Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-06-21
CORRESPONDENCE.
FORT KEARrY. FORMERLY FOEr CHILDs.
On Platte Rirer, May 10, lS49. :

Extract from letter dated
Foar KEARrY FORMERLY FOEr CHILDs.
On Platte Rfrer, May 10, ls4s. 5
am now on the river Platte about $50 miles om Irde
pendence and 500 OF Fort Laramie We are now fa-
and spirits My from the Kansas river when
about leaving II. We left the Kansas on Monday
week last and my letter from that point expected N all
probability would be the last least until arrived at
Fort LARAMIE. Bat since arived here, at Fort Keany,
have leaned that there rguiar mail established BY
government this point and Fot LeavenwOrth
believe or Council Bluff. The mail went has morning
too for us to write but learn just now that the mail
monthly. and that special mail goes Monday, 50
: shall send this letter by that mail
Fort Kesiney is mud fort. with garrison Of SO dra-
goons Their chief duty Is to keep the Indians from fight
1.-TWO parties Of Pswnees and CheycOose and prevented
engagement just about As said before, we
pany expected consisting principally Of from II
inois Ohio and Pennsylvania We afterwards joined
by some from Kentucky so that in short time we number
ed 20 wagons and about IS persons We reached the Big
Blue River Thursday afternoon days ago. and crossed
without much difficulty. be fordng. We three
Of emgTants hill near the river One OF ieamser
who had been shot by accident and buried two days
before The day after crossing The Blue we another
EgTave-oI young man from Ohio Just buried The next
adsy we buried one Of our own company from hi
ois, who very sick aud not expected to live when he
E moaning by sunrise buried him, and
sway There very little either Of ceremony or soemny
& on he occasion.
s. On Sunday last lay encsmped the Little Blue
RIVER For several lays followed the Of this
stresm. until Wednesday when turned TO the right
the Platte 80 distant reached
this river Thursday afternoon, and encamped about four
miles fiom the shore The river here is neither wide
decp and very muddy looking just like The Missouri In
some places expands two miles in width, and in others
less than quarter. II is full Of islands and 10 places
shallow, being scarcely knee deep There very lit
tie it, none all except here
& land there country
Egenerally cottonwood, elm hickory chiefly cottonwood.
EGeneray trees can seen except few near pools of
Ewater, sloughs they called. creek
dsnguished the pTares by curved line Of green
kmarkng its The ground is covered with grass ard
Hnches TO foot high We have still the violet and few
81 other small flowers For day good many
wd The flower being exactly like the Towering
sci The garden, but growing small stalk and in cluster
IL The grass about here is different from the grass
being in large proportion what called buffalo gassa
short and fine whish which bufaoes feed
BuslOes sometimes in this country but not often
several days past have with their bones chiefly
the skull bones and HONS The skull bones useful in
furnishing method Of communication with those behind
by writing the upOn the broad white and smooth
of the forehead We often find the names place Of
Eresidence, company, time of arrival of
IL hose who have before for the information of friends
behind Messages are often written on playing cards and
stened stick by the road side also trees by
Hpeelug off the bark.
As we are now in Indian grounds are compelled to
keep strict watch for the Pawnees, whose grounds
Enow We do much fear attack but afraid Of
Uhe log mules We have any yet though
Eother companies have They well disposed
end Offered to trade For few days had six guard.
for hours iime and four watches making - per-
during the night that turns about every
Eihree nights.
u encamped miles Fort Kearny
Eand.l2 miles from where reached the river have
yet the font but learn that il built bf mud though
imber being prepared for substantial building
Eame here Friday afternoon, and shall
Monday The intervening time has been very busy
pied 10 unpackng and packing wagons II
Esary tighten loads for the benefit Of mules
ble them 10 carry journeys end We have
Eo about foot Of wagon bed-have put our bread into
acks nste of boxes and burnt the boxes and in various
have thrown off of the weight Norris,
ECuey and Rngand have uniiid with 0hrs mess. Their
mess now nuubefs seven MI Reybod from Pennsylvania
Ehaving joined them few days HaItisoH's
Eoher who formerly with longer in
-Four company. They left u on THURSDAY, and now
short distance in advance Of Some others also left
hat we have only eight wagons in the train Companies
Eare passing and falling behind Us constantly On yesterday
1--WE learned that that lime COL had passed. and
Esnce then doubt 60 20 We yesterday,
pary of driving ponies the Salt Lake and Csor-
nia having left the gold region in November and the Salt
Lake in April They reported gold in abundance and that
Eve kept busy by visit from large party OF Sioux
eE Indians who hunting expedition. Our
dcapsin Mr.. Fash Of Illinois who has been among them
RgTeat deal, they party after the Pawnees
There number Of squaws and few half grown boys
but the great majority warriors fully armed with
bows and tomahawk knife and sharp blade
EoT spike Of iron fastened into pole about eight feet
long, and decorated with and feathers They
every hungry aud traded their mOccasins and buffalo robes
for meal beans, crackers, &C. We bought
for the mess for few beans. bought good pair of
Ecasns for two crackers and pocket looking glass which
eight and others bought for three
kcrackeIs alone We first afraid visites would
be troublesome by stealing thing they could lay their
hands on and were obliged TO watch them very close We
y had mules brought up wagon and another
Of precauon got out and made quite
show of guns pistols and knives However difficulty
occurred. The Indians appeared well disposed, and slte
Eeceving much provisions and other articles could
Hgive trade left peaceably To the very
Hnew and somewhat exciting We surrounded by
horde Of with whom could only
yEby signs Our camp scene OF great noise. TbeiI
ngng bells their and weapons and some heir
ponies flor they all mounted and their loud talking
Eio another, kept quite hubbub. But tired
and sleepy describe the il eleven O'Clock
ENJOY excellent health and though obliged labor good
dea and be deprived OF many of the comforts Of e get
along very well. shall Try and write from Fort Laramie
Vi G..