Litchfield enquirer., 1845-07-31
THE ROUTE TO OREGON.

Extracts from Letters from the United States Drag.
 oon Corps, Col Kearney, now on their march 10
 tne Nocky Adountalns, as an escort or protection
 to the Oregon Emigrants:
 "CAa1P, near Forks of the Platte, June Sd, AS. write to you from near the Forks of the Platte or the Nebraska. as 1t is more known Eastward We are 345 miles from Fort Leavenworth We followed our last years trail to the Pawnee villa. ges part of the distance, then struck more South- Wardly, and intersected the Great Oregon Emi. grant Trace, about 120 miles from Leaventorth marching on this trace,' we struck the Platte, this being 130 miles further. Since striking the Patte the Emigrant Trace leads up its right bank, being pretty nearly Westward 95 miles. The North and South Forks of the Platte must close in the neighborhood. The Emigrant Trace ascends the North Fork. This is the most level route; but our Dragons will cross over to the North Fork more immediately and then ascend it, till we meet the Emigrant Trace again, thus saving soEe 40 of 50 miles. It is now two hundred and hfty-fve miles to Fort Larimie, celebrated trading fort, at the edge of the spurs of the Rocky Mountains This is the jumping off place for the emigrants.- It is 3O9 miles to the South Pass from Laramie; and then mile or two farther, and you quaf from the waters flowing into the Mississippi. We have found the emigfants extremely numerous. They are in caravans of about 40 to 60, wagons. was surprised to find them in responsibility far exceed ing any of the new frontier settlers. They organ ise themselves judiciously-su to their laws forbid whskey to be sold-scarcely any spirit is taken with them, unless a little as medicine.- They convetse intelligently-seem to have sensi- ble views of what they are to expect; they be- have quietly, and dress neatly. Their girls and women quite tidy, and walk along with an elas. tic step, winch betokens freedom from care and hardship; indeed, hardship scarcely exists. The season has been an unconmonly fine one-veay lit- tie rain, and not hot. Their wagons are fitted up so as to be secure from the weather; and you find the women knitting and sewing, for all the world as if in their ordinary farm houses. ..
 The single men and stronger boys are protected by good tents. ,'......-, ......
 These people seem all reasonably we'll off; they have invested in cattle what they have had to spate, and you find generally six or eight oxen in each wagon, and numerous stock driven on the hoof one party of 46 wagons had 1000 loose stock -and we have this day come up with another par ty, that has 900 and oyer. There has been no sickness among any of them, with the exception of the accidental deaths of two young children.
 Since we have been on the Platte, we have found the grazing bad, from the innumerable buffaloes which have been here more early in the season.
 Indeed, our travelling is very rapid. This is our seventeenth day out, and we have rested but one day--althohgh we have been unfortunate as to grass in several of our camps We left Leaven- worth, as you know, on the 17th May, and this IS only the 3d June; our whole command is in fine and efficient order no man and but one horse out of condition. ...r H THE BANKS or THE NEBR AsKA, OR PLATTE,
 Friday, May 30, 1s45.
 "We arrived last night on the banks of the Plat te. The distance, as marched, is 2jO miles from Fort Leayenworth, and has been performed in 12 days. This Is rapid marching over a prairie coun- try, where it's grass IS the sole subsistence for cattle. The e"fnmand is in fine state; every man and horse as efficient as on the day of startng.- The Colonel (Kearhey,) selected 50 men per com- pany-46 mounted, and as teamsters. We have one company wagon, carrying 10 days stores, be- sides officers provision and camp equipage for troops two howitzers ten quartermasters' teafns driven by dragoons, and two light staff wagons one the surgeons, the other the colonel's.
 con leaving Leavenworth, I've marched for sev- eral days on our last years trail, to the Pawnee town. We then struck off more southerly to the Great Oregon 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 cara vans 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 50 wagons each, following at the distance of half days march apart. Each company has its regular constitutions its executive officers, as captains, sub.captains, and judges. They encamp and move with military regularity, and form a cH- re (squarc,) with their wagons to enclose their ca tie at night have been surprised at the remark. ably select appearance of the emigrants All seem- ed highly respectable-many rich. They are
 
 seeking their fortunes and wives in Oregon. The wagons are generally good and strong. fitted up so as to be comfortable habitation. They have also tents for the young men and stronger boys. All seem cheerful-the men contented, and the women tidy. Sometimes you see the young women riding and knittng--sometimes walking with an elastic step that betokens freedom from all hardshp.- They have some articles of furniture, and have plenty of butter and milk on the route. One par. ty-of forty.sx wagons-alone had fifteen hun dred milch COWS and oxen. Our coming among them has given seeming confidence. Our officers and soldiers mix with them, with that friendly and considerate feeling due to our fellow emil grating boldly to new homes in distant land. If Oregon Is filled up with only such material as this, it will indeed be choice in this Unlon. Not one of these parties has liquor with 1t. 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 20 dollars-which sum is fully made np on every head of stock driven to Oregon. Of the thousands of cattle of the emgrants, we have only seen two oxen dead on the road, and those died of the mur- rian You now and then find calves that have giv- en out, but very few: As this emigration and the territory of Oregon form topics of such interest at present, hope, dear sir, that you will excuse my SO long dwelling on them.
 " The number of souls in the parties already passed by us, amounts to about one thousand- There are many parties ahead and many yet to start from Missouri. Yesterdays march was our most trying one. We had bad grass the night be. fore; and, with our half fed animals, had to pass the great dividing ridge between the Little Blue and Platte rivers This is eighteen miles across, from water to water. We found ourselves some, what unexpectedly on i., and had to make (circui. tously) thirty mile march. Twenty.two otwen- ty.6ye is our usual day distance, that we are