Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-09

From Lieutenant p. K, an INTELLIGENT officer
Of The U. S. LIST Dragons, to an officer in
Washington City.
BANKS OF THE NEBRASKA, OR PLArrE,)
Friday, May 80, ! 845.
"DEAR-: We arrived last night on
the banks of the Platte. The distance, as
marched, is $50 miles from fort Leaven.
worth, and has been performed in twelve
days. This is rapid marching over prairie
country. where its grass is the sole subss.
tence Tor our cattle. The command is in
fine state; every man and horse as eff.
Gent as on the day OF starting. The col.
(Kearney) selected SO men per company
46 mounted, and as teamsters. We have
one company wagon, carrying 10 days
stores, besides officers provisions, and
camp equpage for troops; two howitzers;
ten quartermasters' teams, driven bv dra.
goons, and, Two light staff wagons-one
the surgeons, the other the colone's; 80
mead OF oxen, and % sheep, driven on the
hDoi; and tour cltlzen.teams, that are turn.
ed back as fast as emptied.
On leaving Leavenworth, we marched
for several days on our last years trail. to the
Pawnee towns. We then struck off more
,outherly to the Great Oregon emigranr
trail, which we intersected on the 9Th day
the distance being one hundred and TWEEN
~ miles from Leavenworth. We had the
pleasing prospect OF one Of the Numerous
caravans on It's winding way, as we nealed
the trail. Since then, we have passed four
companies. Each company is generally
divided into fractions of about SO wagons
each, following at the distance oil half days
march apart. Each company has its regu.
lar constitution; executive officers, as cap
'ans, sub captains, and Judges. They en-
camp and move with military regularity.
and form a carye (square) with their wa
CONS 10 enclose their cattle at night.
have been surprised at the remarkably Sc
Iect appearance of the emigrants. All
seemed highly respectabe-many rich.--
They are mostly in families, with some few
extra young men, seeking their fortunes
and wives in Oregon. The wagons are
generally good and strong, fitted up so as to
be comfortable habitations. They have al
so tents for the young men and stronger
boys. All seem cheerful--the men conten.
ted, and the women tidy. Sometimes you
see the young women riding and knitting
some times walking with an elastic step.
that betokenS freedom from all hardship
They have some articles Of furniture, and
have plenty Of butter and milk on the route.
One party--ot forty six wagons--alone had
fifteen hundred mich cows and oxen. Our
coming among them has given seeming con.
fidence.* Our officers and soldiers mix with
them, with that friendly and consderate
feeling due to our lellow-citizens emigrating
boldly TO new homes in distant land. II
Oregon is filled up with onl Y such material
as this, 1t will indeed be choice gem in this
Union. Not one Of these parties has liquor
with it. | omitted TO mention that their
marches average twelve miles per day.
From what learned from several Of them,
should say the expense, per grown person.
OF getting TO Oregon, must be less than
twenty doIlars--which sum is fully made W
on every head Of stock driven to Oregon
Oi the thousands Of cattle Of the emigran,S.
we have only seen two oxen dead on the
road; and those died Of the murrain. You
now and then find calves that have given out
out very few. AS this emigration and the
territory Of Oregon form topics of such 10.
terest at present, hope, dear sir, that YOU
will excuse my SO long dwelling on them.
4" The number OF souls in the parties al
ready passed by US. amounts TO about one
thousand. There are many parties ahead
and many yet 10 start from Missouri. Yes.
terday's march was our most trying one
We had bad grass the night before; and,
with our half.fed animals, had to pass the
great dividing ridge bstween the Little Blue
aud Platte rivers. This is eighteen miles
across, from water 10 water. We found
ourselves somwhat Unexpectedly on it, and
had to make (circuitously) a thirty mile
march. Twenty-Five to twenty-five is ou
usual daily distance. now that we are on
the beaten trail. Night before last, Leu
tenant Franklin, oflh topog aphicaI eng-
neers, came up, having started from Leav-
enworth on the afternoon OF the 23d and
thus making two hundred and seventeen
miles in five days and part Of one, travel
ing on the unknown prairies. AS his in
struments were days march in the rear.
the colonel left him five picked men, and two
good pack mules, TO bring them up. His
previous escort were to return to Leaven.
worth--oeing men whose time is nearly
out. Major Wharton Qeft at fort Leaven
WORTH did not give US credit fer the rate OF
our marching.
yesterday we met vilanous>lo ping Paw
nees returning from their spring buffalo hunt
hope, dear sir, on my return, to send YOU
some results Of my own"
*One Of The objects Of the expedition. as was
some time since stated in the " Union"
[Official information has been received al
the War office, down to the Sd Of June, repre>