The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-06-11
miscellaneous.
[For the News.
IFor The News
Notes of a Trip Across the Plains
No. l. ..".

mo- L.
Reader, did you ever cross the vast
plains which lie between the Missouri
River and the Rocky Mountains2 IF
not, then perhaps brief recital of a
trip across that grand and gloomy re-
gion may be Interesting to you. Think
ing thus, I have concluded to publish a
few notes and observations of a trip to
Ft. Laramie, made in the months Of
April and May, 1862,
THE REASON OF THE TRIP.
The Battalion of Cavalry now known
as the 1st Independent Battalion Of
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by
Lieut.. Col. Collins, was organized at
Camp Dennison in the month of Feb
ruary, 1862. On the 18th of March it
was ordered to St. Louis, where we re-
mained but. short time, when we were
ordered to Fort Laramie, N. T., to guard
the Overland Mail and the Pacific Tel
Ograph line. We left st, Louis for Ft.
Leavenworth, Kansas, on the 4th of
April, where we remained, preparing
for the trip, until the 26th of the same
month, when the order to march was
read, when we rolled up our tents,
mounted our horses, and took up the
/
line of march for ct. Laramie, a dis
tance of seven hundred miles, through
country Inhabited by wild animals
and wilder men, and for the most part
entirely destitute OF timber. -a-.s
-ra1 ro- OUR FIRST CAMP. .4
The first night after leaving Fort
Leavenworth, we camped on Salt Creek,
8 miles from the city Of Leavenworth.
We soon became initiated into all the
mysteries of camp-lifo upon the plains.
The first thingto be done after striking
camp is to picket thg horses. This be-
ing done, We fall to work preparing sup.
per, which generally consists of hard
crackers, coffee and fat bacon, and
sometimes rice or mixed vegetables
After supper Is dispatched, pipes and
yarns are discussed until dark, when
we spread our Blankets, and with a
rough pillow Of boots and saddles, we
stretch our weary limbs, and court
stirred Natures sweet restorer, balmy
sleep" In the morning W, are up with.
the sun, hasty breakfast is prepared
and eaten, whom we mount our horses,
and are again upon the march, halting
through the day only to Craze our hor,
ses and refresh ourselves from our bav
ersnclls; and I will here remark that ri.
ding all day through, sun, wind and
rain is an excellent appetizor--better
than all the tonios and bittors ever in,
vented. HE - --f- f'- '""
THE COUNTRY IN KANSAS.
For several days after leaving Leav-
onworth, our route lay through thick
ly settled and well cultivated country,
differing in no respects from any, other
land, save in the absence of timber
and the scarcity of water. The soil,
however, is rich, and it is said to be an
excellent wheat growing country, but it
is better adapted to raising than
any other purpose. Seneca, the county
seat of Nemaha County, is business
little place of from 80 to 40 dwellings,
with rich farming country around.
ARRIVE AT MARYsvILLE.
The Sd of May brought us to Marys-
vile, the county seat of Marshall coun.
ty. 1t is the frontier towu Of Kansas,
and the last Of the settlements between
the Missouri River and Ft. Kearney.--
1t contains sixty dwellings, several
stores, a court house and printing of.
fee. We crossed the Big Blue at this
place, and camped opposite the town.
The Big Blue is well-known tributary
of the Kaw, and is pretty little stream,
about 40 yards wide and about three
feet deep at the ford. It's banks are
lined with cottonwood, oak and wal
nut.
THE VALLEY OF THE LITTLE BLUE.
Four days after leaving MarysvilIe,
we entered the valley of the Little Blue.
This valley is one of the prettiest spots
between the Missouri and the Platte
rivers, and was surprised at the abb
sence of settlers, it being uninhabited,
save only by the rancho keepers.
The valley is about one mile wide,
hemmed in on both sides Of the river
by low, sandy bluffs, which in many
places show diluvial Formations. They
are doubtless the ancient banks Of the
stream. The river is!about 30 yards
wide, and its banks are lined with the
cotton wood and the willow The cot