The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03

moonlight night the members OF the train
convened, and the ceremony was perform
ed with all the publicity and formality pos
sible under the circumstances.
On the 10th of July, we camped on the
shore of Lake Jessie, so named by General
Fremont in honor of her whom he was
then trying to win. This we called Camp
Aldrich,'' and as we there had wood for
fuel and to make repairs, it was one OF our
pleasantest camps. We found more diff
Guilty in crossing Wintering river, branch
of Mouse river, than any other stream.
The river is about 200 feet wide, four or
five feet deep, with very muddy bottom,
and its surface is nearly covered with hea-
Wy rushes. There is no timber in the Vi
cinitv, and we made a crossing by first
moving some eight or ten tons OF PUSHES
and placing them so as to make a road
bed. Then we all waded in to keep them
in place, and first driving over our stock,
hauled the wagons over by hand.
All the way we have found plenty of
water and tolerable grazing. There is
not much wood on the route, but buffalo
chips answer as substitute therefor, for
culinary purposes, and every acre is COW
cred with ton or more of this fuel We
have met with no serious accidents, and
can laugh at tar greater than any that have
yet occurred.
We have seen large herds Of buffalo
every day, except while travelling near the
route Of the Red River hunting party
which crossed our path a couple of weeks
in advance of u.s. l did not count the
cattle which Uncle Sam has running at
large on this part Of his farm, but l am
sure we must have seen as many as $780,
900 in a single day and 100000 in all.
We have had rare sport hunting them with
our horses and on foot among the hills of
the Coteau. To tell you the number
which our party has killed would be to i'm
press you with the conviction that we are
a set of butchers, but the temptation has
been more than mortal mau could resist !;
and besides, each man insisted that he
thought that We were in need of fresh
meat when he shot
We saw many trails Of Indians along
our route, and our pickets shot at them
several nights as they were seen skulking
around to get a chance to steal our horses.
Bat last Tuesday was the first day that
they met us face to face, and then twenty
six Assinboines rode up to our lines, firing
their guns in token of friendship. We
stopped and gave them a lunch and a few
presents. They told Us there were Yanc-
tone in the vicinity, and an Assiniboine
camp of 400 lodges just in advance. They
wanted to know what right we had to go
through their country without their
permission. Our Captain told them
through our Sioux Interpreter, that the
Great Father sent us and we obeyed his
command. Then they wanted to know
what we would do if attacked; we ans
wered that they would learn when the
time came. Then the signal was sounded
for our train to start and every man was
at his post with gun in hand. They rode
along with US and asked us to go out and
kill some buffalo for them, as their horses
were not as fleet as ours. BOttineau and
his son went out with them and killed ten
or twelve buffalo in couple of hours the
rest Of our horsemen going out to see the
sport. They gladly took these buffalo and
left US for their camp.
a party of Yanctons came to this post
fifteen days ago, and stole seventeen hOrs-
es, and, upon pursuit being given, they
turned aud scalped one man and severely
wounded another, and escaped with their
booty.
Capt Fisk and Bottineau killed griz-
Fly bear on the 2Sth July, feat never at
tempted by the Indians themselves unless
there should be at least dozen horsemen
present. We have also had antelopes
whenever we have wanted them, together
with water fowl and other small game
At our camp last Wednesday, Mrs.
Stark, Sister of the lady married on the
banks Of the Shayenne, presented her hus-
band with an assistant, in the form of a
fine boy, who first opened his eyes to the
light in deep and broad ravine, which
we now designate by the name Of "Child
Valley"
Our party now consists of 100 persons
and $50 head OF stock, including eighteen
or twenty COWS. But the list will need
frequent corrections if the incident of Child
Valley is often repeated.
We have thus far had one marriage, one
birth and one death. But the latter was
happily that of a mule, which drowned in
trying to cross Mirtering river
Our flag wagon, preceded by a caval-
SADIE of eighteen hOrsemen of our party,
rode from our camp to Fort Union this
morning, and it is nearly time for us to re-
turn, which fact will relieve your numer-
GUS readers from page or two more,
which feel guiltily conscious that / should
inflict upon them had time.
We have been Hospitality received and
entertained at this place, which is an In