28th. Sunday. We started again this morning and travelled ten miles to
the main branch of the Grand river, which we crossed and camped. This
is the last timber before crossing a prairie of 25 miles in width. Some
go on intending to camp on the prairie, but the wind being cold, (from
the north-west) we concluded to lay over until to-morrow. Our camping
ground looks like the camp of an army. Horses, picketed tents, with the
star spangled banners flying, wagons standing around, while lying by
the side of logs and trees are brawny, sun-burnt men, sunning
themselves, and taking their ease. Within thirty minutes after we
camped there were 21 wagons camped. Since then they have been coming in
and camping continually. How many there are at this time, would be
difficult to say, and still they come. But this is but a foretaste of
what we shall see at St. Joseph, which we expect to reach by Tuesday
night, it being 44 miles from this place, we are told. On the opposite
side of the river, and half a mile from here, is Gentryville, the
county seat of Gentry county. It is a right smart place, as they say
out this way. It has a saw and grist mill, two taverns, with a fair
sprinkling of stores and workshops. I should think the water power very
good for this country, and capable of supplying power for much more
machinery than now in use.