The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-28

10 return 10 Fort Laramie after resting a day
november 3-Twenty miles were accomplished, agsns
excessive cold head wind 70 camp ON Sage Creek.
The horses were mostly led The fatigue of walking up
and over the high hills in the face Of the wind
great bad camp, with poor hill grass and cold rain
was our welcome on Sage Creek.
November 4,-The camp was on Sweet water,s nss
above Indt endence Rock! The hunter brought nig
400 pounds Of good buffalo meat and also cantsaa
petroleum spring at the base of one Of the saH
wagons and teams were ordered back 70 Fort laramie
November 5.-We passed DEVILS Gate, with scenesw
within half mile Of deep grassy vale sxtsaA
ing the mountain Of naked granite there n
the animals loosed for the night the mouth OF tho
On the 9th we found the ground once moro white, anA
the falling but then very moderately marched -
usual On four mile bill the north wind and drifting
snow became severe the air seemed turned frozen fog
nothing could be seen; we were struggling heessg
cloud The lofty wall at 'Ihree Crossngs' was happy
relief but the guide, who had lately passed there,
was relentless in pronounciDg that there was -
grass; the idea Of finding and feeding upon graa
h.,s a w bn s he promised ~
other shelter two miles further we marched on crossing
twice the rocky stream half choked with snow anA
ce finally he led US behind great granite rock put Al
too small Tor the promised shelter only part OF the re-
gimen could huddle there in the deep snow while, the
long night through, the storm continued, and IN fearful
edaies from above, before, behind, drove the falling
and drifting Thus exposed for the hope Of grass
the poor aninas were driven with great devotion .
by the across the stream, and three
quarters Of mile beyot TO the base Of granite ridge.
but which almost faced the storm there the famsheA
ratey gathered a mass and some horses escaping the
guard went back to the ford where the lofty precpioe
first gave pleasant relief and shelter.
Thus morrDg light had nothing cheering to reveal the
air still filed with driven snow-,he animals soon came
driven in, and mingled in confusion with men, won't
crunchrg the snow in the confined and wretcheA
camp, tramring all things in their way. II
was not a time TO dwell on the fact thsG
from that mountain desert there was no retreat
any shelter near, but time for action. No murmurs,
not complaint was heard; and certainly u
their face doubt or cloud but with cheer
fu M * Ia m rch And
then the showed his place the sky and my heart
for beat lighter But for six hours the frost frozen
fog fell hicly, like snow and again we marched
q cloud.
The deep snow drifts impeded much and in crossing
Sweet Water the broke in the middle Marching ter
miles only est better camp and herded the horses On
the hills it different road, where few days before
the bodies OF three frozen men were found
November 8--rhe mercury that morning marked a. de-
grecs below the freezing Uont The march as commenced
before O'Clock, high northwest wind arose.
which, with the drift, gave great suffering Few could
long but Of necessity eighteen miles marched
70 Bitter creek The bios deep in its valley,
to which the hills gave little shelter On them, the guide
said, there grass; but few anmas went, and
stay ed there so bitter was the wind Twenty thres
mules bad given out and ire wagons and the harness
were ordered TO be abandoned at the camp
Next DAY nineteen miles to be marched the roa1
high hlas and table landsthe snow was deep ant
drfted the officers and leading must break through
the drifts IN the road where the wagons must follow il
the cloud still aud freezing in faces Seven
hours thus and the Sweet Water valley regained<hs
wagons arrived at night The animals were driven
the ice to herd on the high hills bounding the narrow
valley but in the night very great wind rose and drove
them back from scant bunch grass there freezing "
death fifteen We had there for fuel besides The sage the
little bush willow sticks.
