The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-10-05
Crossing the Plains.
I V

My next letter was written at the
crossing of the Platte river under date of
June "a, 1858, and it begins with the de-
parture from Fort Kearney and march
of only IL miles to the Platte river The
next day was very hot and we camped
at Plum Creek, in which were only little
pools of muddy water, unfit for man or
beast to drink. The troops came strag-
Cling into camp, both men and animals
completely broken down. Some twenty
or thirty men tainted in sight of the
camp and wagons had to be sent out to
bring them in. That days march added
forty to the sick list and there were two
cases of sunstroke. | laid on the ground
in the shade of the tent until the sun
went down, and then mounted a horse
and rode to the river and bathed in it's
cooling water; then ate dinner, and later
went to bed to become the prey of mum
cradle mosquitoes.
The next day we made but six miles,
and getting into camp early we went on
buffalo hunt in the foothills. Seven
started, but three of the party, becom-
ing weary, turned back, the others keep
ing on for eight or nine miles. We saw
no buffalo bat plenty of antelope and jack
rabbits. The latter held the speed record
on the Plains and can easily out distance
the antelope or the fieetest horses. At
the top of their speed they can reverse
or 60 off at right angles and thus get
good start while their pursuers on horse
back are making the turn. Prairie dogs
are numerous and their ''towns' are
the only ones on the Plains. They live
underground and the holes that are the
entrance to their dwelling places are a
menace to the hunter as horse step
ping into one is liable to have a broken
leg and to give his rider nasty fall
Riding ahead of the command one day
with few others four black objects were
seen over by the sandhills which we
thought might be buffaloes, and we rode
at full speed in that direction, but after
going mile or two discovered that they
were men on horseback. Then we gal
Hoped off in another direction after a
large white wolf, but he escaped US and
we walked our weary horses back to
camp.
One evening we saw an animal walk
ing slowly toward the camp and it prov
ed to be buffalo bull. Soon three or
four officers, mounted and equipped,
rode Oft in hot haste, followed by num-
Der of soldiers with muskets. AS soon
as the bull got wind of them he started
off toward the hills at numbering gait,
but one of the officers headed him, gave
him two shots, which halted him for
moment, and another riding up delivered
the death shot. The soldiers then gath
cred around as thick as bees. A wagon
was sent out and hauled the carcass into
camp and it was speedily cut up, each
one carrying off piece until nothing
was lett but the head, | ate some of the
meat at breakfast and found it not so
tough as the beef Uncle Sam provides
for us.
Our camps were now all on the banks
Of the Platte river; broad stream filled
with islands; in some places three or four
miles wide, but very shallow, with a
sandy bottom, The water was not clear
but much the color of the Missouri. We
had plenty of fsh-catfish and small
white fish resembling chub-and camp
ing one night near slough we caught
sunfish by the pailfull.
Riding into camp one afternoon we
found six or seven Indians seated on the
ground, who shook hands and saluted US
with chow! howl Soon after some
thirty Indians and like number of
squaws rode into camp, dressed in all
their finery. The squaws had beautiful
ly embroidered saddle blankets, some
worked in stars and stripes, and the men
had embroidered leggings, gun cases, bow