The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-06
Correspondence OF the Mis'sri Republican,
Oregon and California epedItions-Sioux
and Pawnee Indians rhe Mormons, a. C.

WESTON, May II, 1886.
ME,sRs. EprroRs Ihye, at a good deal Of trou
| BILE visited the camp ofhe Oregon and California
emeran,s above this. md found them pushing for
ward with all possitSexPediIlon. They have been
| crossing the Missri river, at as many different
points ss there re ferries between here and the
Ruff. but the pgest body crossed at Iowa Point
Elizabetbtowr and ST. Joseph. | found it impossi-
! bic TO ascertgs the number Of individuals, as no
account wrkept at any ferry, except of the number
| of w,0onI They have all passed the agency of the
fIova no Sioux villages, except forty two wagons
which fossed at the mouth Of the Nshnebotna, the
roadsrom all the ferries leading by and to this
nois except the above. Many, if not all the
| ions which were TO cross at the Bluffs came
,wn to the NIshnebotna partly to avoid the numer-
Jus small streams which empty into the Nebraska
On the north bank, and partly to avoid the Sioux
Pawnee and other Indians who are about to make
war on each other. There has been nothing like
that organization which heretofore has been deemed
necessary; as they have crossed they continue upon
their long journey without stopping. There was
no election OF officers, no systematic combination
10 meeting even to adopt anything in common, and
the road from the Iowa village the Pawnee is strung
with them like some great throughfare in the States
their numbers and supplies of all kinds having inspired
them with confidence Of security. The road which
they go is said to be very good, being as we'll sup
piled with timber and water as any route on the
prairie, without any stream TO impede them until
they rach the Nebraska. The weather has been as
favoreoe as could be expected this season of the
year, and the grass on the prairies has been good
for tvo weeks past. They commenced leaving
abot the first OF the month, and continued passing
the owa Agency daily until about the 10th, when
theast Of the main body left that place. All have
Of and are at least seven or eight days Journey
fin the frontier, except forty wagons which were
1have been at st. Joseph's last night; saw three
b them, who told me they were enc day in advance
X thirty others, with whom they started from Iowa
nj If .,lk ,I l.. Il.
pad roads There were seven others in the neign-
borhood waiting for enough to form a company
This, think, will form the rear, as could hear of
no others.
One hundred and seventy-four wagons have pass
ed the Agency, forty-two crossed above the Nsh-
nebotna, and there forty still to cross St. Jo-
seph's. This will give two hundred and ffly-six
wagons exclusive of any which may have crossed
at the Bluffs all that have passed the Agency were
OK teams, with generally four yoke of oxen to each
team, and the emigration from the upper country
consists principally Of families, and many of them
large allowing five to wagon-and all with whom
conversed thought this fair esmate-about |, 300
souls have left these points, exclusive of the number
from independence and the Bluffs, from which lat
ter place, have no doubt from all l can learn at
least from ten to twenty wagons have gone. They
are all as well provided as the nature Of the Journey
will admit Of The quantity of loose stock is very
great, probably double the number in the teams: in
Guiding work oxen, at least 5000 head have gone
out.
learn from good authority that nine hundred
lodges Of the Sioux Indians are on their way to
make war the Pawnees, who are preparing for
them; if so, they will meet the emgrants, and fear
the next news we hear from them will be that the
Indians have murdered and robbed some of them
strung out as they on the road for two hundred
miles.
ofthe one hundred and seventy -four wagons which
passed the agency, twelve we're supposed to be
Mormons, with large lot of loose stock, which it
was believed they intended to herd on the prairie
and faten, until the main body came up; this how
ever, is only conjecture. A good deal of excite
ment has prevailed on this frontier and amongst the
emigrants, by reports that large bodies Of Mormons
well armed, were on their wsy, but | can hear Of
none except the above, and it is now believed they
will cross at the Bluffs, if they go at all.
The Sac and Iowa Indians stole four head of
work oxen and horse from party whilst they
we're near their villages. They found the next day
where three had been slaughtered, and the agent
Major McClntock, beirg absent, four head from the
government farm given in their place. and their
value charged to account of the Indians. The horse
was recovered; an Indian took him from some boys
who were left behind to drive up loose stock When
such things happen before our eyes, what may not
happen when they reach the Sioux, Pawnees Chi
ennes, Rappahoes, and other tribes, fthey continue
TO advance without keeping in large bodies
The news from Mexico did not reach here in time
for the emigration. IL has had no effect upon the
company still to eaye-the word is fortCard If our
government declares war, and would authorize the
emigrants to make the conquest Of California, they
you'd soon do so; they are sufficiently strong
only to make the conquest but to retain il against
Mexico. should think that 800 able bodied and
resolute men leaving or had left this frontier,
within the last three weeks for the Pacific, including
those that left independence
By adding the result ofmy inquiries to what you
will find concerning the Independence companies, in
the paper Of that place, you will have as full and
complete statement Of this years emigration as can
be given at this nne, G.