The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-04
The Civil Expedition to California.
EMicRAsr's TRAIL, ON THIS BANKS OF THE
n Ill.


SWEET WATER, July H. 1896.
My last letter dated last Sunday at Beaver Creek
one hundred miles from this place met with oppor.
tun'y OF sending il to you on Tuesday morning from
our encampment, on Deer Creek twenty miles distant
sir kinney, with small party Of trsppers on their
return to Fort Laramie from the head waters of tho
fats IN the mountains passed by just were roll
ing out and had only time to slip your letter out of nv
trunk fold it, direct it to you in pencil mark and hand il
to him. when we separated hope the letter will reach
YOU Should the direction get rubbed out, requested
him when he arrived at the Fort to ink IT, and send to
you by the first opportunity This letter and the second
wrote you from Fort L., there probability that
the latter might 60 by the way Of Taos may be long
time in reaching you trust that you may ultimately
getthem, that the chain in my narrative may not be
broken We are laying by to keep the Sabbath, and
am keeping as did the last Sunday, in writing YOU
with the hope that may meet with opportunity while
travelling along, OF forwarding il on.
On the morning of July 9Th after our two DAYS, rest
we got underway and travelled twenty miles to Deer
Creek Laramie's Peak was visible almost the whole
gay, on 70 the south east About came 10 the
north fork of the Platte after having been absent from il
overa week Where struck the river there is fine
bed OF stone coal but the great Platte, which we
had travelled SO long and how had dwindea
or rather up. TO small stream. The water was clear
butt did not like it as well as did when mixed with
sand and loan when We first struck the river Thus be-
ing mixed mas tendency to purify it, and also think
that the dirt and sand you take in while drinking
We travelled all the day up the Platte and near
small grove on the banks of the river On Wednesday
crossed the Platte about noon and drove six miles
Inc Duhalo and other game becoming plentiful
Every day one more killed, and again luxu.
Rating on fresh meat think there is mo beef in the
world equal TO fine buffalo cow-such flavor 40 rich
SO juicy it makes the mouth water to think OF il On
Thursday morning left the Platte and the long range
OF black hills on our left and struck of towards the
sweet W alter. AT noon Col Boon up full of ex.
citement stating that he had been with some others
and had Killed buaoes among which several
falo meat to get what they wanted. We waited some
two hours for those who went out when they came in
loaded with the nice bits Of the buffalo, leaving the
msinder ior the wolves. In the afternoon, we drove
few miles and encamped by a fine spring. The
next day We drove IA miles to Willow Spring At noon
in and said they had killed one or two bualo NJ
keid also shortly after came driving fine buffalo bull
which he had slightly wounded he would an OK, up
early, having twenty miles to CO. The road very
sandy and we had to travel very slow 1t just night
to-day buffalo were in sight.
The whole region Of country from Fort Laramie to this
place almost entirely barren There is grass except
IN the valleys, which, in some few places only is
found luxurisnt One seems at a loss how to &c.
count how the buffalo can live on the hills over
which they range-only. few blades of grass
can be seen, and that of low, stunted growth Over
the whole region the wild sage artemisia grows in
abundance Seen at distance it looks like the green
est richest meadow, but when you to it, you are
disappointed as you SEQ nothing but the wild sage in
patches and barren soil between. This sage is not
smell
lavender and Engshman OF "our mess" sticks to it
that it is nothing else. We in a country where
there is little wood the dry roots Of which, being about
inc SIZE OF an OK whip, constitute our only fuel.
FOR the last fortnight we have been travelling over in
many respects, interesting county the hills we have
found relefto the ntermnate level roads the Platte
and almost every night get good spring water which
We find much more agreeable than the warm muddy
water OF that long river Tn. first week after leaving the
Fort, we experienced, though in midsummer the cool
mountain breezes being necessary at night to bundle
ourselves up in our overcoats and otentmes through
different. It has been insuderably hot both day and
night thermometer ranging from 95 to 100 degrees
This am told, is very unusual in the mountains The
sand burns your hand from the intense heat Of the
was surprised to find this great hea elevation Of
over one mile above the level OF the We
about 100 miles from the South Pass the highest point
we shall ascend in crossing the Rocky Mountains My
next letter may contain description of the country be-
tween this and that most interesting point in dest
nation.
think lmsntioned in one of my former letters, that
the Oregon party which left on the Platte passed
Fort Laramie, and travelled with one or two days
and then again went ahead This they did, but they
i eit two or three families with US The influence o.
and California travellers which went to lower the latter
country have cast shade all those that thither
bound. and induced many to change their minds To-
day, division Of company took place, Governor
Boggs, Colonel Boon, and several other families +" slid.
ing out leaving us but small company of eighteen
wagons.
Just as the new Oregon company leaving, there
was an important arivsla single eller his horse
gon As usual, all huddIed around him to get his
views Of the comparative merits of the countries
Although he was from Oregon, he gave the preference
decidedly in favor OF California OF this please
all those who had not changed their minds and made
some of the others feel little chsgrned that they had
30 suddenly changed their But Gov. Boggs ID
actuaed by different motveshe is sfraid of the Nor
mons lie has heard that they on the route, and
thinks they will go to California should they do SO
that will be no place for him. You may be aware that
he was by Rockwell and came very losing his
life; consequently, he has something to fesr.
Mr.. Bonney, the gentleman from Oregon, will be the
bearer Of this letter When commenced writing it th
morning had not the slightest idea when should hav,
an opportunity Of sending it but here is already
supplied, and will be its way to YOU in the morning
ST.. LOUIS, Oct 10th, lsl6
Businsss- Observation-Disclosures Synod-Odd Fsiiow
-Mormons &c. Re.
Owing the low state of the In the Missssippi
Missouri and Ohio rivers business is comparatively dul
in this section of country. Freights very high
with upward tendency-75 cents to 81 per hundred
from hence Galena and all other directions proper
ton. AT good height of water here chronicle the
daily arrival and departure of SO to 10 steamboats, LOADED
with merchandise produce and passenger from and to
all the western and southwestern rivers. Now only 1.
to 90 tho extent Of our list and those compelled 10 b.
Of the hghtes class. On the Ohio, those boats wher
loaded, drawing % inches, cannot run. On the
Mississippi, above Nauvoo, three feet is the extent
Hence to Keokuk at the foot Of the lower rapids and
miles below Nauvoo about the Below this city {,
New Orleans Al to fee As for the Missouri and Iii
nois rivers, they almost wholly unnsvigable The
former il filed with series Of Polk stalks and
bars from its mouth upwards, very few Light draf
boats have attempted navigating It, but have had to Gu,
the ir way through the snags and spend not only hours
but also days in showing the sandbas and snags
The Illinois to Peru is navgabe after fashion" Thus
produce is prevented going eastpces kept down here
and kept up ct the east in consequence.
These waters could all be improved to wonderful
by the removal OF sndy sand bars and the forests
of Polk stalksr in their channels Two weeks since
had pay 81 per hundred for the transport
taon Of several tons of stores hence to the Falls OF St
Anthony With the feasible and not expensive improve
ments at the Falls Of Keokuk and Montrose, the
could now be transported at onehird the price, in
high stage Of water once quarter.
The time lost to the crews and passengers the
steamboats, this fall in consequences Of bars and
il paid for at 81 90 per day, would put the Mississippi
and Ohio rivers in complete navgable condition As
the Missouri the intermnable forests of Polk stalks
with which il is filed and which, every spring, in
creasing from the washing. down OF the iti
banks dare not hazard conjecture Of the necessary
expense to its navigability at low stage of
ter 1t ought be effected by the government, to make
NJ w n iS