Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-01-31

us in Pittsburg, Pa, having left
Charlestown, Va, on the 9th, COM
ing by way of Cumberland, Nd, and
Brownsville, Pa.
Saturday, the 31st, leave this ev-
ening on the steamboat Niagara.
Monday, the I'd day of April, finds
us in CINCINNATI, Ohio. We spent
the night here. Tuesday, the 9rd,
arrived at Cairo, Illinois. We ar
rived safe at st. Louis, Missouri, on
Saturday, the 7th. Having taken in
the city, we leave on this, the 10th,
for st. Joseph, Missouri, by steam
boat on the Missouri river. On Thurs
day, April 10th, we landed in the
city of St. Joseph and encamped. The
principal towns on the Missouri are
St. Charles, Jefferson City, Bonneville,
Lexington, Independence, Fort Leav-
enworth, Western and st. Joseph.
Having gotten everything which we
thought necessary for the journey,
which now begins in earnest, we
left our encampment on the 9TH day
of May and pitched our tents on the
south side of the Missouri river, in
the Indian Territory on Thursday,
10th, we again struck tents and made
general move for the territory Of
California. We passed the Indian
missionary agency on Saturday, the
18th, and are now 40 miles from st.
Joseph. There has been great deal
of trouble among our men, and | look
for a general outbreak. 1t is all that
our leader, Mr.. Smith, can do to keep
them together.
Everything has been moving along
. fairly well for the past two weeks.
We have now, on Monday, 28th of
May, arrived at Fort Kearney, 800
miles from our starting point, and in
the Nebraska Territory, bordering on
the river Platte. The climate here is
very cold and the weather exceeding
ly wet.
We laid by on the lst and 2nd of
June to rest. We have spent most Of
the time in washing our clothes and
in fishing. We have averaged thus
far about 20 miles per day, and are
getting along in the toughest manner
imaginable. There is constant quar-
reling and several times we have been
on the eve of separating. Mr.. Smith,
our guide, has only been the means of
keeping US together
We are now 400 miles on our jour
ney, and are encamped on the banks
of the Platte river, very much fatlgued
and worn out. The most of us have
to travel on foot. We had to stop at
Fort Kearney and dispose of great
amount of our provisions, &C., at a
great sacrifice for the purpose of re-
ducing our loads, finding it impossible
to get along while SO heavily loaded.
Two of our men have died since we
left St. Joseph, Mr.. T. F. Washington
and Jos. c. Young. We are DOW all
in good health. Nothing else has
transpired of any note, up to the pres
ent date.
JUNE 2, 1849.
We crossed the Platte river on
June 4th. 1t is about one mile in
width, though not more than 2 feet 6
inches deep. June the 5th we met
about 1000 Indians. They were Of
the Sioux tribe, and appeared to be
very friendly. Our men traded with
them for ponies, buffalo meat, mocca-
sins, &c. We also killed young buff
falo today, the first one, although We
have seen numbers of them. The
principal game in these regions are
the buffalo, antelope, deer and some
elk. :
Friday, June 8th, we passed Castle
Bluffs. These are tall peaks which
appeared in the distance like many
houses. Sunday, 10th, we passed
Castle Palace, large rock 450 or 500
feet in height, and appearing at dis
tance like large mansion house. 1t
is generally called Castle Court-House.
We also had the most awful hailstorm
this evening that l have ever wit
messed. The plains were perfect
sheet of FIRE, while the thunder rolled,
the wind howled AID the hail fell in
great masses, which made it danger
GUS for man and beast.
Monday, the 11th, we passed Chin
ney Rock, 25 miles from Castle Pal
ace. This rock is over 200 feet high.
visited this place myself.
Tuesday 18th. we passed ScO's Bluffs.
From this point We have the first view
of the Rocky Mountains, but are yet
about 260 miles of. Only the tallest