THE DIARY OF LAMECH
CHAMBERS
In
the spring of 1860 Lamech Chambers joined the Green and John Russell
party on a gold prospecting expedition to the
Month of April 1860
3rd Tuesday - We left camp by the sun and at ten o'clock we passed
Grasshopper Creek the land exceedingly rich with a bolt of timber
along the creek. At twelve we stopped and fed at Rock Creek walnut
timber on the creek between the two streams great rolling prairie
very rich black soil, the grass green, but short. At noon I and
Barak and John R. Russell washed our feet, warm and pleasant with
light wind at night there came up a little cloud and rained a few
drops a heavy squall of wind. Some of the boys discussed the Bla-
question. I had lots of fun listening.
4th Wednesday - We
crossed Soldier's Creek early in the morning Indianolia being on the
bank of the creek. Thence we got over into the
5th Thursday - We
passed the Catholic mission and drove up to Lost Creek at Greenmores
seven miles about the mission and struck up camp for the day - the
land exceedingly rich and level with fine alluvail soil. Me and John
Russell and Barak and Bud and Odom took a walk in the evening and
went round the mouth of the creek on dry land - a warm pleasant day
with a light breeze of wind.
6th Friday - We
crossed Rock Creek and got up to the high.black jack prairie -
rather poor and sandy. We stopped and fed at St. George - we then
drove up to
9th Monday - We
left Junction City and drove up to Chapman Creek and fed - we had a
bad ford - we traveled through some high prairie and some bottom
land in the evening - I saw the first antelope - we camped on Mud
Creek - Sam Bates got drunk and cut up all manner of capers.
10th Tuesday - We
crossed Solomon's Fork by ten o'clock - a cold cloudy day - high
wind from the north. We crossed the Saline about four o'clock. The
boat bad and the banks very steep - when we crossed over the road
nearly gave out.
11th Wednesday - We
drove four miles to the last house on the route and we bought our
supply of corn and one sack of flour - we give six dollars for the
sack of flour and 35 cents a bushel for corn. We crossed Elm Creek
and fed at Mulberry Creek - a clear day with fresh gales of wind -
we camped on Mulberry Creek - we saw the first buffalo.
12th Thursday - I
was rather sick - we passed over high rolling prairie- we crossed
two or three little dry creeks with an occasional hole of water -
hot and still. Dag killed a buffalo. We passed through some hilly
country with several small creeks, the hills rocky. Green and Doc
and me and Mr. Pierce stood guard the first night - no Indians made
their appearance.
13th Friday - A
beautiful morning - clear and still but the wind rose up about nine
o'clock and blew a perfect gale - we passed over some hilly road and
got the Smoky Hill River again and fed - we met an old hunter with a
wagon load of buffalo meat and wolf skins - we then passed over some
hilly country and camped on Smoky Hill River - some thunder and a
few drops of rain - wind changed to east and blew powerful.
14th Saturday -
Wind from east and very cold - we traveled over some hilly road due
West for about 10 miles, then due South 5 miles to the river and
fed. thence we traveled west for about 7 miles, thence a little east
of south 3 miles and camped at a big creek supposed by some to be
15th Sunday - We
lay up at our camp on the unknown creek. Green Russell and Sam Bates
went off to look around and see where we are. Barak and John Russell
and Bud went buffalo hunting. I stayed at the camp and boiled a
kettle of Irish potatoes. Mr. Pierce baked some corn bread. A
beautiful warm day - after dinner, we left the road and went a
little south of west fifteen miles and camped on a sand river - we
found good road And plenty of water.
16th Monday - The
wind blew from the North - me and Barak got breakfast. We started a
due west course and thence up north west across several creeks- the
grass very short - me and Rob Pierce went to the river - it was
about one hundred yards wide and all a smooth bed of sand - we found
three good springs and Rob killed a snake - killed two buffalo and
camped on our sand river - good road - plenty of water.
17 Tuesday - Calm
and pleasant morning - we passed a cedar bluff with high walls of
rock with a number of the name's-engraved in eighteen hundred and
fifty nine - we struck the old road again - we camped on a creek
within some timber - that is, five little scrub trees - some ravine
with white sides - a cold night - we passed a number of white
buffalo.
