The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-22
INKLINGS FROM THE FRONTIER;
LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD

| LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD
Headquarters, Antelope Hills Expedition,
AT Camp Van Camp, New Mexico, Aug. II, 1889.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
We are nearly shut out of the world, SO far "a
anything like regular communication Herewith
is concerned. We have had but two mails since
the commencement of the campaign, and none
whatever for several weeks. Of the stirring
events that may have occurred in the busy
world, since about the fourth of July, our iso-
lated community in camp is as ignorant as the
Exquimaux in the vicinity of the North Pole.
1t was not until after the date Of my last
Communication to the Era that / received the
painful intelligence of the death of DIR. Bailey.
Even in these remote wilds, and among this con-
glomerated community, Dr. Bailey had friends
and admirers, whose hearts were made heavy
by the melancholy news. In him we recognised
one of the boldest truest, and most consistent
editors of our great Republic. In his death,
the Republican party has lost one of its great
est champions. A great and good man has
fallen, and the progressive portion of the COM
munity at large have occasion to mourn the
departure of a friend of humanity.
We, away out here on the vast Plains, min
gle our sympathy with that of those who knew
him better, and with whom he held closer and
dearer communion. And we hope the Era,
through which he so long held communion with
thousands of Freedom-loving souls, will still
continue to visit the fresides of the true of the
land, teaching the same principles and promul-
eating the same doctrines he so nobly advo-
Gated Long live the National Era.
The health of officers, excursionists, troops,
and teamsters, is excellent indeed. A more ro-
bust, hearty and jovial set of fellows is not often
met with. This general good health may be at
tributed to plain and wholesome diet, excellent
water, an abundant supply of fresh oxygen, and
just enough of exercise to bring the physical
functions into healthy play. Aside from such
food as is drawn from the commissary, our rifles,
fishing tackle, and fruit baskets, furnish us with
the flesh of buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, jackass
rabbits, hares, wild turkeys and grouse, fish and
turtles, and fruit of many kinds, including
plums, large luscious grapes, wild currants,
&c. l never drank better nor more health.iu-
spring water than is afforded by the hundreds
of beautiful springs that we'll out from the clear
white sand banks.
Since l last wrote you, we have moved camp
three times. But until we start on our return,
the name of camp will not be changed. We
shall remain in this camp until after the ar
rival of two big Indians whom we are daily ex-
pecting in with mail.
Our sports, amusements, and recreatons are
ample and satisfactory, and chiefly consist in
hunting. chasing, fishing, botsnizing gealogi.
| zing, bathing, swimming; with occasional
games Of quoits, cricket, and marbles, and
much discussion of European politics.
l have often been vastly amused to hear with
what gravity, assurance, and selfconfdent
pompOsty, some selfconceited dolts converse
on the European war question. A few DAYS
SINCE heard great, broad-shouldered corpo-
raj bullying lot Of listeners, and examining
down his peculiar opinions, whether or not The
same evening, | was one of party leisurely
lounging under the shade of fine old elm.
The burly corporal was there also, between
whom and an intelligent private the following
conversation ensued:
Corporal, lying fat on his back, log of
wood for pillow.) Ned, here's novel I'd like
to read. Did ye ever read it?
PriUate, (also lying down with book in his
hand.) L don't know, Corporal, what's the
title Of your novel?
Corporal, (gancing at the top of the page.)
The Red River Trail.
Pirate. Oh, no, Corporal, that can't be.
never heard of a novel of that name Look
again.
Corporal, turning few more leaves.) Oh,
it's the Virginians
Pirate. That can't be, either. A book
called the Virginians may appear in few
months, from the Press of Harper Brothers
Look again.
Corporal. Well, darn my picter How many
names has the plaguey novel? Over here it's
called Editors Table.
Pirate. Mistaken again, Corporal. / am
confident that there is no novel with such a title
published. l read the Atlantic MoHthIv and
consider myself we'll posted in relation to all
recent publications.
Corporal Now, being as you know SO much,
what do you call it2
Pirate. That, Sir, is Hdypers' Monthly
| Magazine.
Corporal. A queer magazine. Why, man,
magazine is to keep powder in.
Pirate. \ GU must understand that Harpers'
is literary magazine, published once a month,
and sent by mail to subscribers
| Corporal Well, know that all these kinds of
novels are not printed every month. There's
Jack Sheppard and John A. MurreI are notD
| PriUdte. Well, Corporal, / must say that /
am sorry to find non-commissioned officer of
the United States army so badly posted in
literature.
| The Corporal, beginning to have a suspicion
that he had been exposing his gross ignorance,
left the party with contemptuous sheer
The conversation having taken a literary
turn, the merits of such writers as Irving
Cooper, Hawthorne, Emerson, Taylor, Bulwer,
James, Dickinson, Thackeray, and Sir Walter
Scott, were discussed. An enterprising young
man, who never lost opportunity to impress
those around with the idea that he knew a
thing OF two, and who had heretofore listened
in silence, with mouth agape, at the mention Of
Sir Walter Scott, broke in with, know Mis-
ter Walter Scott, or Sir Walter Scott, as you
call him-was well acquainted with him
that is, I've hearn him preach a many a time.
He was Camelito preacher, and used to have
meetn up in our parts. A mighty smart
young man he was, too" Some one asked
writing the Waverley Novels.
"Well, no, | can't 'zactly say that l did.
Fact I didn't know that he wrote novels till
since I lined the army. I've hearn as how,
when he got religion, he gin over writing nov
els, and took to preaching, and writing spirit
ual songs and hines"
This new feature in the life and character of
Sir Walter Scott was greeted bya general burst
of laughter, to the confusion of Sir Walter
Scott a acquaintance.
However, description of the country may
be of more interest than the idle chitchat of
persons Those who have heard of the Ante
lone Hills, and conceived an idea that they are
a range of wood hills, are much mistaken.
Seven hills, or peaks rising up to the dis
lance of several hundred feet above the gen