The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-23
FORT MANN (River Arkansas,)
18th Nov 1917.
Mihfaey hteHigence-Mar orer the Deserts
Interesting Particulars.


-interesting Particulars.
Amid your varied aud extensive correspond
ence, Fam in hopes you may find spare corner
for few items from these desert regions. You,
OF course, are aware, that by a requsition from
the. Secretary of War. to the Governor of the
State al Missouri, dated Washington, July Gath,
1S47, acal was made for battalion of volun-
teers, % serve on the Indian frontier, and the
route y Santa Fe and Oregon, to consist of one
company OF light artillery, two companies of
mounted men, and two companies of infantry
in all, I've companies. These were duly organ
lied, ahd mustered into service at Fort Leaven-
worthydurlng the month of September, and con-
sistedAf the following number of rank and file
One lieut. colonel, one adjutant, one sergeant
maJor,pne quartermaster sergeant, and one prin-
cipal musician with
Co. y (mounted), Capt. Jones, lieuts and 80 non
Co mo o Capt Gria,in lieuts and 90 non
Co. (artilery), Capt Pesee, 3 lieuts and lO4 non
commissioned officers and privAtss
Co Infantry, Capt. Holdschilder, lieuts and 70
nouo llmissioned officers and privates
Co Mdnfsntryl Capt Napoleon Kosciaowski, 3 lieuts
and 7sYon- commissioned officers and privates
On he 23d of September the two senior com.
paniestook up the line OF march, but the artillery
and lWantry were necessarily delayed until the
9Th oSDctober, when, accompanied by train of
Is wagons, Sj1 horses, mules, and oxen, the
whole left Camp Gilpin $50 named in honor of
our lI(ut. coloneD, five mi les from Fort Leaven-
WORTH and marched on that day distance of
seventeen miles, with the exception of one
wagof which, during the darkness of the eve
ming, was upset, and caused ridiculous catas-
troph9 exhibiting confused mixture of pork ,
beansScoiiee, candles, soap, sugar, tents, KNAPP
sacks &c,, including bottle offre water which
one Oh the cooks had secreted in barrel of
beans3 but amid the wreck, the brittle crystal
~ Ia
saturated with the ardent. The cooks lamenta
lions we're loud and violent, but without avail
On he evening of the Sth, we encamped on the
banksPf the Ka, or Kanzas river, about IS miles
without much difficulty. The weather was most
pleasSnt and our men began to display full
flow a spirits which, in a measure, may be
accounted for from the want of spirits. as large
offered their sacrifices pretty freely at the altar
of the holly god, while at the fort | may here
remaIt, that during the march of the 9th and
10th, fvera strata of coal were visible, and gave
positive indications that this substance prevailed
in abundance.
On the llth, we encamped at what is termed.
by thu Santa Fe traders, Camp ITO. Here there
was TAenty of wood and water, so we remained
during the 18th, 18th, and I4th. This delay was
caused by the wagon train having taken more
circuiious route for the sake of more level roads
They arrived on the 18th, and we took up the
line oil march on the 18th, and reached Councl
TIOVS. on TIE I|tH here we were aStOnlShed To
find Opt. Jones' company ofmounted men. They
had proceeded as far as the Little Arkansas, and
having found the grass very much burned by the
Indlaug. they considered it unadvisabe to pro-
coed. Captain Griffin had taken contrary view
OF the subject, and continued on to this place,
according to orders. The report of Capt. Jones,
however, produced a considerable sensation in
our camp, and damped many fondly-cherished
hope; even our officers were divided in their
OPINIONS on the propriety OF proceeding on wards:
The difficulties enume rated were y3riOus and
specious. Then ii was advanced that at Council
Grove we had wood and water in abundance,
and only about $50 miles from Fort Leavens-
worth, from whence we obtained supplies and
that even if we should be able to accomplish the
Journey, then there was the difficulty of forward
ing provisions to sustain us during the winter.
Our colonel, however, overruled every objection
he dete rmlned to encounter every danger, and
use every effort to overcome all intervening fiji
cultles. At Council Grove there are two stores,
and the respective companies purchased such ar
tlcles as their necessities required.
On the 10Th, we again resumed the line of
march, the returned mounted company preceding
us. The roads were now perfectly level, and in
excellent order The weather was delightful,
and continued so until the 2lst, when it became
unfavorable, and in the evening ended with a
cold, perc ing rain; and to add to our misfor-
tunes, we had no wood, and, consequently, COM
plants and grumbling was more abundant than
hot cakes and coffee: But this was only evan
escent, for return of favorable weather dispelled
ming OF the 23rd when fracas took place be-
tween the quartermaster and one of the lieuts. of
Company + (Mr. T---e, one of the most popu-
lar of cur officers in the battalion After some
violent LANGUAGE had passed, the latter gave the
former the lie direct, and gave him to understand
he was perfectly ready to give him (the quarter
mastery satisfaction for his expressions. But
whether the GOODNESS of the evening, or con-
stitutlonal aversion to the game of playing with
pistols at ten PAGES, paci6ed the belligerents,
cannot determine; suffice it to say, the quarter
master contented himself with reporting the
circumstance to the colonel, who, on the follow
ing morning, interposed, and for the present the
flame was smothcred; but rather imagine that
on future day it will break out afresh, as I'M
derstand various causes exist to fan the smother
ing flame.
On the 2ith. we reached the Little Arkansas,
and on the 18th Big Cow Creek. During the
march Of this day, we first saw my old favories,
the buffalo; and some of the Ka Indians, who
were here on hunting excursion, brought us
small supply of their meat, which was most ac-
ceptable, and duly appreciated. for many of us
had never before tasted this delicious luxury
On the 30th, we encamped at Walnut Creek.
During this evening we were suddenly aroused
by the astounding report that our colonel had
been shot on the prairie. He had, in company
with the adiutant and quartermaster, gone to ex-
anime fire which was burning at some distance,
and had actually been fired at. On the alarm
being given IN camp, the confusion was consl-
derabe: We stood by our arms, and received
an additional allowance OF cartridges. This
confusion and excitement had arisen from some
OF the men of Capt Jones' company, who, in the
darkness, had mistaken our officers for Indians,
and had thus, inadvertently, been nearly accom-
plshing a horrd catastrophe. Next day en-
camped on the banks of the Arkansas. For con-
siderable distance past, the country had been
very level, but on the march of November LIST, it
became more unduating, and presented very
barrea appearance During the march of the Sd,
the buffalo was very abundant And on the
lth, about three o'clock, the camp was aroused
by. false alarm, and Company ID, with their
posed Indians; but the extent of their exploits
was to shoot two of the oxen. The 5th. n wet
day, and during the evening the rain fell in tor
rents, fooding our tents, saturatlng our blankets
ons n "nd drsarv
winter.
On, the 7th, we encamped at Jackson's Grove,
and during the night the snow fell several inches
deep, We, however. proceeded on the Slh, and