The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-30
DOM E sTIC.
Correspondence Of the Boston Atlas J
THE FARTHER WEST.
September l6, ls45.

THE FARTHER WEST.
FoRr ScorT, INDIAN TERRroRY,
September l6, lS45.
DEAR SIR: Perhaps you would like to hear some
thing of the movements of one who has been travel
mean what they call the "Far Wesf' in Boston, for
that hardly extends west Of the Mississippi; but my
journey has laid far beyond the bounds of civiliza-
ton, in the prares extending to the base of the
Rocky mountains. left Boston the 29th day Of
April last, for the purpose of joining the expedition
Of United States Dragons, which was going to the
Rocky mountains, under the command Of Colonel
Keamey, the colonel of the LIST regiment. This
expedition was to leave Fort Leavenworth, Nilsson
n, some time in the middle of May. had been in
vited to join it, the guest Of one of the officers,
who bears intimate relationship lone, and in whose
society the pleasures of the journey have been dou
bled; and all my antcipations of the scenes through
which we have passed, more than realized. My
journey from Boston to Fort Leavenworth was very
Interesting; and as all nature was arrayed in the
fresh verdure of spring. every scene that presented
itself to me beautiful and novel in the extreme.
passed over the waters OF the Ohio, Mississippi,
and Missouri, without an accident although had
been cautioned of the dangers of snags, sawyers,
and blowings-up. The two former obstacles found
numerous enough in the Missouri; so much so, that
we only travelled from daylight until dark. But
our skillful pilots managed to avoid them all; by the
latter calamity we were not visited. 1t is useless
for me to describe journey, which the pen Of many
tourist and traveller has made familiar to you; but
must confess, that, beyond the Mississippi, went
rather farther west than most humble citizens like
myself, have an opportunity Of going. The limits
intend to occupy will only allow me to give you the
leading points Of the march; and shall be compelled
to skip from date to date quite unceremoniously con-
tenting myself with such an outline of our route as
will enable you to trace it. arrived at Fort Leav-
enworth, which is situated on the south side of the
Missouri river, $50 miles from its mouth, on the
18th day OF May, the day that the command start
ed; and prepared myself Immediately for the jour.
ney. The expedition consisted of five divisions of
the LIST United States dragoons, amounting to 300
men, admirably mounted and equipped, and Differed
by az gallant gentlemen ever made arms their pro-
fession. The objects of this expedition were to see
that the long road to Oregon was open to the emf
grants, and the Santa Fe trail to the traders; TO visit
the Indian tribes this side of the Rocky mountains
and, by kindness and presents, to show them that
the white man is their frend-at the same time to
overawe them, and, by show Of force, to convince
them that any molestation of citizens of the United
States would not 60 unpublished. Another object
was to explore the country, and discover its military
resources. On the Oath of May, we struck the
Great Oregon Trace, which we kept to the South
Pass of the Rocky mountains. On the 18th of May
we arrived at the Nebraska Platte river striking
il twenty miles from the head Of Grand island. The
Nebraska river is very wide, very swift, very mud
dy, and very shallow. II puts the airs of for
mdable river, but it is unnavigable; and Washing
ton Irving expressed its principal features, when he
called it the most beautiful and useless of rivers"
The water is pleasant to drink, and preferred by the
mountain men to any other. On the 4th of June
we came upon the first herd of buffalo They con-
tinued in great numbers for a week. supplying the
command with plenty Of meat. For twenty days
after we struck the Oregon Trace, we were contnu-
ally overtaking and passing the emigrants. This
Wa an eYceedinulv in
paign; for we saw the manner in which they con-
Quoted their Marches and learned their general char
acter and it was gratifying to them to know that
the government was sending her troops to keep
them from being molested by the hand of the saw
age on their long and toilsome journey. They
assemble annually, in the spring of the year, from
the middle and western States, at different points
on the Enthusiastically at st. Joseph and In
dependence, Missouri, where they form them
selves into companies of from twenty-five TO fifty
families; and, when the grass is sufficiently for
ward to subsist their stock, they commence their
journey. improved many an opportunity to con-
verse with them, and found them generally intei-
gent and enthusiastic with regard to their prospects
of settling in new country. They are bold, hardy
farmers, and are fully competent, in every respect,
to lay the foundation of new colony-perhaps a
new nation. Oregon is now evidently filling up
FAST and that, too, with citizens from the United
States. They are carrying with them their repub-
lican feelings, their love of liberty and their indus
trous habits. These the qualities that built our
great nation, and they never can be extingushed in
the bosoms of those who have borne them away.
There have passed over the road to Oregon, this
season, 6l2 wagons, and immense number of
stock; allowing five to wagon, which is low esti-
mate, there were, accompanying those wagons,
5000 souls! | think, if some settlement of the
Oregon question is not speedily made that Oregon
herself will have interest in the dispute. On the
l4h Of June we arrived at the Laramie fork of the
chs co1la o1afia
fork to this place. Here two trading posts: Fort
John, belonging TO the American Fur Company, and
and Fort Platte, 10 company of gentlemen
from St. Louis On the 18th grand council was
held at this place with the Sioux; there being
present some 200, of all ages. This council was
Of great INTEREST," for the troops had made their
appearance in country inhabited by the most pow
erful and warlke tribe of the Vest and the mo-
tives Of their visit being mystery to the Indians,
they were quite alarmed at first and thought they
were to be chastised-k knowing full well that the
scalps Of white men were smoking in their lodges.
When told it was the intention of the COM
mander to hold council, they were treasured; and
came forward well satisfied that no harm was to be
done to them. The colonel gave them some good adj
vice, and warned them against moestng the traders
and emigrants This they cheerfully promised;
and, after the business of the council was ended,
the colonel distributed presents among them, such
as always gratifying and acceptable to the In
dian On the 18th the command started for the
South Pass, leaving detachment of one hundred
men at Laramie. On the Both the command was
mustered at the head-waters Of the Rio Colorado,
which you must know empties into the Gulf of
California, and returned to Laramie on the 18th
July.
Our next move was from the Nebraska, south |
ward to the Arkansas river passing 700 miles along
the base of the main chain Of the Rocky mountains.
This part of our journey was interesting in the ex
IRENE. The high peaks, covered with eternal snow;
the valleys, which have never been visited by the
blessed light of the sun; the fearful crags; the
scathed and splintered pnnacles of granite; the dis.
tant slopes, covered with dark masses Of stunted
pines and cedars; the broad sweep Of the prairies,
stretching off like an illimitabe ocean, presented
series of pictures, which, for their beauty and sub
Unity, 6annot, will venture to say, be surpassed
upon this continent. Certainly, no pen or pencil
could ever attempt to do justice to them. Several of