The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-07-04
FROM THE PLAINS.
Fosr LARAMIE, May l6sl


Friend SAxpkRs I'VE arrived at sh's P'aes
Yesterday about o'clock after pleasant "'P
from ST.. Ffancis Of "a days-being only nineteen
travelling days, and dis.an. from where we s'a'.'
al 5Aa mile.. We intend leaving here this ai-
,ernoon. but will be compelled 70 travel very
slow. as our grain is out, and grass very short.
We are informed that 400 miles from here we
will, find snow instead Of grass. But the em'sra-
ton is 90 large behind US that we feel compeii-
al "a ri.k the lives Of our horses. Some Of you
there may think this madness in Us, but were
Won sensible Of the vast number Of teams boh'nd
US, and recollect that the late emigration ias'
wear suffered for the want Of grass, you woaia,
were you placed in our situation no doubt come
10 tho some conclusion. We would not think o.
proceeding il the teams which are continually
rolling in would lay BY here for grass--but they
are pushing on, there being about three hundred
now before us. So you can see how we are Pa-
ced. il We remain here ten days have not
doubt but there would t,co thousand teams get
ahead OF US, consequently the grass would oil DC
nipped close, as fast a. i. came up. Our conf
pany has consisted Of but fourteen men since we
LEI, Loup fork. a. W. Campbell isnow with us.
The o,hor teams that were in our company have
no, yet come in, and will not probably fof or
DAYS. A great number OF teams on the routc
from Council Bluffs here have been compelled
to lay up, not having sufficient grain to carry
them through the burnt district, which lasts for
about three hundred miles. This burnt dis riot
was caused by some devil in human shape set
ting FIRE to the prairies over which he passed, IN
order no doub. to keep back those behind him,
and he " i'll accomplish his end in great meas
ure, for it will cause the death Of hundreds Of
horses which otherwise would have 60. here.
But assure you he will have to take care Of
himself, for should those who have suffered ever
come in sight Of him they would not hesitate one
moment about shooting him-and who could or
would blame them! Instead Of going over the
black hills, the road the emigration travelled last
year, we shall 60 up on the west side Of the Lar
annie Fork, and thus avoid piece of very ha,d
and rough road. Fort Laramie is situated on
the Laramie Fork bottom, surrounded on the
north, south, and Yves. by high bluffs, and is
sVty psCooauN ioSosiou. - - SoutoSSa - ~
ding establishment and about sixteen or twenty
houses--a few Of the old buildings a,e built Of
Spanish brick. There are several new frame
houses now under way, and will be finished in
few weeks-des,ined as barracks, for the troops
stationed here. No provisions can be bought
here, unless man has not enough to carry him
to Salt Lake. You can buy nothing here Of the
settler unless you first procure an order from the
quarter master. ! don't think the emigran,s v i'll
replenish their whiskey here, a. |, is worth, (af-
ter being we'll watered) ten dollars per gallon.
There . no flour at the fort, but those who
are in need, get hard bread at i4c. per pound.
The for, is commanded by Maj. Anderson, who
appears to be gentleman in every sense Of the
word. The names Of all that pass here are re-
gistered by him, a minute made as to their
health, &c. The "Glmore" company started
out from here this morning. We passed the
Rock Island company on Willow creek three
hundred miles back also the Cedar county COM
pany. Twill now give you my journal thus far
in as concise form as possible, with full liberty
to condense il you see fir Yours, &c,
A. II. Owens.
Journal merit reek.)