Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-08-02
VOL. XI-NO. 6.
TRAIL OF THE cALEFoRN1ANs.
Correspondence of the Mo. Republican,
FoRr LARAMIE. June 9Th, 1850.

| tOkr LARAMIE, JUNO Olfl, IOOU.
DEAR SIRs: Up to last evening 1920
men and 3,436 wagons had passed this
post. To this number may be added some
700 persons, who, owing to their haste to
reach the mines. had not time to register
their names, making the number about 49,
600, at this moment toiling through the
Rocky Mountains. The head oflhe OK col
umn may be considered as having now fair
ly reached this point. Heretofore only the
light brigades Of horses and mules have
shown themselves, with a small sprinkling
offootmen, wheelbarrow men and hand cart
men. The main body will probably be
past this point by the end of the present
month, and by the middle of July the rear
of the "grand army" consisting of dilap~
idated gentlemen and loalers i'll general will
also have passed, undoubtedly. There has
been considerable skirmishing on the way,
but chiefly amongst the emigrants them
selves. Two or three have been killed Or
severely wounded with bowie knives and
pistols, but the main loss has been amongst
the horses and mules. Many have chang-
ed owners. and not day passes that two or
three complaints are not made 10 the com
handing officer by emigrants. of having
been robbed by their fellow emigrants and
set adrift on the prairies. AS shrewd old
farmer mentioned the other day he "didn't
mind the wild Indians much, he could on
ly keep out of the way of the tame ones; he
believed he'd turn round and GO back 10 the
States, for there must be power of honest
people there since SO many dishonest ones
had lelt' The rule of action which APP
pears to prevail on the prairies is. the
wholesome one of leach man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost one. do
not mean to cast reflections on the great
body of the emigrants, for they appear 10
have come from the most respectable por-
ton of the community, and would be an
addition to any country, but | merely wish
to intimate that there are many more penl-
tertiary candidates on the trail this year
than there were last.
Col. Fremont's protege, Kit Carson,
arrived here a few days since from Sante
Fe, with band of thirty horses and mules,
and is in camp few miles distant, trading
with the emigrants. Every body who
has read Fremont's work, and there are very
few who have not, wishes TO see Kit, and
the consequence is he holds il a source of
great annoyance, as he is modest man and
not fond of such notoriety. Guide books
and maps of the road have no chance against
his word.
A youthful emigrant of some twelve
years of age was picked up day or two
since, within few miles ofhere and brought
10 the post. He had five biscuit strapped
to his back, and small bundle in his hand,
and with such an outfit was trudging along
as unceremoniously as if the goal of his
wishes was but ten miles distant, instead of
thirteen hundred. Upon being questioned
it appeared that he had been turned adriit
on the prairies with his five biscuit by a
GENTLEMAN whose name forbear to mems
ton. This is but solitary instance amongst
hundreds of a similar nature that have occur
red on the plains this season.
We have had considerable rain lately, and
the grass is consequently much improved.
Yours &c., CHEYENNE.