The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-22
The Overland Mail Expedition.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS or THE HERALD.
Nwau Eao~ ,uonS. 4
CnERoxgE NATION, Jan. %, 1865

day the l4th inst, taking an almost direct course
westward, by way of the stage route running from
Springfield to Neosho through the counties of Barry,
Lawrence and Newton, and passing through the
Furnishing villages of Mount Vernon and Baxcoxie.
The country from Springfield TO Neosho Ia very mo-
notonous presenting very little variety Of scenery
and being very thinly settled
very lively interest ia muuffest among the peo'
pie of Neosho and vicinity in favor of the contractors
adopting the route which will run through that viz
age and make it one of the prominent points on the
route in Missouri. Whether the contractors will
conclude to adopt this route, and thus carry the
mail through great portion Of the Indian Territory,
or whether they will take the route running from
Springfield, Missouri to Fayetteville and Van Buren,
Arkansas, is a question yet to be decided. It will
not be determined, however, until after both the
expeditions now exploring the routes have returned
My impression, based upon the most reliable nfor-
nation, is that the route through Arkansas Is the
most feasible one, and the which will be deter
mined upon.
After leaving Neosho we strike the Indian Terri
tory at distance of about sixteen miles. Although
there is no prominent landmark dividing the Terri
tory from Missouri, yet the traveller can instantly
observe the change. We soon discover that we have
eft the smiling farms and neat cottages of the white
man for the hunting grounds and the wigwam OF the
Indian.
The first tribe we come to after entering the Terri
tory is the Senecas This tribe formerly lived in the
central part of the State Of New York. from whence
they emigrated some thirty years ago. The tribe
Der more than two hundred souls. The Territory
which they occupy contains some of the finest a9ri
cultural land to be found in the world. The soil il
excellent for corn, hemp cotton, tobacco, &c. and
itr
these productions
We leave the Senecas at Grand river and cross
over into the Cherokee Nation We cross the river
at the Giiistrep ferry by ford. IL il beautitk
stream Of about hundred yards in width and some
three feet in depth, with excellent gravel and roca
bottom. 1t is the opinion of good judges that this
river might easily be made navigable for nearlya
hundred miles from its mouth, which empties intd
the Arkansas at Fort Gibson. If this could be done
it would open an excellent market for the produce
which il and could be raised along the river.
The Cherokee Nation numbers about eighteen
thousand, including about one thousand slaves
There are but few full biooded Indians now
among the CheIokees, SO great has amalga-
nation been going on among them for the
past fifteen twenty years. In fact,
full blooded Cherokee Is almost a curiosity among
the Cherokees themselves. They own fine farms,
with coal mines and salt works, at the latter OF
which there is an average OF hundred bushels of
salt manufactured every day Along the main
thoroughfares the settlements very sparse, the
greater portion of them being near the streams.
Their soil is capable OF producing most abundant
crops of corn, flax hemp, tobacco, &c. They are
rapidly improving in comfort and civilization aud
have excellent farms, wei stocked and furnished
with many OF the most approved farming implements
Their form of government is very much like that OF
the United States their constitution being very SINH
lar. They have several fine schools, where the chill
dren taught the common English branches. Their
permanent school fund is about 100000. A large
number of the halfbreed and mixed Cherokees are
agitatiDg the subject of joining with the other nations
forming a State government, and applying for ad-
mission into the Union This step, | am informed,
meets with considerable favor from John Ross, the
chief of the Cherokee nation who IL himself nearly
fullblooded Scotchman. But the proposition is
secuted at by the full blooded Indians They have
no idea Of giving up their present form OF govern
ment for that OF State government. The more in
telligent of them look upon the movement as being
the intiatory step towards driving them from the
Territory. They say that II State government
should be formed. the white population would pour
in upon them in such numbers that in few years
they would drive the red man from the country, and
assume the entire control OF the affairs OF the gov
eminent Besides, II this project should he attempted
10 be carried out, IL would open the agitation OF the
slavery question anew. The greater portion OF the
wealthy Inhabitants in the Territory own more or
less slaves and would consent to no form OF govern
ment that would deprive them of this right. Should
this subject be urged by the inhabitants OF the Terri
tory another grand scheme will be brought forward
to De discussed and dgested by the politicians of the
country.
The country through which we passed from
Neosho TO Fort Gibson presents some OF the finest
scenery the eye ever beheld. The road runs the
whole distance through mountainous prairie, with
occasional groves of fine timber. About midway be-
tween these two points we cross small mountain,
about forty feet In height. From its summit the
sight was most sublime and beautiful. The shades
Of evening were gathering In the valley small
rivuet ran beside the base of the mountain, which
the setting sun FURNISHED to crimson brightness
few moss covered trees overhung the banks, and
mrrored their fantastic shadows on its waters.
Aged oaks grew upon the mountain sde--some
Dlumel the rldQc--Auu their gigantic tOrm0
seemed 10 rest against the cioudicss sky. Near tho
summit was one more ancient than the rest that
loomed its scathed and shapeless trunk-a wasting
monument Of untold time. Long ago its limbs had
fallen and decayed upon the ground its pish had
gone and the broken shell alone remained. Now i'm
the waning hours Of the day fitting time 70 make
it, pyre. We placed a torch beneath its roots,
and then, with rumbling sounds, the flames crept up
and licked its throat, till high above its rumblng
head the pillar OF fire wreathed In the wind sending
It's glaring light through the valley and cryst ,iizng
the oeks till the mountain seemed bedecked with
gems. All around grand panorama spread be-
fore u.s. valleys herbarged with green, veined with
brooks and besprinkled with forests Of oak looking
like islands In a sea. All hands paused awhile,
gazing on the scene of beauty and then passed on.
The roads which we have travelled are some
Of the finest natural roads ] have ever seen. The
soil is sandy loan. and absorbs the water TO such
an extent that, in twelve hours after a drenching
rain, with q warm sun, the roads are entirely free
from mud At most seasons Of the year these roads
are equal 10 the best macadamised roads in the
East.
We crossed the Arkansas river at Fort Gibson.
Next TO the Missouri this stream is the largest trbu
tary Of the Mississippi, though not the most impor
tant. IL rs nayigabe as far.up az Fort Gibson by
small boats The land along the river Is very pro-
ductve and well tmbered. The amount OF territory
drained by this river and It's tributaries Is estimated
10 contain lie 900 square miles.
The expedition will leave this point In a day or
two, proceeding direct as may be found practical
BILE 20 Preston. Texas, passing through the territory
occupied by the Creek, the Choctaw and the Chcka-
saw nations.
Every one connected with the expedition is in
excellent health and enjoying the adventures Of
crossing the Plains remarkably well.