Holly Springs gazette., 1845-07-19
OREGON-SETTLERS.

Of June, publishes a letter from its Oregon
correspondent, that is &c he. He was on
his way thither He leads one Of the EN-.
grant parties. He writes as follows
BANK OF TIE NEBRAsKA, May I3, ls45
To Ihe Editor Of the Sangamo Jsa5aat:
We have crossed he Nebraska and
Kanzas rivers 1t is now the 18th OF May,
and we are encamped on the north bank
of the Platte river. where we shall orgaGiz
/ preparatory 10 our arduos journey to the
| West.
NV teams. wagons, cattle, and all con-
cerned have stood the trip SD tar, (all things
considered better than | expected. My
cattle are thriving. / kill all my calves.
The present emigraiing party consists OF
about FIVE hundred wagons-one hundred
and seven are in our comPany-thlrty-h
are a few miles ahead end some seventy are
few davs behind. But il is impossible TO
speak definitely as regards the number of
teams. The number OF souls is said TO be
between six and seven thousand. The
number Of cattle is e.diug,
in all probability, ten thoasaDd head. Our
teams, horses mules, ponies, cattle 4 wagons.
stretched out In procession, some three
mil, in length on the broad pralrles present
a grand spectacle The Cav indians flock
around us like crows Their bushes is to
swap" ostensiby. but in reality it is beg
ging and stealing. More or less cattle are
stolen every night. These IndiIns are
great towards, poor and fIthIess. They
meet YOU with an air of courtesy extend
the hand Of {, ,iend>hip in graceful waving
circles TO all and shake hands most hear
lilly with any one oi the company who no.
tice them most and the next business ls
swap" swap" In this traffic the sup
plying oftheir present wants ls the star
dard value they attach 10 their money. 10
| all appearances these Indians are in a
wretched starving condition.
The soil and face Of country from Inde.
pendence 10 the Nebraska river, is equal
/ in point Of beauy and fertility, 10 any |
/ have seen Ti.aber i very scarce. Small
| groves. however, of an exec lent q1ailty are
| found along the streams. The prairIes
are beautifully rolling--the soil rich and
! deep-The Nebraska river has shallow
| banks, and It's bottom is quick-sand. The
creeks which we have crossed, however,
that empty into the Nebraska. have deep
banks AMI muddy bouoms-on some the
soil is more than fifteen feet IN depth.-
| These deep channels AMI muddy bottoms
have given Us much trouble. Cutie
number of cattle In crossing ten ge:
mired and sometimes we have bad 20 haul
from fifteen to twenty ou, by their horns.
Limestone is abundant on the praIrIes.
A stratum of rock lies OIL level, showing
itself above ground IN almost every dec.iv-
iIy which passes It's level.
Oar road so far has been very good, al
III, ugh apparently not very direct IN Its
coarse. can say but little oflhe prospects
of The Oregon emigration. can now only
give you a faint idea of its magnitude, and
the character Of the people who compose 1t.
From the best Information can obtain tne
number Of emigran,s Will be hve>fold 10
" bat it was last year but you must bear
in mind tha: it was then greatly exaggera>
led. OF its character, assure you, SO far
as can Judge, can speak In the most
flettering terms. Agreeable acquaintan.
ces are every day formed. Gentlemen ana
ladies. 100, of liberal minds and means are
in the midst of our social circle. Finally,
there is something ennobling in the very
idea of an expedition fraught with conse
qrences so selfdevoting in its effect NO
narrow minded soul is fit for Oregon Ii
such embark, Iishord and confusion follow
they vii! shrink from the undertaking
and escape tolhe States. But those whose
minds are concenial to the enterprise, pres
eat their shoulders TO la hardships, taei:
breasts to its dcngers, and their means and
talents TO the Accomplishment ofIts 9urPo'
ses. will. doubt nos, be we'll rewarded
have written this in a great hurry
The country as we advance becomes more
Interesting, and N my next J hope 20 oe
able to give some Information In rsgafa 20
fitting out.i' fear we have more cauie
than We can protect. We are now ool
to have one hand 10 every twelve head
TIE emigran.s are ali 10 good health ana
spirits. nm
Respectfully yours, w. 3. iDE.