Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-09-05
Head Quarters, list Battalion,
1st Regiment Missouri Mounted Volunteers,
c. F. RUFF, 1t. Colonel Commanding.

U. r. RuFF, Lit. Colonel Commanding. J
CAMP ON ARKANSAS RIVER,
July 9th, 1916.
Messrs. Benson & GREEN:-After leaving
Pawnee Fork, from which point last wrote you,
over which we were obliged 10 swim our horses
and draw our wagons across with ropes, we left
the Santa Fe trail on our right, which crosses
the divide between the Arkansas and Pawnee
Fork and took 10 the river bottom with the inten.
ton OF following il to tho Fort, believing from
the parched appearance Of The grass on the ridge
that we would in all probability find no water
unless we pursued this course. This river courses
through barren and sandy country, with The ex.
ception Of narrow strip Of land, some six to
eight hundred yards wide upon either bank,
Upon the south or Texas eide, at this place, the
bluffs or sand hills, rise to the height Of from
twenty to forty feet, presenting singular, and
beneath the rays of the setting sun, strkingly
beautiful appearance. On the other side, the
bottom is about half mile wide, covered in
many places with luxuran, meadows OF excel
lent grass.
We have been marched twenty. FIVE miles a
day Tor the past two weeks or more, and many OF
our horses are fast failing under this forced march
II it is continued throughout the list Regiment
Of Missouri Mounted Volunteers. will compose
a Regiment OF Infantry, and march into Santa
on Foot. Curses are daily imprecated upon the
heads OF Col. Doniphan and 1t. Col. Ruff who
alone are charged with being the cause OF our
fes. travelling, though they are not at all in fault,
as they are only acting under orders from Co..
kearney; a. least so Col. Donphan informed
me lest week. In fact, he said that the Colonel
had given him seven different orders since the LIST
inst, not to march less than Is miles day.
The cause Of this is owing to COL KS last dis
patches from Mexico. which he says warrants him
IN stralnlng every nerve to get 10 our destination
in as short space OF time as possible. Thanks
to the superiority Of our Volunteers horses over
those bought by the Government TO draw our
held pieces. we now have an opportunity 10 re-
cruit our horses. Many Of those drawing can.
non have entirely failed, and were turned loose
upon the prairies. In consequence OF this, we
received orders from COL X. not 10 march over
ten miles day.
Another cause Of complaint is that our Coffee
gave out week since, and we have no chance to
procure supply until we reach Bent's Fort, two
days march from this place. We are told that
picked pork and bread baked in ashes, make
very healthy Diet and perhaps it does, but my
word Tor it, an addition Of cup Of good coffee
after march OF twenty-five miles beneath
broilng sun, would at least be very acceptable:
at any rate SO thought on more than one occa.
sion.
have often seen rain, heard thunder, and
witnessed the lightning's vivid flash. but have
never before seen such as can at times be seen
upon these plains. On the night Of the 22d,
being officer Of the guard, had an opportunity
Of witnessing one Of these storms: The guard
was posted at the usual hour, and l took my
place at the camp FIRE. in few minutes the
raining was falling in torrents, peal after peal OF
thunder followed in quick succession and rolled
across the pTairies; ever and anon the forked
lightning played fantaslically elong the clouded
heavens. and the shrill cry Of the wolf in the
distance, altogether rendered the scene truly su.
blime! yet OF that moment | would have given
all its beauty and sublimity for dry blanket
We are now within two days march OF Bent's
Fort, where have been informed we would
make q halt for few days, and expected to
have deferred writing this letter until our arrival
a, that point, where expected we would re.
cevs some dispatches direct from Santa Fe, but