The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-27
From the Liberty mo Tribune.
FROM THE PLAINS.
Correspondence of the Tribune
CAMP No. Is. Nav 90. Is4l

CAMP No. 10, May 20, ls49
We made but a short stay in Independence, as
several new Of cholera appeared that morn
ing. We struck out for the plains, travelling over
some very bad road, il rained either in the day
or night, and sometimes BOTH for FIVE days We
crossed the line Saturday, the 5th. That night
had to camp on the high prairie, without either wood
or water except what water fell from above, which
no little, it rained hard all night We struck
out next morning AT an early hour in no good hg-
NOR, for we had no coffee for breakfast. We tra-
yelled some Of the most beautiful prairies to-
day ever saw; the land sufficiently rolling TO drain
It, yet not broken the prairies usually are and
the soil very rich. IL this country well tim
bered II would be the garden spot Of the West.
We are encamped on Bull creek.
We reached the Kansas late on the evening OF
the sh, and crossed just at dark, by ferrying our
wagons and swimming our mules The ferry is
owned by FrenchmaD, who has been living with
the Indians fourteen years. We travelled up the
Kansas some distance over a b, autlful bottom.
The PotiavatomIes live on this bottom. Here two
wagons from Western Tennessee fell in with US,
seven men IN number. We sncamped on Mil
creek, travelling twenty miles. Here there is a cir
GUAR saw-mill, owned by half Indian; this was
quite a novel scene, after travelling FIVE days in an
Indian country TO come to large farm and excel
lent saw-mIl. The Catholic missions are within
two miles Of this place. We crossed the Vermil-
hon on the 10Th, hauling our wood and water some
two miles, to get a high ridge as there had
been some stock lost a few nights previous by some
emigrants We crossed the Big Blue the l3th,
which is a most beautiful stream. We came to
the 81 Joseph road on the l4th. This road we
found much more travelled than the one from
Independence. About this time trains are very
frequent, principally cattle. At this point there
some one hundred wagons in sight One
train from Cooper, Missouri, one from Holt, Mis-
souri, one from Ohio, one from old Franklin, Mis-
nd from ~
has occurred more frequent in the last few days
we begin TO overhaul the OK teams.
A man may sit down and begin 10 estimate the
number Of wagons that will cross the plains, the
amount Of stock and what II will take 10 feed them,
but he bring his mind properly to realize the
mater unless he 20 see them 70 see some two
or three hundred wagons, crowding and tanning
along the road, some cattle, some mules, and some
horses. ] say when he this, he can begin TO
realize the matter. On the 18th we passed a COM
pany from Louisville, Kentucky. Six Of their
teams ran away and killed one man by the name
Of McMiin, though | believe they did no damage
otherwise The day we left the Lexington com
pany, we passed one hundred and fifty wagons
among the number was a company from Mason
county Kentucky. They had bought young mules,
and IN breaking them they had broke them down.
II, when this reaches you, any should not have
started, warn them against starting with young
stock, and especially with mules ! am confident
there are numbers who have started that will never
get through with their teams. We have not had a
fair chance to test cattle and mules yet as the wea-
Their has been wet and cool. But am sure Of one
thing, that cattle preferable 10 Indifferent mules
We have passed all the OK teams without difficulty
though 1t is acknowledged by all that teams arc
among the best on the route. We travelled about
80 miles up the Little Blue, and struck across the
plains 10 the Platte--it being 81 miles. On Friday
night had a very severe storm Of thunder and rain.
his was bitter night for standing guard. We
nooned On the Platte. The Lexington company
stopped near us. In few minutes after We stop
Ped, The alarm Of Indians was given our mules
were soon secured to the wheels Of our wagons
aho, guns W hand, we marched out in front Of our
\ wagons Tor battle. The two companies Of us num-
Dered % men and we expected rare sport. But on
looking down the prairie we discovered the whole