10th. Had 21 wagons in our train this morning. We call all hands at 4
o'clock A.M. now, and start about 1/2 past 6. Had some rain last night,
when the wind shifted to the north-west, very cold, and we have had one
of the best roads to-day that I ever saw; plank roads are no comparison
to it, and have passed over the most beautiful prairie country in the
world, with little timber, and that dwarf burr oak, but the soil is
equal to the best in Illinois. We turned off from the road about one
mile and camped on a branch, about 3 o'clock, P.M. The grass is still
improving. We have about 75 men in our company, which is too many, so
many cannot agree. While I am writing, two of them are very near
fighting, and the captain, Wm. Soublett stands between them, as this is
the only means of keeping them apart. We cannot go on long with so
many, I think. Passed some more graves, and dead horses to-day; in fact
we expect to every day. It looks bad to see so many at this end of the
route.