Year: 1865

Utah Territory, afsy miles nom u BrTdgsE.


-fs - tla[ 81 Ausnztl5ts, lss5-
My DEAR AoTHER;--You do not kuow
what pleasure il affords me 10 be able 10
write to you again. Aboiher month has
rolled away since last wro.s 70 you,
and tiresome month thas been 70 me.
We have got over the marching part
of our trip, however, and 1 can now look
back upon our past trials with a feeling
Of satisfaction. For the past twelve
days we have been travelling over what
is called tie Bitter Greek route, which is
nothing more than desert of sand aud
rock for enc hundred mics. We had to
drive the cattle sometimes two or three
days without anything to eat When we
found grass for them it was from four TO
eight miles from The road During all
this time, with few exceptions. all
the water we had was obtained from a
creek about two feet wide, which ran
along the side Of the road nearly al the
way. Could you have seen the poor
cattle dropping one by one By the way
side, and the weary, worn out men as
they marched along through the dust, /
know you would have pitied US
Never did sAipwrecked mar
iner hail al approaching sail
with more Joy than We did Green river.
l shall never forget my 6rst sight OF the
beautiful little stream It was at the
close Of a warm day in August. had
been walking all day long, helping to
drive the loose cattle, and had not had a
drop of water since morning The sun
was setting behind the hills in the west
as We stared up long hill Up, and
up, we went, until at length we reached
the top, and there below us lay little
green valley with the river running
through. Almost without thinking, of
came our hats and we raised ashont and
started down the bill full tilt and rushed
into the river to our knees, and enjoyed
once more the luxury Of good drink.
You would have laughed to have seen
che worn-out cattle we we're driving lift
up their heads and come shufling down
the hill when they saw the water This,
mother, is all Of any interest that has
happened; and thanks to the watehiui
care of Him who suffers nofA sparrow
to fall TO the ground without His knowl-
edge, i have been preserved through
this and all other trials and dangers. /
have, indeed, much to be grateful fer,
and l hope / may never fssgst who is
the Giver Of all the blessings which have
been bestowed upon me.


Now mother, / have told you all that
is interesting about my travels since we
left Fort Halleck. In fact, there are
but few things that happen to us that
would furnish subject to write abous.
Day after day passes and brings to az
the same duties aud the same drearY |
scenery Of sand hills and rocks


We are now within four hundred |
miles of Virginia CitS, and if we have
no bad luck will reach there ia one /
month from this time. e


The Captain starts to Fort Bridger !
to-day TO get our letters and to 6nd out
which is the best road to Soda Springs, 1
aud the probability is, that We will not
60 by the Fort, so determined to let
you know how / was getting along, and
send the letter by him TO the Fort, for /
fear that may not have time to write
again soon. 80 SIR nsff 1


BY the way, are you not hearingsome
terrible Indian tales in the States now
/ have just been told that the Indians
are very bad in the country we have
just passed, and that they had captured
several trains and murdered great ma
ny people, We are now in the country
of the Shoshouee and Snake Indians,
Who are at the present time at peace
with the whites


Now mother, do not know whether
you can read this lester or not, but I
have done the best could. How well
/ I'D like to see you all once more.
How are Jesssand Walter getting aloDg7
Are they doing all they can to help you?
/ hope they are good children Give
my love to them, and kiss them both for
me. Give my loyeto all my friends, and
Mr. and Mrs Summers.


Dear mother, / need not send my love
TO you, for you well know that you are
dear to me above everything else. When
you recsive this letter, you will write
direct to Virginia City You have writ
ten to Bridger and Soda Springs Of
course


Now must close, asthe Captain is
ready. So, for the present, good bye.


Your affsciionste son, =


- A2As At1@@4A ~"KELLY."