Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-07


! GIVE are under obligations TO friend
STlrr. for sending US half sheet OF the
Wayne County Wing" containing the
following letters from the junior editor, D
B. WooDs:
BEAR RIVER NALLEY.'t
July ~, 1928
Dear Judge:-It has been some time
since wrote YOU. My last was written
: at Fort kearney,' near where we FIRST
struck the Platte river. | should hare
written from Fort Laramie but want OF
time and Ill health would not allow Since
leaving Fort kearney we have travelled
near one thousand miles through coun-
try full Of interest TO the traveller. e
have encountered many vicisstudes, and
have passed through scenes common 10
the tourist vet full Of thrilling interest 10
us. Incidents are almost daily occurrin z
which we shall never forget. and yet they
would give but little interest 10 your read
ers
To give YOU anything like satisfacto-
~ and minute detail Of the incidents Of
our travel from Fort kearncy, or de
scrip,ion of the country. would be I'M
possible Indeed my time and attention
are 50 fully occupied in the safe conduct
Of our large company and train that
cannot examine the thousand objects OF
interest around US. with the care they de
serve. ] have been absent from the train
but one day since | left the States.
From Fort kelrncy our route lay d.
rectly UP the south bank of the Great
Platte. But few objects of interest pre-
scented themselves before reaching the
south fork The broad river, VARYING
from one 10 four miles III width. dotted
over with islands Of every shape and size.
covered with a handsome growth Of cot
ton-wood and willows. rolled its turbd
waters on our right. The plain we tray
ersed was a broad. sandy bottom. boun-
ded bv the river on the north, and vary
! ing in width, from one to ten miles. o
the southwark, the plain was limited with
. a range OF sand hills, quite low where we
came upon the river, but gradually be
/ coming more lofty and abrupt as we de-
seconded the stream, until they finally be-
came towering mountains. he soll on
the Platte bottoms is wholly unfit for Gull
tvation after descending short distance
above Fort kearnev 1t is wholly destl-
tute of wood, and. for the most part is
covered with a fine growth of prairie
grass. What wood we used. we got from
thu islands or the immediate banks Of
the river. on which we sometimes found n
growth of willows We used the Buffalo
chips which answer as a very excellent
substitute for wood Coming into the
neirhborhood of the South Fork, buffalo
began to make their appearance, which
marked quite an epoch III our travel. II
alay be observed, however that the emil
grafton has been SO great this season that
but few of these huge beasts are found in
the vicinity of the road. IN occasional
small party. however, frequently struggle
within the reach of the great emigrant
trail, I'd are speedily dispatched We
saw none until we crossed the South Fork
of Platte We encamped en- the west
bank of this stream for the night. lmne
diately on the river above Us was a large
village Of The Sioux Indians. They were
quite friendly. rather too much 50 indeed
we were compelled to keep them out Of
camp, and watch them very closely even
while the train was in motion to prevent
them from stealing. They are n fine
looking race of Indians-largc. muscular
looking men. and most admirable horse
men. Their dress is made OF skins.
most Enthusiastically cut and deliberately
wrought Soon after We Left the camp in
the morning. a number Of buffalo made
their appearance on the bluffs. When we
first observed them. they were quietly
feeding. un,listurbed by the passing null
ttudc. Things were quickly astir along
the line. and horsemen were soon dashing
across the plain, armed for the slaughter.
The game, at their approach. fled TO
the norlhward. and our hunters were sur
prised 10 find two Indians ahead Of them
in the chase. Among hands fine buita-
10 was soon dispatched. and our camp
was we'll supplied with meat. which. as
sure YOU. was most excellent. From that
on till we left the Platte. we were well sup
piled with buffalo meat. The country.
from the South Fork to Fort Laramie was
by far, the most interesting of any through
which we have travelled The sand hills
had become mountains. and. in many pla-
ces. had assumed the most singular and
beautiful shapes. Among the most inter
estng and noted of these are the Solitary
Tower Chimney Rock and SCOTS
Bluffs which have so ten been describ-
ed By travellers that shall not tax Your
patience with description here. Fort
Laramie is a mere trading post. unimpor-
tant 10 the traveller. and not deserving
very large space before the public. II is
a good point. however. and hope VIII be
made a resting place for the traveller in
future. Major Sanderson arrived the dav
we passed there. charged by the Govern
men, with the duty of Locating a Fort
somewhere in that vicinity. and author
lied to purchase the old Fort. Leaving
Laramie we took the road through the
Black Hills a rough. barren region.
well deserving their name. We saw lit
tie TO interest or 10 please. till we crossed
the Platte river for the last time. which
we did about Io5 miles from Laramie
The river was very high. in consequence
Of the melting snow. The Mormons had
made a pretty good Ferry. and we cross
ed and parted with this great river in