18th Wednesday - We
traveled over a high prairie country with some small creeks - we
crossed one big creek five times - some of us thought it Smoky Hill
- we saw a high buff with a chimney stack towering up 100 feet high
there came a storm of rain on us - some grumblers in camp. Sam Bates
killed a buck rabbit Green Russell and Rob Pierce out looking for
the river and they never got in till after dark - we got uneasy -
rained in torrents- the first rain we have had.
9th Monday - We left
Junction City and drove up to Chapman Creek and fed - we had a bad
ford - we traveled through some high prairie and some bottom land in
the evening - I saw the first antelope - we camped on Mud Creek -
Sam Bates got drunk and cut up all manner of capers.
10th Tuesday - We crossed Solomon's Fork
by ten o'clock - a cold cloudy day - high wind from the north. We
crossed the Saline about four o'clock. The boat bad and the banks
very steep - when we crossed over the road nearly gave out.
11th Wednesday - We drove four miles to
the last house on the route and we bought our supply of corn and one
sack of flour - we give six dollars for the sack of flour and 35
cents a bushel for corn. We crossed Elm Creek and fed at Mulberry
Creek - a clear day with fresh gales of wind - we camped on Mulberry
Creek - we saw the first buffalo.
12th Thursday - I was rather sick - we
passed over high rolling prairie- we crossed two or three little dry
creeks with an occasional hole of water - hot and still. Dag killed
a buffalo. We passed through some hilly country with several small
creeks, the hills rocky. Green and Doc and me and Mr. Pierce stood
guard the first night - no Indians made their appearance.
13th Friday - A beautiful morning - clear
and still but the wind rose up about nine o'clock and blew a perfect
gale - we passed over some hilly road and got the Smoky Hill River
again and fed - we met an old hunter with a wagon load of buffalo
meat and wolf skins - we then passed over some hilly country and
camped on Smoky Hill River - some thunder and a few drops of rain -
wind changed to east and blew powerful.
14th Saturday - Wind from east and very
cold - we traveled over some hilly road due West for about 10 miles,
then due South 5 miles to the river and fed. thence we traveled west
for about 7 miles, thence a little east of south 3 miles and camped
at a big creek supposed by some to be
15th Sunday - We lay up at our camp on
the unknown creek. Green Russell and Sam Bates went off to look
around and see where we are. Barak and John Russell and Bud went
buffalo hunting. I stayed at the camp and boiled a kettle of Irish
potatoes. Mr. Pierce baked some corn bread. A beautiful warm day -
after dinner, we left the road and went a little south of west
fifteen miles and camped on a sand river - we found good road And
plenty of water.
16th Monday - The wind blew from the
North - me and Barak got breakfast. We started a due west course and
thence up north west across several creeks- the grass very short -
me and Rob Pierce went to the river - it was about one hundred yards
wide and all a smooth bed of sand - we found three good springs and
Rob killed a snake - killed two buffalo and camped on our sand river
- good road - plenty of water.
17 Tuesday - Calm and pleasant morning -
we passed a cedar bluff with high walls of rock with a number of the
name's-engraved in eighteen hundred and fifty nine - we struck the
old road again - we camped on a creek within some timber - that is,
five little scrub trees - some ravine with white sides - a cold
night - we passed a number of white buffalo.
18th Wednesday - We traveled over a high
prairie country with some small creeks - we crossed one big creek
five times - some of us thought it Smoky Hill - we saw a high bluff
with a chimney stack towering up 100 feet high there came a storm of
rain on us - some grumblers in camp. Sam Bates killed a buck rabbit
Green Russell and Rob Pierce out looking for the river and they
never got in till after dark - we got uneasy - rained in torrents-
the first rain we have had.
19th Thursday - A clear still morning -
we propose laying up today till noon - I mended my coat which was my
first sewing and then I mended my breeches - we burnt up our beans -
it commenced raining again and at ten o'clock it hailed - we
concluded to stay at camp all day. J. 0. Palmour killed an antelope
- Green Russell went out to look around. I put up a sign board at
night - the wind blew a perfect gale.
20th Friday - Clear and cool - we passed
some curious butes or bluffs and drove to the Smoky Hill River and a
company of Indians charged up on us. We give them all our loose
provisions and the Chief and nine others followed us till we had to
make coffee and eat dinner together - then they left us and we
traveled on by some square walls independent of each other about 40
feet high. We camped on a dry creek - thunder and rain.
