Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-08-06
FoRr LARAMIE, Neb., July IL, go
FROM JAY wHIPPLE.

FORT LARAMIE, NED, july IL, O-'
DEAR LurE;-Wo arc travelling on
towards Jordan's happy shore at the
slow rate of 20 miles a day, somewhat
slower than when we went down to sec
tho "big guns" at Washington, about
two years ago.
Oh, what a country this is! There
is an oil song, you know, which tells US
that "Unclo Sam is rich enough to give
us all farm" but | did not believe it
until saw these extended prairics. We
left Omaha the 9th Of June, and arrived
here the 10th of July, distance Of 522
miles. We have crossed what is called
the Plains, and soon reach the Black
Hills.
On the Journey, but little has occurred
worthy of note. We have not been tray
cling through wild forests, solitary des-
erts, but through almost boundless mead
ows, which have the appearance OF beng
under good cultivation. We see no fields
of grain esor..habtations Of men, but IN
te.miniabIe prairie blooming with flow
crs. The land in many places is prolific
and fertile, but YOU may travel for 800
miles without seeing a shrub OF tree,
and after leaving the Platte river, there
is Il scarcity of water.
We Travelled on the north. side of the
Platte, and found about 100 miles OF
sandy road. The sand road was over
mounds or hills, about the size of.ae one
leading out Of Prescott. we were often
compelled TO put six or eight horses or
mules on a single wagon, and such
places try tho patience of q christian. 1t
is stated as a melancholy fact that a
christian travelling over this road, no
matter how pure, moral and dovout he
may have been on leaving tho Missouri,
will stray from grace before he reaches
the Pacific. This may be true, bat l
am forced to acknowledge that / think
there are a Cow exceptions. Over these
saud bluffs there are innumcrablo black
knats, so small us to be hardly discernibIe
but so numerous and annoying, that for
several days we rode with our handker-
chiefs tied closely over our heads as q
protection against their poisonous bite.
l had seen horse flies before, but not
such prodigous ones as inhabit these
plains. They are very tormenting to
our horses, and their bite is like the
thrust of lancet; when you brush one
off the blood gushes out.
When the train is in close company,
the flies are divided and are more toler-
able, but when horse Is separated from
the crowd, they swarm around him like
bees around the hive.
The antelopes, some OF which We have
seen for several DAYS past, nrc becoming
more numerous, and their speed exceeds
that of any animal l have ever seen.-
When they are surprised, they start for
ward short distance, then turn, and
with high-lfted heads stare for a few
seconds at the object which has alarm
cd them, and then with half-whistling
snaEr start off at lightning speed. They
resemble the deer, and tho meat is ex-
ceedingly sweet, much better than ycni-
son.
We have seen no buifa.ocs since we
stared, as their range is about so miles
north Of the road we came.
We leave this place to morrow NOR
ming in a company Of twenty wagons,
fully organized and equipped for all ma
rauding expeditions. OF late there have
been depredations committed by the IN
dions on Sweet Water river, about 200
miles from Fort Laramie. Two weeks
ago, on that 'iFcr, two men were killed
and 100 horses stolen. Troops have
been sent ont from the Fort to catcl, the
lewis. They arc aware of the rebellion
going on in the States, land think the eye |
of the Government is Withdrawn from |
their movements.
/ H;Il write again when reach the
n ,xt post Office, about $50 miles from
here. J.