The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-12
For the Pioneer.

For the Pioneer.
Sketches Gy Camp FTe:-Or, rougl
notes of trip 10 Pembina and Selkirl
Settlement, on the Red Rirer ofthe North
BY J. w. BOND.
Our party consisted of the following per
sons, viz:
His ExceIlency, Gov. Ramsey, Hugh
Montreal, J. nj. Lord, +. Brown, Pierre
and myself. Our escort consisted of q
dragons from Fort Smelling, command
ed by 1t. Corley, and accompanied by Sin
two horse baggage wagons; our own bag.
gage and provisions being carried on light
Red River Carts, with eight French Cana
dian and half-breed drivers. la number
we comprised about fifty souls, in all.
A portion Of the civil party took the
steamboat Gov. Ramsey, at St. Anthony,
Oh Monday, Aug. 18th, 1851, and proceed
cd to the Thousand Isles, below Sauk Rap
ids, where the balance of the party, with
the horses, carts and light riding wagon
awaited their arrival After uniting, we
Rapids, and on w ednesday crossed the
Mississippi aud camped the first night about
two miles west, in the Sauk River Valley.
THURSDAY, 2lst.-Fine, clear, cool day.
We were up, struck tents aud were away
early; rode fifteen miles over prairie, and
along the valley of Sauk River, bordered
on either side with thick woods, and inter
spersed here and there with strips Of wood
land and thick underground of bushes.
Then passed over the worst piece of road
between Sauk Rapids and PeInbina. The
Dragons were busy for several hours in
repairing it for the passage Of the teams. Ii
was piece of swamp land, about fifty yards
in width aud covered by a bal corduroy
road.
3P. M.-Proceeded on three miles and
found the Dragons encamped for the night
at another bad crossing of swamp land,
near creek; it took them several hours to
repair it with bushes, grass, Sc. Encamp-
ed near by also, TO await our turn to-mor-
row. Our march to-day was eighteen
miles.
FRIDAY, AUG. 22d Clear, cool and
pleasant. The weather is now delightful
the sun quite hot at MONDAY, and the nights
cool and bracing. Up at day light and
away on our march at 7 a. m. The Ora
goons off before us.
After proceeding two miles, we crossed
Sauk River, crossing over to the South
West side, We found good ford; abou
four feet deep-the bottom being gravelly
with few boulders. The hills are very
high and skirted with heavy timber, on the
right bank. We then emerged onto beau
tiful rolling prairie, extending as far as the
eye could reach; bordered by timber stretch
ing in belts on either side; that to the right
bordering on Sauk River and bearing away
off to the North West. We soon came tt
swampy place, where the Dragons miref
their horses; grass was then moved, &
causeway made, the horses crossed on it,
and the heavy teams drawn over by ropes
We soon after discovered he bear lc ping
off over the prairie at full speed. Several
of US gave chase at once, and after pursu
ing him through swamps and marshes for
half an hour and wOunding him severely
the Dragons came up, surrounded him and
finished the job by killing him with pisto
balls. Tyler, in two horse wagon, joined
us in the chase, and came in just al the
death.
We halted at noon and took cold bite
and cup of tea; in the afternoon we rode
on some twelve miles further aud encampel
in some brush and timber; where the water
was very bad and the mosquitoes worse
The country passed over to-day was rolling
prairie, thickly interspersed with marshe:
and small, sluggish streams, the ground as
cending for fifteen miles, then descending
to the camp, FIVE miles. We found it :
very hard march; with the bear chase, ihs
bad roads and much detention in passing
over the swamps and marshes. af.
SATURDAY, 2Sd.-Fine, clear morning
Up, as usual, at daylight; breakfasted or
tea and herring and supped last night or
herring and tea-<rather hard living. DIR
Foster on being asked at noon yesterday i
he would have piece Of the neck Of colo
goose, replied, sYes stree, il is neck OF
nothing: OF course | wiI"! We to day
rode over the rolling prairie, full Of strips
of marsh, when after march of ten miles
we came to an almost impossible swamp
and after crossing with some difficulty, by
pulling the carts and horses across by ropes
during which, the Rev. Mr.. Black and
completely nired our ponies, and came nea
going with them to the bottom, if there wa.
any. After this, we took cup Of tea it
refresh ourselves; proceeded on twelv'
miles farther, then encamped on the banks
of lake, where we had fine spring water
and altogether the best camping place WI
: have yet had; the situation aud scenery
around being very beautiful. The cart
arrived at sun set; we then erected tents
, cooked and ate supper after night, anids
hosts Of mosquitoes, which were finally
driven off by strong South West breeze.
: SUNDAY, e4th.-Cloudy and cool, will
: rain in A. NJ, with thunder and lightning
, All hands busy fixing tents more securely
digging trenches around TO drain off tn