Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-31


southeast as far as the eye can reach,
utterly impossible Tor horses. Most
of the men were busy in cutting a
pass for me ponies, until four O'Clock;
when we came to the south fork oil
Black River, which we crossed BY
laying long logs across, at point
where two rocks PROJECT nearly across
and encaInpcd. Foster and Rice
started of s this morning for the de-
pot 10 get recruit Of provisions. -
They have a wild track in following
tie ravines to the depot. In eight
days we shall expect them in camp
again.
Nov. 8. Surveyed three miles; two
miles of it was over pine windfall,
covering from two to three thousand
acres. There can be no worse sur
veying in the world. For two miles
we walked literally upon old logs,
piled one upon ano her, in some places
twelve feet from the ground. We
clambered along, packing tent and
provisions on our backs, leaving the
ponies with Mr.. Grover, at the town
corner in the edge Of the windlall,
Nov. We finished the town line,
three miles. but clambered through
windfall and swamps to the lost post,
and then found our way back and en-
camped among the logs.
Nov. 5. Made our way back to-
wards Growers camp, and at dark,
reached it, cross, bilious and with a
general wish that Uncle Sam would
come and survey his own lands.
Nov s. The devil is TO pay in
camp, we arc all out Of tobacco; and
after wading through swamps during
the day. a fine prospect of sleep
ing in marsh at night as we have,
makes our faces long enough to tie
there is not one of US but what would
give log cabin medal TO see dry land
Easain.
Nov. 7. Waded Black River, got
wet in the morning and before we
could get dry, were compelled to
plunge into creek and wade through,
so that we have been perfectly wet
during the day; bat good FIRE and a
hearty meal have set us right again
this evening. Land wet and swampy
mostly evergreen timber.
Nov. 8. We retraced and surveyed
the lines we ran yesterday and the
day before, nine miles. The camp a.
gain got lost, but by dark we were all
together at the old encampmenl of the
50 inst.
| Nov. 9. Surveyed nine and a hall
miles, two miles through swamps, wa
ter ankle deep. the remainder marsh
and pine thickets: land third rate
We are encamped in n smooth round
marsh containing The sixteenth Of an
acre, surrounded by a dense pine
thicket; the moss in it is six inches
high, aud so wet we can wiring water
from it. After arranging camp affairs,
we Tapped the tops Of the little pines
around US, and covered the ground
under the tent with three bows, as n
substitute for feathers, they were long
and elastic--the only objection / have
to them, is, some Of the largest ones
happened to be rather hard, especially
the butts.
Nov. 10. We first passed through
pine thiekets so dense we could not
discern each other two PAGES distant,
then into long sandy plain, once
thick!y timbered with pine, but de-
stroyed by wind and fire, so that there
is but here and there a solitary tree
that lifts its head to show what ha:
once covered this sandy plain. The
land is Of a poor quality and not fl
for cultivation. We encamped near a
small brook in sight of the lodge oil
old Menominec, Winnebago chief
II lodge stands alone, built by setting
few upright sticks in the ground {;
across the top are few poles covered
with grass. The sides are oil open.
which exposes his family to all the in
ciemency Of the weather. Three of
his sons came to our camp and express
ed great curiosity in examining the
compass and surveying apparatus.
(J7 The steamboat Wheel Of For
tune, bound from Cincinnati TO New
Orleans, heavily freighted with PRO
duce, was burnt to the water, a few
days ago, while rounding to at some
town below Louisville.