhills or bluffs,
from 2 to 10 ms. distant from the river, it is the same the whole way, &
you can see no father [sic] on either side than these miniature
mountains, for they present in many places a beautiful outline; [May
31--48th day] the scenery along the river is very monotonous & the
weather is quite warm, & the diarhia prevails to some extent among the
emigrants, we are all slightly affected it is no doubt owing to the
quality of the water, for most of it, is impregnated more or less with
alkali. [June 1--49th day] One of our company quite sick to-day. The
grass is very good along here, looks like a meadow. Saw four buffalo
feeding near the bluffs, some 3 ms. distant, 2 of our party, & another
man, went in persuit; this man killed one of them, & they brought what
they could to the waggons, & left the remainder of it to the wolves. We
came on & encamped to the right, on the west bank of a beautiful stream,
I think called Buffalo creek,[50] we made some soup from the marrow bone
of our fresh meat, which I think an epicure would have called good, and
eating this with boiled rice helped us very much. Here is signs of game
in abundance, elk, deer, buffalo, antelope, hare, &c,
[June 2--50th day] The bluffs in this place approach the river, & the
road passes over them for 6 ms, the sand is from 6 to 15 inches in
depth, it being very warm, & such hard pulling that our cattle lolled
their tounges out for breath; we stoped when we came down to the river,
& nooned. Passed on, saw a train which was stoped & digging a grave for
a woman, who had died this morning, having been taken sick only last
night; she leaves a husband & 2 small children, this is sad at any time,
but much more so here. On a little father [_sic_], an old man was
suddenly taken with the cholera, by drinking a draught of cold water
from a spring, the Dr. stoped with him an hour or two, but thought he
would not live; I never heard from him again.
[June 3--51st day] Had a fine shower of rain last night, which has laid
the dust, & the road is level, & it is fine traveling to-day, nooned
opposite Cedar Bluffs,[51] which are on the south side of the river, &
the little dwarf cedars which grow upon them, are all the trees that I
have seen for many mile, & shall see again very soon.
[June 4--52d day] Passed where they were burying a man; scarce a day but
some one is left on these plains, to return to their mother dust; may
the Lord pity, & bless the widows & orphans, who are left behind.
[June 5--53d day] Nooned nearly opposite Castle Bluffs,[52] here we were
joined by 2 teams, a man & his family, & his widowed sister with her
family, she was going only to Salt Lake, they had 5 or 6 cows which gave
milk, they gave me an excellent one to milk, for they had more than they
could well tend to, & we were willing that they should travel with us,
which they did to the end of our journey.
[June 6--54th day] Most of the soil here is very barren, the wild sage
sets in here it is very small, not much wood about this. Came in sight
of Courthouse[53] and Chimney[54] rocks some 30 or 40 miles distant,
they have a beautiful appearance. Passed some bluffs on our right which
presented a very singular & picturesque appearance, resembling a ruined
wall & buildings. A few miles onward to the left we found good camping.
In a tent near by was a man very sick, the Dr. went & stayed with him
till morning [July 7--55th day], when he died, leaving a wife & one
child, they put him in his narrow bed & left him there to sleep (rest)
alone. Traveled about 25 ms, & encamped on the bank of the river
opposite Chimney rock, which appeared to us to be very near the other
bank of the river but I am told it is 3 ms. distant & that is why it did
not look larger to me, but I knew it was much larger than it seemed to
be there, for when we were 10 ms distant it did not appear any smaller &
not much farther off. There was a man very sick in a tent near by,
supposed to be cholera.
[June 8--56th day] A fine cool breeze from the mountains makes it very
pleasant. Passed a large prarie dog town it was about 2 ms long by one
broad, they kept up a wonderful barking, & running from house to house,
but disappeared on our approach & kept perfectly still, until we got a
little passed, when they would jump up, & stand as straight & bark with
all their might, & no doubt they were saying some very hard things
against us, for the boys shot several of them, although I beg[g]ed them
not to hurt them, for it is pitiful to see them when one is wounded or
killed outside, & cannot get into his hole; others will rush out, & drag
him in, when they will commence barking with all their might, & directly
the whole town join in, as if they had been informed, & understood that
one of their number was wounded or dead. If there were any of these
little animals in Ireland, we might easily account for their legends of
Faries, Elfs &c. And I think if their habits were thouroughly studied,
that they would be found to possess wonderful powers of instinct.
