Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-07-28
LETTERS FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY
CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS


Arkansas RIVER, May 9th, l049.
| | have no certain chance of sending letters but
as have time write. hoping that can send them
soon. | do not know that can interest you more
than by sending you abridgment of the notes
have taken between Grand River and the Santa
Fe Road.
We on the 21st of April arrived a the Sulphur
Spring. G. NJ, e miles from Mr.. l.. Ross on the
3d. Divine Service was attended to-23d the
Company was organized by the election of officers.
necessary-Tuesday, 24h, the train set out through
the Grand Prairie, making course N. W., and
camped for the night on the Eas; bank Of PRYOR s
Creek, making distance Of Is miles-25th.
crossed Pryor's creek, and camped 3 miles from
the main slream-26th travelled some II miles
! N. W., camped on the divide between Grand RI
yer and East Verdigris-27th, TO Verdigris, m d,
camped on east bank-2Sth, we had much digging
on west bank of Ferdigris, before crossing, after
getting the wagons travelled miles and
camped on End Canda's creek. -.
| On the Verdigris, we met the first Usage Indians:
they gave us specimen of their dancing, &C.,
were very friendly, camped near by at night
Sunday, Goth, we lay in camp-3Oth, renewed our
journey, in a N. w. course, the Prairie having
many miry places, but made good progress, ira
| Yelling some 20 miles, and camped on the divide
between the 2nd Verdgris-May Ist, travelled
north nearly on the divide between the 2nd Ver-
digris; occasionally beds Of coarse limestone and
| hard, yellow sandstone country, beautifully deco
rated with a number of mounds; travelled IS m.-
2nd, on the waters of the Verdigris, on the east
scenery very fine, travelled IL mies-3rd ira
yelled between the waters of the Verdigrs, camped
on high plain, the timber for several days past .
mostly black jack. beautiful country, travelled l2
miles--4th, raned, camped on high plain, tim.
ber, black jack, extensive view all sides lime
stone plenty, water plenty, but has the appearance
of being dry in summer, country rich and undu-
lating, travelled 10 miles-5th, travelled in a di
rection n little north of west The prairie was heavy
| for our teams to-day, from recent rains, camped
at small bunch of timber the headwaters of
nameless creek to US, travelled 10 mes--6h,
Sunday, we lay in camp, the boys found some fish
in the creek, the prairie is rich and grass good
7th, we set out in norhward direction and found
travelling very heavy, the plain for the last days
very wide and undulating, grass good, timber only
TO be found in small quantities the creeks whore
the fire cannot reach it, consisting of sycamore,
boxeder, blackberry, etc., scenery fne-Sth, to-
day we ascended from the creek up some brakes
and benches on to a hgh plain, our course little
north of west, travelled Is miles, and pitched our
camp on small creek, at timber, supposed to run
into Ark. river or West Verdgris-9Ih, the train
set out in N. w. direction, land very rich on the
creeks, no timber TO be seen only about the little
| creeks, to-day crossed creek, and travelled
some six miles to another large creek, supposed
| to be branch of The West Verdgris, on the banks
of which we campej, where found the best
! land for ia rming had seen since left home, and
/ fine timber, which creek deserves the name Of
| Richland the timber mostly walnut, blackberry,
and elm, travelled 90 miles-lOlh, we crossed the
| creek into rich plain, and our direction n. w.
| 10 an nrm of another large creek, running to the
south, the land and timber very fine. travelled 10
| mes-lllh, crossed over the creek. aud also an
| other creek. in about miles, the direction N. W.
| on o very wide plain. found timber for fire.
camped at some water on the plain, to-day tra-
/ yelled II mes-l2th, N. w. course, we saw no
| timber to-day, camped high, open plain, bv
some pools ponds of water in q ravine, travelled
about IL miles-l3Ih, Sunday, we travelled over
extensive plains, watered occasionally, and no
! timber to be seen. at about o'clock p. NJ we ar.
rived at the Santa Fe Road, and camped on Turkey
creek, using buffaloe wood for the three previous
4 nights-l4th. to-day we were delayed, owing to
having lost Is oxen, during the time repaired
the grave of some unfortunate travellers, and set
in the forks Of the road large stone with this in
scription, To Fayetteville, Ark., 800 miles, Capt.
Evans Cavalry Company, May 18th, 1919: in
| the evening we had meeting 10 determine whether
we should continue N. w. course until we in.
tersected the Oregon route, proceed TO Ben,'s
Fort, we decided to take the road to the Fort. ac-
cordingly we set out for Dig Turkey creek, 8 m.
| I-l5th, our company not having come up with the
lost oxen, decamped TO the Little Arkansas,
about ii miles, for the purpose of getting wood
to cook with, we had rain and the buffaloe chips
would not burn well-l6th, we remained in camp
to-day, waiting for those who were in pursuit of
their oxen, to-day we lost 40 more oxen, hunters
are in pursuit; the land both sides of Little
Ark's is rich and level, some timber on the banks,
with bluff on the west side. near mile from the
stream, on which found great quantity of
very beautiful building stone; all beautiful farming
land--l7th, 18th. 10Th, and Goth, lay in camp
2lst, we moved from Little Ark's TO Cow creek,
Is miles; to-day we killed ualoes-22d to- day
l. l. II Oh. ~
and camped on its bank, travelled 20 miles; to-day
some ! 5 or 20 buffaoes were killed. As cannot
con veniently bring my observations TO point at
the present time, will close and bring ii up at
another time. Your Brother, G. J. C.
Fort MANN, on Ark River, June Isl, 1s49.
| nouy xyill brin0 mn n etch oe c,,r ;our pou RI