The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-07-02
Extracts From the Dairy of a
Saline County Soldier.
In Gen. Kearney's Expedition
to New Mexico i'm
1916.
Continued from last SUNDAY. BAz,o.

wet and would not hre. After draw
ing the bullet the caked powder would
not come out. but after repeated fash
ings of The pan it accidently went of
and made a big hole in the tent. The
news spread rapidly over ca mp. One
man swore he heard the bullet as il
whistled by him and another claimed
that his negro boy had been struck BY
it. For several miles on the opposite
side of the river the country was black
with buffalo, but on account of the
quick sand we could not cross TO get
at them.
Wednesday, July 15.-To-day we
crossed the Arkansas river at the
Santa Fe ford. We had to double
our teams, and on account of the
quicksand 60 with a rush. One OF
our wagons sank to the bed in the
sand and we came near losing it.
The Santa Fe trail from here is over
a barren, sandy country, destitute of
grass and water. We decided to 60
on up the river to Reut's fort.
Last night some parties came in
from Santa Fe and reported that the
inhabitants were apprised of our
march and had put $1,000 men in the
field to meet us. We also learned
that band of 500 Commanches were
on the war path and in camp 10 miles
distant from ours, but scout from
"a" company informed us that he saw
the camp they had abandoned the
night before, and he was satisfied
there were not less than 5000 of the
bloodthirsty devils after us. We
did not stop to fool with Indians.
We were after Mexicans. We
marched % miles to day and went
into camp at Pawnee Fork.
Thursday, July 20. Marched 20
miles to-day. The country is getting
much worse. Light sand and no
grass.
Friday, July II. We had drill
at Skermishery this morning and did
rot begin our march until 10 o'clock.
We marched 20 miles through the
most desolate country | have ever
seen to Chouteau's Island. TIE grass
is high and good here. We exper.
fenced blasts of wind to-day much
warmer than the sun. We were al
most sufocated.
Saturday, July Is. l noticed two
regulars walk outside of the guard
line this morning and have real
hard fight. They pounded each other
until one said he had enough. They
then returned to camp walking arm
in arm, laughing and talking. To
the Missouri companies their action is
incomprehensible. We marched 20
miles to-day.
Sunday July 17.-One of the COM
missory wagons broke down to-day
and we had to leave il. The provis-
ions Wire divided among the cOmpan-
les who had to take care Of them.
Monday July 1S.-Saw the first
soap weed to-day. 1t is very sim
gular weed and makes a nice substi-
tute for soap. We camped at an old
house formerly used for trading post.
1t is the first house we have seen since
we left the lZaw river, 20 miles west
of Leavenwo-ih. We also found
large grove Of cotton wood trees here.
A dark rolling cloud with occasional
gusts of wind filed with flying sand
apprised us of al approaching storm.
We hastily pitched and double staked
our tents. The sun was sinking.
The premonitory scud had soft
ened the rays, put the uprising
blackman of Cloud shut them off,
choked them b.ck, Swallowed the un-
DERIVING country more -apidly than
an eclipse could do and produced that
ominous sense of hush in which the
leaves upturn their white sizes before
a driving storm. The looming dark
ness came up from the south and west,
rapidly spreading one wing out,
touching the county in the northern
horizon, and the other reaching for
the northern limits and thus it came
sweeping on. Lightning burned great
zig-zig streaks through the towering
cloud, and peal after peal of thunder
clashed and rolled In its borders. The
wind quickened its pace, whlrling
sand mountain high. The shouts of
men in camp and the frightened
neigh of horses mingled in the air.
There was excitement and terror. At
last the storm struck us. Dozens of
our tents were overturned in an in.
slant and the rain fell in great
sheets. accompanied by an indie
scribable roar, which, after it had
spent its fury upon US, gradually died
away in the southeast. Our camp was
in ruins, but fortunately none was in