[June 9--57th day] Came in sight of Laramie Peak,[55] its dark outline
resting against the clouds had a sublime appearance. Passed where they
were diging a grave for a girl 12 years old; how hard it must be to
leave ones children on these desolate plains, but "God will watch over
all their dust till He shall bid it rise." [June 10--58th day] To-day &
yesterday the roads very sandy & in some places hilly, had a small
shower of rain, turned down to the river, nearly 2 miles from the road,
found excellent wood, which had been drifted there by the river in high
water, & likewise fine grass. We are about 5 ms. from Ft. Laramie.[56]
Near by where we nooned to-day, there was 2 dead indians in the top of a
cottonwood tree,[57] this being their manner of disposing of their dead.
They were wraped in well dressed buffalo hides, & then lashed to several
small poles, which were fastened to the limbs of the tree, it was a very
singular sight, they must have been there some time, as I found a part
of an old rusty knife, which had probably been one of the many things
which had been hung on the tree, such as, knife, bow & arrow, & whatever
he might have posessed. [June 11--59th day] We started out in the
morning for town, reached it about 9 o'clock or rather opposite the
place, we halted a little while, one of the company rode over & put some
letters in the P. O. This is quite a place, several fine buildings,
nestled here among the hills it looks like a rose in the wilderness.
There were several indian lodges not far from the road, & plenty of
indians. Taking a last look of the town we departed on our journey.
FOOTNOTES:
[46] Elm Creek, a northern affluent of the Platte River, west of Fort
Kearny, in the present Dawson Co., Neb.
[47] The doctor's name is nowhere revealed. Beth was one of her sons.
[48] Buffalo-chips, the dried dung of the American bison.
[49] The species _Cynomys Ludovicianus_, whose burrow-towns were common
east of the Rocky Mountains.
[50] Buffalo Creek, a northern affluent of the Platte River, in
Nebraska.
[51] Perhaps near Cedar Point, Keith Co., Neb.
[52] Not definitely located, but perhaps in Keith Co., Neb., between the
North Platte and South Platte Rivers.
[53] Courthouse Rock, a huge mass of sand and clay, near Pumpkin Creek,
in Cheyenne County, Neb. There is a good description of it in Delano's
_Life on the Plains_ (1854), p. 69-70.
[54] Chimney Rock, near the western boundary of Cheyenne County, Neb.
Its height, in 1832, as given by Captain Bonneville, was 175
yards.--Irving's _The Rocky Mountains_. Phila., 1837, vol. 1, p. 45. It
has become greatly reduced in height by erosion.--Chittenden's _Hist. of
American Fur Trade_, vol. 1, p. 467. For a description and view in 1842,
see Fremont's _Report_. Washington, 1845, p. 38.
[55] Laramie Peak, the highest point of the Laramie Mountains of
Wyoming, altitude 9020 feet.
[56] Fort Laramie, at the confluence of the North Platte and Laramie
Rivers, Wyoming, was named after Joseph Larame (or La Ramie), a trapper
who lost his life here in 1821. Near by was an earlier station of the
American Fur Company, known successively as Fort William and Fort John.
A near view, as seen in 1842 by Fremont, is in his _Report_. Washington,
1845, opp. p. 40. The federal government bought out the trading company
in 1849 and Fort Laramie became a military station; a birdseye view of
the latter year is in H. H. Bancroft's _Works_, vol. 25, p. 690. For a
full history of the fort, see Coutant's _Hist. of Wyoming_, vol. 1, p.
296-329.
[57] One of the many mortuary customs of the Indians, known as
tree-burial.