Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-09
THE PIONEERS.


Many of the readers of the Herald have
friends on their way TO Oregon aud overy
western man watches with interes, the progress
of our settlements on tho Pacific. Our posi-.
ton in the United States is fas, becoming GEN.
trail. We are no longer on tho frontiers. The
grea. Tide of population has already dashed
across the Rocky mountains. Almos, before
we have time to conjecture such results. there
will be an immense commercial city Of Ameri-
cans on The Pacific shore, ccniralizing and
controlling the rich commerce Of China and
the East ladies. Tokeep our readers advised
of the progress Of This grea. western move.
ment-the most important, we deem il, Of our
age--we publish the following letter contain.
ing intelligence from the Oregon pioneers:
" THE BANKS OF THE NEBRASKA, on PLArTr,l
Friday, May 80, 1915.
"Dcar -: We arrived last night
on the banks of the Platte. The dis
lance, rs marched is $50 miles from
Fort Leavenworth and has been per-
formed in twelve days. This is rapid
marching over prairie country, where
its grass is the sole subsistence for our
cattle. The command is in IA fine
state /; every man and horse as eff
cient as on the day Of starting. The
Colonel (Kearney) selected so men
per company--46 mounted, and 4 as
teamstcrs. We have one company
wagon, carrying I'D days stores, be-
sides officers provision and camp equip
age for troops; two howitzcrs ten
quartcr-masters teams, driven by dra-
| goons, anu Two ngnt stan Wagons
one the surgeons, the other the col
onels.
"On leaving Lcavcnworth we
marched for several days OH our last
years trail to the Pawnec towns. We
then struck of more Southcrly to the
Great Oregon cmigrant trail. which
we intcrsectcd on the 9th day--the
distsnce being one hundred and twenty
miles from Leavenworth. We had the
pleasing prospect of one Of the numer-
Gus caravans on its winding way, as we
neared the trail. Since then We have
passed four companies. Each compa-
ny is generally divided into fractions Of
about SO wagons each, following at the
distance Of half days march apart.
Each company has It's regular constr
tuition its executive officers, as cap.
tains, sub-captains, and judges. They
encamp and move with military regu-
Iarity, and form aurre Square, with
their wagons to enclose their cattle at
night. | have been surprised at the
remarkably select appearance Of the
emigrants. All seemed highly re-
spectable--many rich. They are most
lly 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 also tents for the young men and
stronger boys. All seem cheerful
the men contcnted, and the women
tidy. Sometimes you see the young
women riding and neutrality-suspicious.
walking with an elastic step, that be-
tokens freedom from all hardship
They have some articles Of furniture,
and have plenty Of butter and milk on
the route. One party--of forty-six
wagons-alone had fifteen hundred
mich cows and oxen. Our coming
among them has given seeming conf
dencc. Our officers and soldiers mix
with them, with that friendly and con-
siderate feeling due TO our fellow-citi-
zens emigrating boldly to new homes
in distant land. If Oregon is filed
up with only such material as this, il
will indeed be a choice gem in this
Union. Not one Of these parties bias
liquor with it. ! omitted to mention
that their marches average twelve miles
per day. From what ] learned from
several of them, should say that the
expense, per grown person, OF getting
to Oregon, must be less than twenty
dollars-which sum is fully made up
on every head Of stock driven to Ore
gon. or the thousands of cattle Of the
emigrants, 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, but very
few. As this emigration and the ter