The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-03-13
[FOr the Minnesota Pioneer. ]
CANTEEN SKETCHES,

For the Minnesota Pioneer.
CANTEEN SKETCHES,
of an expedition 10 the Red Rirer Of the
North, in the summer Of I SAC commanded
by.ug. Woods fthe 9Th Infantry,to marx
our northern boundary line SC. aeeompani'
eddy Capt. Pope Of the Top. Eng, Lieut.
Nelson 9th Infantry a. a., Q. NJ. and a.
"A. G. S., Lieut. Castor, lst Dragons
DR.. Sykes, (citisen) Mr.. Shiiey, mer-
chant, NTH nine wagons, tro carriages
and one mountain ho,Oit=er, escorted By
Go. ID. la Dragons commanded by
Lieut.. J. ". I. Gardner.
(Concluded.)
Here II Of our horsss. broke. away from
picket and left. Fift6en men went in pur-
suit, who shot a buffalo, q part Of which
was taken into camp in q light wagon.
At about o'clock, P. NJ, We encampeI,
detachment returned with 10 horses (the
llth probably dead loss 20 Uncle;) about
4 miles Of prairie, we crossed, almost swim
ming, the water 8 or 4 feet deep; one of
the wagons failing, we launched canoe
which We had on the wagon, changed the
load into that and were off again, to where
land was visible. Two mules were sent
back after the wagon and we all got into
camp, after a march of Is miles, on the
bank Of Maple river. We noticed several
mosquitoes That day. On the 18th in the
morning, a rope was extended across Ma
pie river, to aid in ferrying; and in hours,
we were encamped opposite, bag and bag
gage, with some loss Of blood by musqni-
toes. A booming thunder shower last night
and this morning. Here we caught abund-
ance Of fish. On the 10Th we marched l 5
miles and encamped near Rush river, hav-
ing unloaded once to cross a slough and
having crossed miles of prairie covered
with foot and half Of water. We had
a fine morning on the 2Oth; the river had
wagons and encamped opposite. Having
we had to rood up here, as the steam
boats express it.
The 2ls, took US 20 miles, weather bad,
and water much Of the way foot deep,
some Of the teams petering. We encamp-
ed upon a woodless expansc Of prairie
The 22d fetched Us up after 2S miles, at the
frst branch Of Goose river. That fine,
warm day, we spent an hour in the agree
able work Of ferrying over Il slough. You
were very kind Uncle, to furnish US these
ponton wagons. On the 23d We came in
view Of buffalo, pursued them, in small par
ties, killed dozen or so and encamped
near Salt lake, say miles from timber;
here we smoked some buffalo meat; it was
a good day for mosquitoes. Onr detail with
8 teams, brought in about four bufialoes.
The whole herd numbered only about 100.
/ pnIo ho atN~E
getting thinned out. We marched that day
about miles. On the Oath, we marched
Il miles and encamped expressly for the
Of smoking buffalo meat. We
marched % miles on the 25th, our teams
growing weaker every day; but then we
had a 6ne breeze to blow away the mrs-
quitoes. Here we are, on the 26,h, after
20 miles march, encamped on the west side
Of Big Salt river, S4l miles from Sauk
Rapids. Cncle's mules are getting very
feeble. Carrying fuel along, we marched
l9 miles on the eth. crossing the Little Salt
and Cart rivers, and encamped on a ridge
Of prairie, 2 miles from timber
We marched 20 miles on the as,h,
through rain, with a Considerable mixture
Of mosquitoes. Poor hungry things! How
would they have been saved from starvation,
On the 9th, we bad q severe march,
although but 4 miles and eneamped on Pop
lar island. The rain started just after we
did and Nor,hwester, cold enough for
January; and just after we got in camp.
one Of our mules up and died. Death
appears TO he after some Of the rest of
them rith sharp stick. Poor mule !!
What does ancestry avail him now: "Sic
transit gloria .uundi," (though | think it
happened on Sunday instead Of Monday,
hut we must use our Latin when we have
a ehanee.) On the SOth we marched, much
Of the way through water, ] 8 miles, and en-
eamped in a dry spot, miles from the
woods, having to bring fuel on horse back.
Here one of our teams knocked under and
we left il and one wagon in charge of 8
men until we could send hack for it from
Pembina. Near camp, we found dug out
canoe which was carefully distributed pro
rata 10 the messes. If there was any tres
pass or damage done, Uncle, you must foot
the bill. On the 3lst, we had hard march
to make IL miles. through mud and water,
which took US within s miles Of Pembina,
in good timber. The weather was fine
again for a new country; and we met or
4 carts which were going after the load Of
the wagon we left behind.
On the first day of August, we crossed
the Pembina river in canoes, leaving our
wagons on the south side, and encainped
on tho prairie north side Of the river, with
in GO miles Of the Selkirk settlement.
About dusk, a drenching thunder storm
came booming up, continuing 4 hours, wa
ter in the tents inches deep. The morn
ing Of August Cd, found US, drenched as
we were, wide awake; We had to move our
tents to higher ground, agout $50 yards,
where we fonnd the grazing scanfy on ac-
count Of its having been fed down by the
teeves Of the Pemhinese; bat the sun was
warm and kindly dried our blankets. Al
though the Sd Of August opened up fine,
we bad rain and very respectable thunder
from 4 To 5 O'Clock in the afternoon and
rain again in the night. Our guide left
yesterday for the Selkirk settlement to buy
provisions for US and our beasts. We lay
in camp on the 4th, slight rain in the morn
ing, but pleasant afterward. Last night
the mosquitoes attacked our horses in
detail and probably all orer, making them
break their larists The 5th was q regular
mu.quito day. We hal to build smudges
around the picket line, to save our horse s
from being carried of, many Of them be-
ing thin enough to be easily transIated-a
good team for Enoch's coach. The mus
asitoes were overwhelming. Thanks. Un-
rle, Cor those musquito-bars! We had an
otber''desperass smusquitoey" day on the 9Th.
We psacticed some as targss-shootine
and struck our tents to let the sun dry the