Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-02-28
BLOOMINGTON IOWA, SATURDAY, FEBRU1RY IS, 1916
wood. but the grass UindiGeisat and the
soil generally sandy.

wood. bu. the grass q indiffeisst and The
soil generally sandy.
An evident improvement in the country
appeared as the command went south;
and along Cherry creek. the soil is repre-
sen.ed to be better than any before passed
over. Near the head Of this stream there
is fine timber, and for one days journey
a part Of the road, six miles in length, led
through pine forest. s.
The command travelled near the foot Of
the mountains on the greater part Of this
route. snd encamped once very near thu
foot Of Pixies peak. said 10 be one Of the
highest points Of the whole chain. For
want Of time no one ascended it.
The Arkansas river, which was struck
about 20 miles wtst of Bent's fort, is, a.
this point. we'll timbered with cotton
wood, but the river bottoms are sandy,
producing some grass, but so dry tfsa il
is hardly probable ,ha. any thing else
would grow there. .-lias.s aa s:
Bents fort is post built much after
the manner Of Fort Laramie, (of un.
burnt bntks,) and for the same purposes.
II belongs to Messrs. Ben,s and ST. Vrain.
from whom the command received a
hearty wecune. A halt, only sufficiently
long TO take some provisions that had
been sent 10 this fort nearly two months
before, was here made. The provisions
were still in perfect state of preserva-
lion, not even the rice or hard bread be-
ing spoiled; remarkable evidence Of the
dryness and pureness of the mountain air.
From this place TO the poin. where the
command left the river, the grass was very
good; but there was little timber. and the
soil was very sandy. The only grass in
the country was tina. on the river; the sur
rounding hills being almos. entirely bare.
Buffaloes were plenty, and quite fat.
The distance from Bent's fort TO Fort
Leavenworth is about 600 miles; and after
travelling 200 miles on the Arkansas. the
command lei. j. where it turns TO the
south; and. keeping along the Santa Fe
trace, arrived at Fort Leavenworlh on the
Gath Of August.
The latter part Of the route was through
by much the most beautiful country pass.
ed over; and progressive improvement
in soil was observed from the river 10
Council grove. where the regular prairie
country Of the States is thought TO con-
mence.
The whole distance travelled during
this expedition was about 1920 miles;
and, as the dragons were absent from
Fort Leavcnwor.h 90 days. their average
xlc:l a. n
miles;-a march, considering its extent
and other attendant circumstances. never
paralleled for rapidly of execution. And
if it be recollected that their horses sub.
sisted during the whole time upon grass
alone. and that each horse carried a dra-
COON the whole distance, the power of en-
DURANGO Of these animals mus, impress US
with as much establishment as their size
and strength did the wild Indians visited.
1t was ascersained by us that nearly all
the emigrants of this season were going
TO the Wihamet river, on which are said
10 be the best lands within our limits
south of The Columbia; and it is known
that 10 ge. there, they would, after leaving
the South Pass, follow the trail of the
emigrants of previous years and 60 TO Fort
Hail. which is on Lewis Fork" down
tina, river near TO its mouth, where they
find the Wilhamet; then up that river
most cifcuitous journey. No other
route has yet been discovered by which
the emigrants or others can get 10 the
WiIhame,; bu, there is little or no doub.
that distance of about 400 miles can be
saved for them. and much better route
than the present one 10 pass over, by
leaving the trail on Bear river-pass north
of Lake Bonneville to Ogden's, on Lost
river-cross the Wyhee river and the
Blue mountains north of Clamet lake. and
then fall on the head waters Of the Villa.
met. Should it be deemed advisable 10
have .ha, country explored. with the
view of finding such route as | have all
luded to. would respectfully recommend
for that purpose Mr.. Thomas Fitzpatrick.
who was our guide during the late expe-
dition, an excellent WOO 1sman-one who
has been much west of the mountains,
and who has as good, If not better
knowledge Of that country than any other
man in existence.
In marching down the Arkan.as we
met with several parties of traders going
70 Taas and Santa Fe; they were getting
along without molestation and wiihou,
difficulty. We saw no Indians on this
river, except some Apaches who reside in
New Mexico.
There are number of white men from
our own States, who have nominally their
residence near Taas and Santa Fe, and
who come frequently into the Indian coun.
try between the upper Arkansas and the