Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-05-05
From the Baton Rouge <La.J Gazette.
THE STARTING POINT FOR CALIFORNIA.

IL
VAN buren,, Ark, Feb. 81, 1919.
Having left the sugar region of Louisiana On
Thursday, the - inst, safely arrived a, Lit
tie Rock on the following Tuesday at midnight
From this point stages and steamboats, are always
ready TO carry passengers TO Fort Smith or Van
Buren. At nine o'clock on Wednesday night we
left on the p. H. White for up the river. and
should have arrived IN due time, had not large
sand ;bar, formed by the sudden rise of the Ar
kansas, presented ITSELF about twenty miles below
Fort Smith. Here we passed a cold night. and
after seeing the pipes thawed out. and witnessing
third Intellectual attempt 10 cross the bar. and
the same The next day, some eight of us hired
wagon 10 convey our baggage. at ten dollars for
the lot. and began march at ten O'Clock in the
morning for Fort Smith, which we reached at
about tve IN the afternoon, in excellent keeping
as the day was just awiuIly cold enough 10 max
a good walk invigorsting. On arriving at the
Post, we found all the tayerns full, and the inha.
bltants quite surprised at the numbers intending
10 join the expedition fer E Dorado. Companies
coming should prepare TO camp out until time for
starting. when they continue to camp out
Miscellaneous individuals get accommodated
with board in the neighborhood at prices varying
from SIX 10 sixteen dollars per month.
Fort Smith is on the Arkansas river about six
hundred miles from lis mouth, and on the con-
fines of the Indian Territory! There is q carri-
son here under command of Captain SibIey of the
9th infantry. The buildings are put up in hand.
some style. and the officers seem 10 enjoy life verv
well. 1t will be recolIected that General TavIor
was stationed here for the four years ext pre-
cedIng his taking comma nd of the Army of the
RIO Granue. | looked at the old building he re-
sided IN with some interest. and on comparing it
with his headquarters at Baton Rouge, found it
dIthcult TO determine which was the more cOmfor.
table of the Two. 1t is said that he was held by
the Indians here in high respect and awe-his
great personal character, here as esewher stand
ing out in bold relief. Fort Smith has about one
thousand inhabitants; the trade is chiefly with
the Indians. Six miles below it, on the same
stream, is Van Buren,. much more finely built
town, of about eleven hundred inha bitants. Its
trade is with large back country, and the stores
are well supplied with goods. Ii contains four
churches. at one OF which may be heard to.mor.
row night, the well.known J. n. Maffitt; VINO is
much followed. had the pleasure of listening
10 n lecture of his delivered this evening, on
Z" Language" He seems in good health, but
lille worn.
would advise roydgeurs for California to brine
their wagon and team by water 10 Little Rock.
and travel by land up to this point. the distance
beng one hundred and sixty miles. Should thew
desire to postpone the purchase of the team until
arriving here, they can get mules at prices vary.
ing from thirty-fve to sixty dollars, and 90 down
to LiIIle Rock for the wagon WHICH they shall
have taken TO that place. ] have no fear that
mules will rise In price, the supply will be
great. The traders here get their stock from the
Creeks and Cherokees. who get them from the
Camanches, who steal them from the Mexicans.