The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES II
TIE TENTED FIELD

CAMP on CYoTE CREEK.
TO the Editor Of the National Era:
Cavalry campaigning over the Western prai-
ries, wit. its hardships and privations, also has
its pleasures--its interesting and charming ep.
isodes, which cause all regretful thoughts to
vanish, and make the trooper or accompanying
tourist, who have taste for natures beauties,
and love to retire for season away from the
parrenues and mobs of formal society, with all
its unnatural etiquette, pardon me, We who eat,
drink, talk, think, and blow your noses, by set
rules,) rejoice that he is far from such inAu-
ences and petty annoyance, and free, for the
time being at least, to study the architecture Of
the Jehovah who built the mountains and made
those beautiful prairies and charming wood
lands, and to drink in the loveliness of nature
to his souls content.
The mere fact oftravelling for several months
over the plains of the West, mounted on gay
and prancing steed, is Of itself, to me, very TO-
mantle. And notwithstanding have now been
wild rover for several years, always look
with yearning anxiety for the approach Of fresh
and genial spring, that may again sally forth
on the plains, to inhale fragrant odors waited
from fresh young flowers, see new sights, ad-
sire new beauties, learn more of the geography
Of the wilds of the mighty West, and, above all.
to indulge in the exquisite and intense excite
ment of huflalo-chasing. This is q snort which
English lordG and mobiles cross the Atlantic to
participate IN. l have often wondered why our
American gentlemen of leisure, who so often
visit Saratoga and other places of resort for the
idle and elite, and spend so much money in the
fashionable frivolities Of humanity in its most
foolish and smpering moods, do not occasion,
ally break the leading strings that drag them
into unhealthy pursuits Of relaxation and pleas
ure, come out here on the plains, breathe the
purest atmosphere, lounge. on beds of fragrant
wild flowers, Chamber over rocks and down into
ravines and canons, gallop over hill and dale,
chase the buffalo and elk, fill their veins with
red, pure blood, and grow healthy, robust, and
fat.
There Is philosophy of travel, so Bayard
Taylor says, and he is philosopher. have,
however, had the pleasure of reading but very
little of the writings of that great traveller But
believe that travel expands the mind and gives
US more exalted ideas of our own capacities for
enjoying life and doing good, as well as a more
just appreciation of the world around US. l be-
lieve that if our men of leisure could be induced
to travel more, and cut themselves loose from
all fashionable retraint, both the health of fu
ture generations and the morals of American
society would be vastly benefited,
But since | took my seat, my pen has been
gliding along at its will. / don't know that it
has any right to be taking such liberties, es
pecially under the above heading so / must
hold it in check, and prevent such random lot
tings.
While in camp at Rock Canon, a party of
Delaware Indians came in with a mail from
Fort Arbuckle. They were also the bearers of
important orders from Washington to Major
Emery. These orders changed our course of
march, and sent us on a visit to the Texas Re-
serve Indians, who have Just been removed to
their new home on the Washita river, aud in
the vicinity of the Wichita mountains.
The next morning, general call was sounded
at an early hour, tents struck, wagons packed, |
troopers in their saddles, and the whole caval-
cade moving along the back track just as the
sun began to lift his smiling face over the east
ern horizon, and the birds to make the welkin
ring with their joyous songs.
For several hours We moved along the back
road for the purpose Of "heading off" several
deep ravines, carrying hrooklets down into the
beautiful creek Of which spoke in my last,
and on the banks of which wounded the Door
fawn. Wethen turned directly south, and bent
our course in the direction Of the Wichita |
The general surface of the coun- |
try here is remarkably level, hut fne, pictur-
asque group of hills, peaks, ridges, mounds, or
buttes, whichever they may most appropriately
be termed, loom up on our right. We passed |
close to the base of several Of them AS there
IS something remarkable about those buttes, ] |
may as we'll jot down few i4kagraphs con-
,erning them.
They are between eighty and hundred feet |
n altitude. ! am of opinion that the general
surface of the earth hereabouts at some remote
period, was on level with their tops, and that
he hard rains and constant washing of cen
uries probably have carried away all else, and
eft those sturdy fellows as monuments Of en-
lurauce, because they are composed Of more
old substance, either rock or hard clay, inter
mixed with mari or gypsum:
Such process-a washing away and carry.
ng off of the esrth's surface-is still going on
a this high country, as the deep cut and an
,ually widening ravines will attest to the OBJ.
erver. It is this continual abrasion of the red
lay peculiar to this country that causes the
.ternal muddiness of all our Western waters OF
my magnitude. Not only the mighty Missis-
ipp, but all his Western tributaries thu Mis-
ouri, Platte, Republican, Kansas, me.