The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-14

Letter from Lieut., r. X, On intelligent officer IF the
Y. $. LIST Dragons, to an officer in Washington
aTHE BANKS OF THE NEsaAsKA. on PLArrr,
Friday, May 80, ls45.
DEAR ---: We arrived last night on the
banks Of the Platte. The distance, as marched, is
$50 miles from Fort Leavenworth, and has been
performed in twelve days. This il rapid marching
over prairie country, where is grass is the sole
fine state every man and horse as efficient on
the day Of starting. The Colonel (Kearney) select
ed SO men per company-46 mounted, and as
tsamsters. We have one company wagon, carrying
10 days stores, besides officers provisions and
quartermasters' teams, driven by Dragons, and
two light staff wagons--one the surgeons the other
the colonel's; 80 head Of oxen, and 25 sheep,
driven on the hoof and four citizen-teams that are
turned back as fast as emptied.
On leaving Leavenworth, we marched for several
days on last years trail, TO the Pawnee towns.
We then struck off more souherly to the Great Ore
gon emigrant trail which we intersected on the 9th
day--the distance being one hundred and twenty
miles from Leavenworth. We had the pleasing
prospect of one of the numerous caravans on its
winding way, as we neared 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 of half days march
apart Each compaiiy' he's its regular constitution
its executive officers, captains, sub-captas, and
judges. They encamp and move with military regu-
larity, and form care (square) with their wagons
prsed at the remarkably select appearance ofthe emf
grants. All seemed highly respectable--many rich.
They are mostly in families, with some few extra
young men, seeking their fortunes and wives in Ore
gon. The wagons generally good and strong, fitted
up SO as to be comfortable habitations. They have
All seem cheerful-the men contented, and the wo.
men tidy. Sometimes you see the young women
riding and knitting walking with an
elastic step, that betokens freedom from all hard
ship. 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 confidence
Our officers and soldiers mix with them, with
that friendly and considerable feeling due to our
fellow-citzens enigrating boldly to new homes in
distant land. If Oregon is filed up with only
such material as this il 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 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 Oregon. Ofthe
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 tie territory Of Oregon form topics of such in
terest at present hope, dear sir, that you will ex-
cuse my SO long dwelling on them.
"The number of souIs in the parties already
passed by u.s. amounts to about one thousand There
are many parties ahead; and many yet 10 start from
Missouri Yesterdays march was our most trying
one We had had bad grass the night before; and,
with our halffed animals had 10 pass the great d.
viding ridge between the Little Blue and Platte
rivers This iseighteen miles across, from water TO
water We found ourselves somewhat unexpected
ly on it, and had to make (circutously) thirty
mile march. Twenty-Five TO twenty-five 10 our
usual daily distance now that we are on the beaten
trail. Night before last, Lieutenant Franklin, OF the
engineers, came up, having started
from Leavenworth on the afternoon OF the 23di and
thus making two hundred and seventeen miles IN
five days and part Of one, travelling on the I'M
known praries. As his instruments were days
march in the rear, the Colonel LEFT him five picked
men, and two good pack mules, to bring them up.
worth--being men whose time is nearly out. Ma
ior Wharton efi at Fort Leavenworth) did not give
,,s credit for the rate of our marching.
aYesterday we met Misunderstanding Pawnees
returning from their spring buffalo hunt. hope,
dear sir on my return TO send you some results Of
my own
zone of the objects Of the expedition was some time
since stated in the "union'
lofFical information has been received Of the War
Office down. TO the Sd of June, representing that the
expedition was making good progress, having
reached the junction Of the North and South forks OF
the Platte $50 miles from Fort Lesvenworth
on the Missouri."]