The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-10-05

tation. They reported that their lodges
were filled with buffalo meat, and sent
out some "bucks" who returned in
short time with a quantity of the meat.
Having so much meat it was impossible
to do much trading with these Indians,
though for twenty silver dollars could
have bought pony worth $50. They
use the silver to make ornaments, but
have no use for gold. Five or six cups
os sugar and like number of coffee
would buy a handsome buffalo robe; but
they were so common then that l did
not get one. About shutdown the Indians
called on Col. Munroe, the Great Cap
tain, as they called him. They seated
themselves in circle about the tent
while the chiefs divided the hardbread,
sugar, coffee, etc, Col. Munroe had or
dered to be given them.
In the evening rode out to their
lodges-twenty-f four in number, made of
buffalo skins sewed together with sin
ews, and very picturesque in appear
ance. They had buffalo meat, fresh and
dried, tongues and marrow bones, in
great abundance. Meat is cured here, as
In Texas, by cutting it in strips and
hanging it in the sun. 1t never spois,
and even tongues are cured in this way.
These Indians were of the tribe of Brule
Sioux and were we'll whipped by Gen.
Harvey, who they called "White Beard"
| in the battle of Ash Hollow.
My pony becoming foundered from
eating too much grass Capt. Paige let
me have one of his extra horses, ablood-
ed sorrel known on the race tracks as
"Silver Heels" He was bought by the
government but they had been unable to
break him for cavalry use as no one
could ride him with saher on. In other
respects he was easily handled, except
that | could never get him accustomed to
the Indians, the sight or smell of them
setting him almost crazy. He could
easily distance any horse in the com
mand and greatly enjoyed riding him.
AT Cottonwood we found mail wagon
encamped and they told US that Col.
Johnson had started for Salt Lake City,
and two more expresses met in the
course of a few hours told the same
story.
The ninth day from Fort Kearney we
reached the crossing of the South Platte,
- oF IrE ,,,loo Tho vivian
high and not fordable. and the night be-
fore an OK train had lost several wagons
and had three men drowned in attempt
ing TO cross. There were a few lodges
of miserable half-starved Cheyennes at
the crossing. We laid here -four days,
and the river having then fallen few
sing. At the ford the river was at least
mile and a quarter wide, and when the
companies were halted on the bank, they
were got ready to march across in an
undress uniform, which consisted of a
hat and canteen. 1t took until noon to
get everything across and we went into
camp at the landing. The next day we
struck across the sand hills for the North
Fork, about ID miles, descending into
Ash Hollow, wild looking place, where
they had formerly to let the wagons
down with ropes but where a new road
had been made. This was the scene of
Gen. Harney's fight with the Brule
Sioux. when the Indians were driven in
to ravine and shot down by the troops.
Near the river was. little trading
post and mail station, and we had been
there but a short time when the Salt
Lake mail this time from the city, drove
up. They had met Col. johnson so
miles from the city, going in. We
camped at the river, near the remains
of an old mud fort, by whom or when
built | could not ascertain. In the after
noon | climbed to the top of one of the
sand hills and had fine view of the
river and encampment.
We now followed up the North Fork
of the Platte river, a stream of the
same character as the Platte and South
Fork. A few days journey brought US
in sight of Courthouse Rock. Some of
our party visited it and brought back
speci mems Of the rock. soft sandstone,
easily cut with knife. From the east
Court house Rock closely resembled
building and reminded me of the State
H ouse in Boston, but az we proceeded
the resemblance grew fainter We could
also see the slender shaft of Chimney
Rock, and the next day galloped off for
look at it, and found it of the same
formation. 1t was said to be 300 feet
high and that some forty or fifty feet
had been broken from the summit.
We met several trains of Mormons re-
turning to 1.-THE States" and they were
hard looking company. The men had
| long b air and boards and the women
wore dirty calico gowns that hung in
! tatters around their bare feet Broad
brimmed hats concealed their faces.
The Fourth of July was celebrated
with case of champagne, but even that
failed to produce the usual effect-al
were dull and stupid.
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