The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-08


General JrsUr. hr ths privileges a psIuziae
" Il Report. "a Ga Jeo@ ef . Jos,Aai. u a.
March IF 1s Reginsai y .sisuaisd hiasases
10 Oregon, fnom May 10 10 Octabes 8. 1872,
by MAJOR q. CKoss, tlaaFteunasiaf limited
States Army" n IL docameBt 81 rare ~
terest and value. az our rcadc~ will arkas~
ledge after perusing the se~ brief extracts Ne
take the liberty u making fron u.
On the 18th Of April 1912. Maisf Csa.s
was instructed by the tlusnrrmasisr tsenrrai
To proceed 10 81. Louis add rel.ogi 10 C,il.,usl
MAcKAY for service with the OFegun eNpedl.
ton. He ON that day departed from wasl,inF
ton, and arrived at ~. Louis IN the slh II
May, when the cholera Preopitaled his depaf
ture ON the 10Th. the troops having Departed
before his arrival. He arrived NJ Eou Lea.
venworth on the 10Th, when be leapnd THAI
the troops Were ten days In advance II hiln.
On the 20lh he departed for for koaTny, with
a small escort, and soon encountered cald and
rainy weather. We will let the major describe
his inauspicious starting:
90 II had been threatening 20 rain all thu morn
ing, and continued cold. The sky was becoming
overcast by heavy clouds that were rising rapidly
in the southwest, and IL began 10 rain very hasa
before reaching the base Of hill which our
road led; here we began 10 realize the labor and
trouble which were in store for US. The evening
one of the most unpleasant had ever eNpe.
rienced. The rain poured down ia torrents. al II
the clouds had been rent asunder by the heavy
thunder, which seemed 10 increase AZ the Vivid
lightning flashed necessarily around US The
whole sky was at moments wrapped in dark
canopy, while at others IL presented one glare II
lightning. Having reached the base OF the hill,
we found it necessary, from the weak condition oi
our mules to attach twelve OF them TO one wagon
to pull up about twelve hundred pounds; and, with
the assistance Of all hands AT the wheels, We sue
ceeded, after two hours work, in reaching the top
of the hill in the midst Of the Storm and continued
march, which brought Us 10 a small stream
about four miles from the garrison, after sundown.
where we made our eacampment for the night.
cit continued to rain very hard, and as wood
scarce and we had no means of;kindling fire,
the party placed themselves under cover az soon ma
possible, without having eaten any thing since
morning. AS for myself, was completely over.
come by fatigue, and much harassed by the
gloomy prospects before Every stitch OF cloth.
ing had on was thoroughly drenchcd. and in this
condition l was taken with fever, which lasted
and in the morning was much gratiied to find
myself able to resume my journey.
"My outfit indifferent as ever left
for any station, much less the Rocky noun aims.
The mules were poor, unbroken, and by no means
calculated for such a march We had TO perform.
The drivers were not only stupid, but totally igno-
rant of their duty, as they had never been en-.
ployed in this capacity before, and seemed TO have
no other object in view than to reach the gold re-
gion with the least possible expense trouble to
themselves; they were, however, the best among
those left at Leavenworth by the regiment, and !
had alternative but 10 take them"
After further describing his difficulties, he
adds:
"This was the beginning Of long and hazard
GUS journey, filled with difficulty and labor. We
were soon to find ourselves desert waste, cut
of from all resources except those we might have
with u.s."
''May 23d-We commenced making prepare
tons at half past three o'clock this morning and
started it was ght enough TO the road.
II was a cold, misty morning. and the thermometer
low forty eight degrees at sunrise, making
difference oftwenty two degrees during the night.
The country began to rise, and, with the exception
Of the distant wood the borders ofscveral small
streams and the valley of the Missouri, nothing
could be seen but a high rolling prairie.
owe had been travelling for the last three days
on trail made partly by the Oregon expedition,
but had not proceeded very far, this morning.
before a new scene broke suddenly upon our
view. We here came into a road as large az
any public highway in the United States, leading
from St. Joseph's and Western. Large train,
were coming in, from all points the Missouri
river, on trails intersecting this great highway,
which was to lead them, after endless toll and much
suffering, to the gold region. All these trails fol-
lowed ridgcs which placed the wagons, frequently
in such positions hat they seemed to be crossing
the prairie in every direction; and, their white
covers were well trimmed, they looked at a die
lance not unlike vessels on the wide ocean steering
for different parts Of the globe For the first time
we passed two wagons to-day that had bro
ken down, and also several persons returning who
had already lost their cattle, which they wer,
ready, Of course, to attribute to the Indians, and
not to their own neglect. The truth was, they had
become discouraged, and were willing to max,
any excuse to return rather than TO continue ia,
journey.
ain thi. days march overlook Captain Gran.
GER Of the Rife regiment, whom passed and abou
six o'clock in the evening made my encampment OF
the prairie, Whcrc lOund small stream, Whicf
was entirely destitute Of wood, there being bu
three solitary trees 10 be seen. The day very
fine, and the distance travelled was about twenty
| five miles. At this encampment our horses founC
| an abundance Of grass. The evening verJ
pleasant, and the thermometer, at six o'clock, p
m, stood at 62o. ! learned to-day that the com
mand was not over seventy miles in advance of me
\ They had met with much difficulty"
GLOOMY PROSPECT.
"24th.-Tbe cholera now began to make it's ap
pearance along this route, and the number who hs,
died with il was sufficient evidence that the emf
| grants were suffering greatly from its effects
| They were truly to be pitied, no aid in AM
way could be afforded them; the contrary, the
were often compelled TO travel when it was almos
\ death TO them ~ be moved"
| "2Cth.-It was cold and rainy this morning
From the great exposure which the party had beer
| subjected 20, toamstcr taken with the pleu
| risy, while Of the escort seized with tn
cholera. Having medical aid along, our situa
ton was certainly avery unpleasant one. We
| however, administered TO them such medicine n
we had with us. and rendered all the assistance il
our power; but, being compelled to continue on
march. it was impossible to make them the leas