Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-08-25
Life and Scenery on the
Missouri River.
Ho, for the mountains!
BY JOHN JoURNEYMAN.

Ho, for the mountains!
The war was over, and with shat
tered health found myself in the
city of st. Louis without home or
family ties. / had been working in
one of the Government shops until
prostrated by illness, which left me
too weak and debilitated to under
take any exertion, and my physician
told me that my only chance for re-
gaining strength was to get out of
the city, get fresh air, change of
scene, climate, etc.
One evening 1 sat by the window
of my kind landlady's little parlor,
where her motherly hand had ar
ranged pillows and footstool for my
comfort; and was looking out upon
the busy throng passing and repass-
ing in the hurrying streets, and
thinking how impossible it was for
me to follow the doctors advice,
when a quick, eager step on the
stairs announced the arrival of my
landlady's -son-a fine fellow who
worked in the same shop where 1
had been employed.
"Hurrah! Uncle john" said he
as he he entered, "Tm off for the
mountains" Involuntarily 1 glanced
through the open door where his
mother was laying the little snowy
cloth on the little supper table, and
saw by the quick look and listening
pause, that she overheard his excla-
nation. / knew how it had been
her bugbear-this fear that her
Charlie ''would take it into his head
to go off there among the Indians"
so I held up warning finger. He
understood at once, and said no
more, until we were seated around
the table. Then he told us how
there had been a requisition made by
Government for a number of men,
supplies, tools, ammunition, ETC., to
be sent up the Missouri to establish
posts far up in Montana Territory.
Some 40 or 80 steamers had been
chartered to take them up there, and
they were to have 800 per month
and transportation. He said they
proposed to hire none but those who
had served in the Union army; and
he had been one of the first select
ed, and was of course eager to go.
His mother could not at first be rec
onciled, but his boyish enthusiasm
was irresistible, and she, as well as
1, was smiling at his glowing antici-
pations.
Cant 1 get chance in too?'-
said l at length.
"Why, yes" he replied, if you
were only well enough; in fact, if
you had only been in the shop to-
day, l have no doubt you would
have been chosen foreman of the
gang. But you are not in earnest,
are you?"
Certainly 1 am. The doctor says
1 must get away from here, and how
better than at "Uncle Sans" ex-
Ipense"
very well, then," he answered;
"Tll speak for you a place to-mor
row."
| The new impulse given me by this
unexpected prospect, seemed to re
new life and ambition. l scarcely
thought of the hardships or perils
of the adventure, and my place was
soon secured and contract made
with Government for one years ser
vice at 500 per month, rations and
transportation included to and from
the point where my services were re
quired. / give these particular:
here because I shall have occasion
, by -and-by to say something as to hov
the bargain was fulfilled on theil
part.
The few days before starting wer
soon over, and / stood on the "levee'
. awaiting departure and meanwhil
taking look at the varied and excit
ing scene before me. The long lin
of steamers lying along the whar
and out in the channel one benin,
, the other, had large sheets of canvas
stretched across their bows, on whicl
were painted, in huge letters, thei
respective destination and interme
" diate stopping points; so that an
one wishing to go up the river, ha
only to cast his eye along the line c
vessels to know on which to embark
The "levee" was piled with good
e and merchandise of various descriI
tion-such as Government though
! necessary for the fitting ont of sue
an expedition, and swarming wit
such a motley crowd of. human an
four footed animals, as few Atlanti
cities could boast of. Loads of b,