21st Saturday - We passed over a high
prairie and by some more butes or walls - they had the appearance of
little towns - we crossed Smoky Hill six times. Some heavy sand road
- we then fed and drove by a good bold spring running out of the
side of a hill. We then drove into a long sandy bottom on the river
and camped - a clear calm warm day. Me and R. H. Pierce stood guard
again at midnight - there came a terrible storm of hail.
22nd Sunday - Cold and cloudy with
thunder - we left camp at eight o'clock and our road turned rather
north and we crossed the river and then a fork and then crossed the
north fork of Smoky Hill River - Then we crossed back to the south
fork and took our course through the wild prairie where we saw lots
of Indian signs - we crossed the South fork by twelve o'clock and
camped for the day - cold, east rainy day - cleared off in the
evening.
23rd Monday - Still cloudy - we started
off from camp due west for Pikes Peak - we saw the remains of an
Indian buried in a tree - we then crossed the creek twice and drove
12 miles to our same creek and fed. Green Russell caught fish out of
a pool - we then drove up the creek till the water sunk under the
sand and there was not water visible - then we found water again and
a good spring and we camped - a cold night.
24th Tuesday - We drove 10 miles and fed
on a small creek - we got off our route some two miles - a cold
snowy day - we had a stiff argument about a buck horn - some said it
was the left and some said the right - we saw some timber about 4
miles off on the main river and we drove off leaving it to our left
and struck the river about two miles about it being dry and sand bed
- we turned to the timber and camped and dug a hole for water.
Waiting for a snow storm. None came.
25th Wednesday - We still stayed at our
hole of water waiting for as now storm. Capt. Russell rode out to
look which course to go - we were cooking preparing to cross the
desert - warm, but partially cloudy - there came up a shower of rain
- killed I antelope. Barak, Willis, Rob Pierce and Palmour are all
down on their knees working dough for supper. Captain Russell has
not yet got back to camp - we all live fat and lazy – White Eagle
and his train of Comanches come on us - I felt rather bad.
26th Thursday - It commenced snowing
early in the morning - it covered the ground quick. About eleven
o'clock the White Eagle and his company of Comanches come in and
struck up camp with us - we all got perfectly friendly and had a
good time all through each other - it partially cleared off and
turned warm - we prepared to start in the morning. The Chief White
Eagle said that three sleeps would bring us to the Peak, but no wood
or water.
27th Friday - Clear morning - we started
off through the desert. We traveled five miles and let our stock
graze by a little pool of water and small bluffs. We traveled on and
occasionally found little pools or puddles of water, but no wood,
not even a switch - we camped by a little ravine with a little
puddle of water - grass plenty, Doc Russell dug us a little trench
and we put a few splinters of wood in and fried our meat and made
supper - ate our supper and went to bed.
28th Saturday - Partially cloudy and cold
- we traveled on and kept a sharp lookout for Pikes Peak - we still
found very small puddles of water but no wood - grass scant - poor
and level prairie. Green Russell killed an antelope at dinner time.
I washed and combed up, it being Saturday evening- I should like to
go out a-courting this evening, but it is rather too far to our
nearest neighbors, so I have concluded to stay at home for the
present at night. A powerful storm of wind - no wood. We dug a hole
for water - Palmour's tent blew over - we tied the wagons to the
ground - a terrible time of cold wind.
29th Sunday - The wind was still blowing
a perfect hurricane from the North. We traveled fifteen miles before
we found any water and then Green turned a little off our course and
found a beautiful pool of water. We stopped and fed, our boys eat
the raw antelope with good grace. John R. Russell asked me to take
some of his molasses and I thanked him for it- it is the poorest
God-forsaken looking country that I have ever saw -grass about one
inch long and covered with round prickly pears - No Pikes Peak - we
struck out from our pool of water 10 degrees to the North and we
passed over some hilly road - we found a big Indian camp and another
pool of water - we gathered up the remnants of their wood and
traveled on North of West and we struck the Republican road - we
drove on about two miles and camped on a ravine - no wood or water.
30th Monday - A clear pleasant morning -
ice in our water bucket - we drove up on the high prairie and saw
Pikes Peak with his eternal cap of snow - a great rejoicing - I ran
a half mile - we traveled 114 miles through the open prairie where
white man probably never set his foot - plenty of water today - we
fed at a big sandy river and then traveled up the same sandy river
all the_____ and camped at a big pool of water where there was a
large Indian camping ground.
