21st. Remained over to repair damages, and to cut our wagon boxes off
and make them shorter. Had some rain in the morning. A report is
current here this morning that a train was cut off by the Indians on
Sunday night, (where we baited Sunday noon.) A company of dragoons have
left the Fort to-day to investigate the matter. Fort Kearney is
considerable of a fort, built of adobies or unburnt brick. It is built
in the form of a paralelogram, the centre forming a square which is
defended by a park of artillery. The garrison consists of about 250
soldiers, who seem to be under excellent discipline. The commander's
name I did not learn. The whole affair seems to be well calculated to
keep the Indians in check, but I think would be of very little account
in repelling an attack made by scientific troops, supported with good
artillery.
22d. Started again this morning, traveled 22 miles up the Platte river.
Our road lay along the Platte bottom, and was very good, but somewhat
slippery from the rain that fell day before yesterday. The Platte
bottom on this side of the river, is from 10 to 15 miles wide, being
terminated on the side opposite from the river by high sand hills or
bluffs. The river itself is about two miles wide, with a swift current,
but filled up with innumerable islands and sand bars.