The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-05
Our o. egon Correspondence.
CAMP LoRINo, near Fort Hall

Oregon, Aug. 81, lS49 :
Letters from Orego~-Awdr of the Mail Carrier
-Dtatt by Cholsra-7tams in a Mre-CaH.
fornia Ilatns-TNe Prair,c-P apnse Indians-
Nature of the I~d,an-U Uses of Crrik sat,on-
Reflections &c &C.
The great distance which separates US from the
States, the uncertainty OF the mails, and the ha-
card of sending by express, has heretofore prevent
ed me from communicating to you an account OF
our journey across the plains from Missouri to Ore
gon. But since our regiment is firmly established
in our new abode, and the terror Of our arms has
been made known TO ell evil doors and thieving
Indians. venture to address you again; promising
with the fact that bearer OF letters, dispatched
scme days since by the Quarter master OF this post
was found, two days journ ey from Fort Hall, muir
dered and horribly murlated This accounts for
your not hearing from me before, this unfortunate
man having letters for you.
The thread Of our narrative commences on Fri
day May ii, twenty miles nom Old Fort hearny.
This day We travelled twelve miles, and enc1mped
al the confluence OF a small stream with the Weed
IN the Water. Here lost Lyon, man OF my COM
pany, who died Of the cholera. lie was taken sick
the day previous, while we encamped on the MIS-
sour, and lived only to reach this spot, where he
was burned with military honors. There is some
thing extremely lHpre in the burial OF CON-
rede in arms, when far remote from home, sur
rounded by countless miles Of solitude and silence.
the soldiers farewell shot ,over the grave OF the de-
parted have witnessed the din Of battle, and
the crash Of resoundiag arms, and have borne TO
an untInely grave, amid the pomp and circumstance
OF wo, many brave spirit that has fallen IN the
battles Of Mexico, and all unmourned; bat the
death Of q single soldier so, remote from all sym
Iathsing friends, by that scourge the cholera,
which is now sweeping the continent, carries with
IL chill 10 the heart, and the rifles sharp crack,
the requiem TO his departed soul-seems to wander
mournfully over every hill and dale, and to darken
all the Landscape.
Saturday, May II Travelled about twelve
miles, and encamped on a considerable stream;
had great difficulty IN crossing creek teams and
wagon hubs in The mud teaInsters swearing, like
"our army in Flanders" terribly; commanding
officer IN q fret quarter master in pickle At
last, after an abundance Of thrashinR and hooting,
add ling, and shouting, We all got safe out the
mud, and reached camp about ten o'clock at night
Now, wish you TO understand distinctly that
are not over fifty or sixty miles from tue Mis-
sour; and If we have such troubles now. what
must we expect hereafter. The sequel Of this will
show the folly Of those old croakers that are
always borrowing trouble.
sunday, May I3-Did not march this day
Every man puts on a clean shir', and looks smart
Teams and swarms Of California gold dipgers
passing continually some with oxen, some with
mues. Every mothers son carries his rifle.
May l6-During this and the two succeeding
days we marched the usual distance, making
about twenty Eve miles day; and now, for the
iirst time, struck the thores OF the La Platte. II
shallow river Of immense width, and so muddy
that you cannot zee into u one inch. The banks
are extremely low-the meadows on either side as
level as house floor, I'LL suddenly terminated by
the abrupt blgfs Of the higher preirie. 10 our pro-
gress thus far, no wood IL found, except upon the
banks Of streams, or In places naturally moist
Often we travelled miles and miles, withsut a
single tree shrub to catch the eye, or vary the
scene within that circle Of immense vision; which,
like the ocean is bounded alone by the horizon.
At first the appearance is grand and sublime, like
that which one experiences on fret going 10 sea:
but, efter awhile, we begin 10 long for the greater
variety Of hill and dale, and woody glen. True it
s that have the long rolling gently rising hills,
like the swes Of the ocean when calm succeeds
storm; but no glens, except small ravlnes, full Of
auckland at the bottom, where, If sentimental
lovers should retire, they might get mired IN mud
and rue the job.
On the opposite side Of the river Tia Plate) to
our encampment lies Pawnee village. Some
months since the Pawnees abandoned their old vii
lage, which Is situated above us, and located them
selves al their present place. They suffered terri
bly, from tn want Of food; many died OF famine;
all their cattle, mules, and horses were inundated
to satisfy hunger and starvation. Yet these
wretches, surrounded by coil the most fertile on
the globe, prefer the pfecanous and vagabond
existence OF a hunter to that CT the cultivation OF
the soil, whereby they could get not only living
but wealth itself, at e.half the physical exeriion
they are now driven to- Look at the immense
labor il now costs them TO subsist through the year
ometirDes, In the spring, they make preparations
for the hunt lew acres ct corn are planted,
just enough TO furnish yoke egg (parched corn
pounded). and the women, children, and old men
are left TO take charge oft And such taking are
horses, or rsther Indian ponies. and strike Of TO
the South Fork OF the Platte, a dis ance o. fivc
or six hundred miles, till they come TO the region
Of the buffalo Here they commence killing the
when the season 10 80 Ear advanced az 10 preclude |