1st May Tuesday - A cool morning streak
of cloud. After breakfast Green Russell divided a ginger cake with
us that was baked at his house in Georgia and we called it a love
feast - we then traveled on to a big sandy creek and fed - thence we
traveled about ten miles and got to the pinery - when we got on the
high divide I saw the grandest sight I ever beheld - we drove on to
Bijou Creek and camped with the Indians. I bought a pair of
moccasins.
2nd Monday - We passed over
some hilly country and to another big Indian camp - a hot day - at
dinner three Indians eat with us - we passed over some hilly road
with scrub pine timber - we camped on a dry sandy creek- dug us a
hole in the sand and got good free stove water - I washed my neck
and feet and put on a clean shirt and drawers.
3rd Thursday - We got breakfast and there
was a general washing and cleaning up with Captain Russell and all
his company as we expect to get to Aurora today about ten o'clock.
We struck the big Arkansas Road and came to a house on the road -
thence we traveled on to a house where wes aw a woman - we got to
Aurora about three o'clock - I got five letters four from home and
one from S. C. - I got great satisfaction.
4th Friday - We lay over at our camp at
Denver City all day - me and Barak bought three shovels - two pans
and one pack for $11 dollars. Some of the boys went to look at the
Spanish diggins.
5th Saturday - We still stayed at Denver
- me and Barak and H. R. Pierce and Fayette Pierce went out to the
Spanish diggins and panned out aboutl-1/2 penny-weight of very nice
gold - a clear warm day with some wind- I give three dollars for 1
gallon molasses.
6th Sunday - We left Denver City and
traveled 13 miles to Golden City at the foot of the Rocky Mountains
- as we approached the mountains the plains continued to be level
and richer. The mountains presents an abrupt and rugged face about
two thousand feet high with dense forest of pine timber - after
dinner we truck up a little creek making out of the
7th Monday - When I got up there was ice
1/4 Inch think in our water bucket - we passed through deep gulches
and over high mountains and by patches of snow a foot high - it
snowed all day - we got to the Gregory Diggins - the ravine was
filled up with shanties and people - We got to the Russell Gulch -
it snowed just like it used to - Oliver Russell came out and stayed
with us until ten o'clock.
12th - We went over to Chicago and six
hands of us washed four hours on an old Tom and we made four
pennyweight and three gr. John Russell said it would not do and we
left.
13th Sunday - It was as cold a day as
ever I saw - the wind blew and the now fell and the Ice froze two
inches thick in our pan - the water froze over our bucket by the
time I got from the spring. When I washed my face my beard froze so
hard that I had to warm it by the fire before I could comb the ice
out of it.
24th - There came a powerful snow storm
27th Sunday - We left the mountains and
came down to
28th - We got to
May 30th - Sol Roe and Rob Pierce and
Barak Spencer and myself begin to open our ditch by
June 1st - We begin to wash for gold and
washed one hour and got about five pennyweight - Issac Morris was
out of heart - he struck ball slate.
2nd - Oliver Russell came down from the
mountains and stayed with us six days - we had a fine time - we made
grub money.
6th day - We got better prospect of gold.
14th - We only made one pennyweight of
gold - at night there came a powerful storm of hail and wind - I
don't like this country.
15th - We found better diggins at noon -
we all went down to Denver to see a man hung for knocking another
man in the head with an axe - they hung him States for Lion.
16th - The boys were hard to
get up - Barak was out of heart and begin to map and talk of going
back to the States - I got a woman to do my first washing.
June 17th Sunday - Me and Hufstetter went
to
19th - I went to
20th - We begin to cut a new ditch to our
mines - we cut it across the road - in the evening there came along
a man and said it was a perfect nuisance, so McAfee gave him a good
cussing. He told him it was a free country and there was all the
prairie for a road.
23rd - We went down to
27th - We got our ditch through, so that
the water ran through it. Thundered and looked like rain.
29th - We put in a sluice and begin to
wash. We was scarce of water.
30th - Our company made I oz. 2 dwt. of
gold. G. McAfee, B. Stone and Bud made 14 dwt. on a ton.
July Ist - John D. Palmour borrowed 40
dollars of John B. Graham and we laid in a supply of flour and
bacon.
