The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-08
A GREAT TREK.
The Exodus to Oregon From Kansas
City I'm 1Sl3.

"tSlpoiI dIOuHu anu over WHICH
Kansas City, Mo-, has grown, was
point of national interest during the
spring OF 1S4S. Concentrating there
In May Of that year was by far the
largest gathering Of immigrants
which the exodus of Oregon had yet
seen. They came i'm response to lib
eral donations OF land which con-
gressmen promised to settlers. They
were also the answer to appeals for
coionists who would rescue the
Northwest from England,
Meetings to promote immigration
were held In New York, Boston, Phil
adelphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, ST.
Louis and other places In the early
months Of the year. Marcus Whit
man. who In the winter Of 1S42-43
made daring ride from his post on
the Willamette across the mountains
and pralries to the east In the interest
OF the missions and Of immigration,
was an object OF much interest In
Washington. New York and the other
centres which he visited. Many pa
pers mentioned his exploit. Some of
them gave special emphasis to the
fact that he was to return with the
caravan which was soon to start from
the banks Of the Missouri for the Pa
cihc slope.
All this explains why 1S43 saw
large parties of immigrants from
many quarters converge a. the mouth
of the Kaw as soon as the grass be-
gan to peep out at the sunshine. They
came from the shores Of the Hudsan,
the Ohio, the Connecticut. the Ten
nessee and the Wabash. Assembling
at that point were descendants Of mon
who fought against Canonchet and
King Philip, who marched with Boone
and Harrod through Cumberland Gap,
who assisted Manasseh Cutler. Rufus
Putnam and Samuel Parsons in plant
ing the colony at the mouth Of the
Muskingum, which laid the founda-
ton of the old Northwestern Terri
tory; who were with "Tippecanoe"
Harrison and Richard NJ. johnson
when they overwhelmed Tecumseh
and the British General Proctor and
his troops at the battle Of the Thames
in the War OF 1912.
An enumeration of the names of
some OF the persons who gathered at
the starting point-James w. Ne
smyth. Jesse Applegate. Daniel Wal
do. John G. Baker. Thomas G. Nay
iot and Peter III. Burnett-would be
a rollcall of some OF Oregon's most
distinguished citizens of the after day.
For effective direction and for safety
especially In going through the Indian
country, which would soon be en-
countered and which would have to
be traversed for a thousand miles and
fer many weeks. a semblance OF Mill
tary organization was adopted. The
wagons were divided into platoons of
four each, the leading platoon Of to-
day 10 drop TO the rear tomorrow. A
stated number OF wagons comprised
division with its quota of officers
Scouts and buffalo hunters we're se-
lected from among those who had no
teams or cattle to drive. the former
TO watch on front and flank for In
dians and the latter to furnish the
caravan with meat.
"A council, consisting of some Of the
most intelligent and alert men at the
rendezvous was chosen TO settle con.
trOversies, and after the expedition
started. TO act as Legislature and judi
ciary. Out In the region to which they
were TO travel the governmtnt had
not extended It's authority. From ire
decision OF the council there was to
be no appeal. A veteran plainsman
and a mountalneer was chosen as
guide and pilot. and his place was at
the head Of the line Marcus Whit
man was % join the caravan at tho
point where the trail struck the Platte
and - remain with II until II reach.
cd Tort Hall Peter ~. Burnett was
In general command.
A rifle reveille from the sentinels
at O'Clock In the morning Of June /.
1Si3. awoke the camps on the Ilaw,
and the hustle OF preparation for the
march began. Fires were lit. break
fast was cooked and eaten. the cattle
and horses at the outskirts were co,-
lected. and the oxen yoked. At Z
o'clock the bugle sounded the ad-
vance the various divisions fled into