The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-31
FoRT LARAMIE, June q, 1846.
The ExueSlltl0D tn California.

The Expedition to California.
My last letter was dated at the Twin Springs,
where we had encamped in most beautiful
place, and near which a large buffalo had been
killed.
The next day we reached the junction of the
north and south forks which form the great Platte
We travelled up the south fork four or five miles,
when we crossed that stream, which was done
not without some little difficulty, it being at this
place nearly mile wide, and deeper than usual,
owing to the late rains. We arrived at the ford
about the middle of the afternoon, and by sun
down the wagons were all over, the water in
many places coming above the wagon beds. The
next day we travelled up the south fork ten miles
and encamped. This is most beautiful stream
There are no islands in it as in the PIatte-the
bluffs are smooth-the bottom lands from three to
Ave miles wide, gently sloping down to the waters
edge. Timberless, the prairies make broad
sweep over the bluffs, up and down the val
ey, and across the broad river, which winds its
silver course through as lovely scene as the eye
ever dwell upon.
From this point the road leaves the river and
runs to the north fork. A distance of fifteen
miles brought us to cash Hollow one of the
most remarkable places we had seen on our
route. The level prairie over which we had ira
yelled nearly all day, suddenly sunk down into
deep gorge. 1t was wild dell, and was told
had been the battle ground of the Sioux and Paw
nses. For five miles our wagons wound around
among hills and steep decivities little spring,
half mile from the north fork. Here we stopped
to enjoy refreshing draught Of water after the ia
tigues of the day, in riding through this valley of
sand and water. AT this river we found COM
pany OF twenty wagons encamped They had
had considerable sickness, and this day had ba-
ried one of their number. We continued up the
north branch some three miles, when we encamp-
ed for the night. We heard to day that Dunbar's
nf WA hu6 Ioft,
or ten days previously, had gone up the south fork
farther than we had, for the purpose Of finding a
better crossing, but that the water had risen so
that it was impossible for them to cross. Their
only way of getting across will be to kill buffalo,
take their skins, and make what is nailed bull
boats" and with small freights in each, they will
thus be able to get over. Most of our company
felt panied at leaving this Oregon party behind,
particularly our young men, as there were many
fair and amiabe young ladies among them.
The next day we travelled over a sandy
road most OF the way About 10 A. M.
forty miles distant. l saw it. 1t looked like a
small spre, standing out in bold relief against the
sky. Two days more we reached this celebrated
height was variously estimated by our guessing
company, from two to eight hundred feet. Isup-
pose it to be three hundred feet high 1t is round
gently sloping up, ard coming to point at the
base OF the chimney, 250 feet; then the chimney
commences rising IN an oblong square, OF 10 by
20 feet, 100 feet more. Yesterday we passed a
greater curiosity in my view than this some
called it the Court House, others the Fortress and
others the Castle Tower. But before describing
this, 1t may be necessary to give you some idea OF
this valley OF the Platte, which possesses many
and singular peculiarties.
In one of my former letters, have noticed the
rough and billy nature of its bluffs. In travelling
up the river to Fort Laramie, have remarked that
their knobs, or hills, bluffs, or whatever else
they may DO called, are only to be found upon one
side OF the rlver at time, sometimes on one side
and then on the other. Consequently, while one
side presents rough, ragged appearance, the
other IS smooth and even as gently unduating
lawn. The wagons will often wind along under
these bluffs, and in their broken appearance Won
can trace houses, castles, towns, and every thing
which the imagination can conceive. These SUD-
denly disappear, and the bluffs become smooth
and even; but the ragged bluffs, with their
castles and towers, are again seen upon
the opposite side OF the river, where they appear
In greater splendor, as tits distance lends en-
chantrnent to the view" This was the case be-
fore reaching the "court house," but here they
suddenly jumped across the s'ream, and the first
building we saw, was the immense mass on the
tops Of The bluffs, 2O0 feet above he river. There
It stood, solitary and alone, in solemn grandeur.
IL looked to me very much like the forts on Co.
vernor's or Staten Island, and seems to have
been placed there for the express purpose of
guarding the genii and spirits which dwell in the
caverns and deep recesses of the ragged peaks
which immediately follow in its train and line the
bluffs up as far as Fort Laramie.
have TO leave this part of my subject, as well
as my le tier, unfinished, for want of time NAV
Calliornians on their return to the estates"
S. r. c.
NEW SrEcuLAT,or.-Lsst week several citizens an.