November lO.-The nor,heas. wind continued ferceiy
enveloping cloud which froze and fell all day Few
could have faced that wind. The herders left to brnx
up the with extra but nearly all broken down mules
but could not force them from the dead bushes of the lit
tie valley and they remained there all day and night
bringing next tho fourth part that had not frozen
Thirteen mules were marched and the camp was
made four miles from the top Of the Pass
wagon that day cut partly through the ice Of
branch. and there iroze so fast that eight mules
could not move it, empty. Nearly al the tent
pins broken in the last camp; few Of iron
here substituted Nine trooper horses left freezing
and dying the road that day, and number Of soldiers
and teamsers had been rostbtten. desperately
cold night; the thermometers broken, but by com
parison, mus, have marked Is degrees below zero.
bottle OF sherry wine iroze in trunk Having lost about
fifty mules 10 thirty six hours the morning Of the lth
the report of the Quartermaser felt bound TO leave
dies brides and Two other wagons u
the last movement he obliged TO leave, but empty
The sharps carbines were then issued 10 mounted ~
well as dismounted men.
November Il;-Pleasant in the forenoon TO men wsm
wrapped and walking in the sun; early surmountec the
Pass, and marching seventeen miles, encamped Dry
Sandy The guides search then resulted in his reporting
ono grass" There remained but days after
that night II proved intensely cold, which must needs
be seven to eight thousand feet high in winter in latitude
bove AZ degrees. The mules for once were ordered v
he tied to the wagons They gnawed and destroyed -four
wagon tongues, a number Of wagon covers, ate Their
ropes and getting loose ate the fuel collected at the
tents Some Of these they also attacked Nine died
marched together a separate command by day; the
morning Of the 18th number Of them frostbttea
rom not being in motion, although standing by fires.
That day eighteen miles marched TO Big sandy,
where the guide found grass and fuel with good tha
the 18th was made day Of rest; the animals all
herded at the grass Fifty horses hid been lost since
leaving Laramie The regiment had retained through rs
suferngs an excellent spirit.
November Ia was cold with dense fog, which caused
much delay and difficulty in collecting the animals I
marched, however eighteen miles, to Second Crossng'
there was scarcely any grass. The weather had now
much moderated.
The 18th reached and crossed Green ryer there was
very little grass near or far the horses herded ~
night half mile irem camp crossing the river the ice
The United states October mall, which preceded by
two days from For Laramie arrived there soon after
Nine wagons loft at the house. and forty mules
with tesmsters TO herd them.
The sick report had rapidly up from or to a.
30 soldiers and tcamstcrs having been frosted,
A man OF Green river, named Mgotte, was authorized
TO collect aud winter such animals a. he might ind ssr
vivine IN the road.
November I8--we had to face a very severe wind and
10 march, too Is miles before camp ground could be got
Hams Fork, and there little grass AT mid
day my return express now sent 10 Fort Laramie was
met. Twenty horses were abandoned In that twenty
four hours
Novert5r 1.-The guide was sent early TO look for
grass found some, and marched leading the horses
Elk miles, and encampei there, on Little Muddy, " run
ming into Blacks Fork.
November 1s--Tlriecn miles were marched and soms
very good bunch found by careful search be-
tween the barren clay ridges, within haua mile Of which
November ie-Marched, leading through the mud ana
yesterday fourteen miles passing the camp Of tho
Tenth infantry. encamped several miles above them
on Blacks Fork, and about three miles below Fort
Bridger.
From there reported in person yesterday, and az
my companies joined the army headquarters, Camp
Scott.
have 144 horses and have lost l3l Most Of the loes
has occurred much this side OF South Pass Compare
teeiy moderate weather II has OF starvation Tho
earth has a eless, trecless grasscss desert;
contains scarcely wolf 10 glu itself the hundreds q
dead and frozen animals, which for thirty miles nearly
block the road with abandoned shattered property
They mark, perhaps beyond example In history, the
steps Of advancing army with the horrors Of disas
trous retreat
A list OF the officers is suhjoincd
With high respect your obedert servant,
r. ST GEORGE COOKE,
Lieut. Col Second DragooNs.
b the Assistant Adjuisnt General Of the Army d Uth
Camp Scott, Utah Territory.
Lieut. Col 7. 81 Gcorge Cooke.
Major NJ s. Howe.
First Lieut. John Buford, X q. NJ
First Ilcut John pegran, Adjutant.
Assistant surgeon Edward ~ Convey.
Brevei Najos n. II. sbley, commanding Company asd