2nd - The water in our ditch failed.
3rd - We tried to put in a dam in the
4th - We all went to Denver to celebrate
the Independence of the United States - the Stars and Stripes
floated at the base of the Rocky Mountains for the first time.
July 1 2th - In the evening there came a
powerful storm of rain, wind and thunder - it wet all our things and
the ground was covered with water.
13th - John 0. Palmour and his company
left us and went back to Russell's Gulch; we sluiced off a pit and
made a good evening's washing - Morris's company done a good days
work.
16th - We quit washing and went to
ditching again.
17th - Doc Russell came down and stayed
all night with us. He brought great news of new discoveries in
18th - Me and Barak and Bud sunk a pit on
our new ditch - it prospected well.
19th - Rob Pierce and Sol Roe left us to
go over to the Arkansas on another prospecting tour - me and Barak
and Bud begin to wash our pit out- we made three dwt of gold.
20th - Clear and cool we made two dwt of
gold.
21st - We could not get scarcely the
color of gold - Morris talked of leaving us tomorrow - he talked to
some men about selling our claims - he told all the good part and
left out all the bad which I call lying on a small scale or rather
big gassing - in the evening we had a regular old fashioned Georgia
rain all the evening.
22nd Sunday - Me and Barak went down to
Denver and saw a funeral procession - we ate a pie and sweet cakes
and two glasses of cider - I mailed a letter but got none - we made
a divide of our gold with Morris and his company and we had left 7
dwt and 2 gr. and 4.25 in cash which was all me and Barak and Bud
had as fund.
23rd - Morris left me and Barak and Bud
and John Hufstetter on our claims on the Platte River and Morris and
his company went back to Russell's Gulch in the mountains. So us
four was left to fight the battle alone.
24th - Us four sold three of our claims
for $50 dollars each in cash and one good yoke of oxen - me and
Barak, Bud and Hufstetter are now able to go home to Georgia to see
our families - great rejoicing with us - me and Hufstetter went to
Denver and took a spree we was so glad.
25th - We sold our oxen for fifty dollars
and washed out three pennyweights of gold out of old work.
August 3rd - We sold three more of our
gold claims for one gold watch one silver watch, one Colt revolver,
five dollars in gold coin and one note for twenty-five dollars.
4th - Sol Roe and Rob Pierce started up
to Russell's Gulch to wind up their business and let us all start
home - I went to Denver and bought me a pair of pants - the first
thing I have bought for myself.
5th Sunday - Me and Huff went to Mr.
Clarks and Huff bought two pies at 60 cents - we made a good dinner
out of them.
6th Monday - Clear and cool morning -
Barak and Bud fixed seats in our wagon preparing to starting home -
me and Hufstetter cleaned out our Tomsand rifle boxes and 41 gr. of
gold - we quit work and I recorded three claims and received one
dollar for it - I panned a little gold.
Tuesday 7th - Me and Barak and Huff went
to town to
9th - Sol Roe, Rob Pierce, Barak, Bud
Hufstetter and L. Chambers all stored our tents and drove down to
Denver - Green Russell treated all our company and I ate with him at
his expense - I love Green Russell. We then formed our outfit and
jumped in our wagon and started to Georgia – Green rode with us one
mile and bid us farewell - we then drank whiskey and sang all sorts
of hymns and tunes - we drove 15 miles on our same ever lasting old
field and camped on the bank of the Platte River - there came three
wagons and men bound for the States and camped with us.
Friday the 10th - We left camp by one
hour by sun and drove 15 miles and took dinner on the bank of the
Platte R. - six wagons in
The llth - We got up at daybreak - a cool
morning we drove past the mouth of the Cashlapooda where it runs
into the
12th Sunday - A very cold morning - we
had a mess of beans for breakfast or what the boys called
"freeholders" - we passed over some heavy sand road - Bud lost his
pocket book - the buffalo flies very bad - me and Hufstetter had
another stiff argument on the subject of universal salvation - I go
thim learned - he got exceedingly mad - I promised to broach the
subject with him no more - we got in sight of Fremonts Orchard and
stopped for dinner - I gathered a bunch of flowers in Nebraska on
the Platte River. The bluffs or sand hills very bad - we camped by a
spring - three wagons camped with us - two women and children in
company - me and Rob Pierce went to see our neighbors - Pierce and
Roe the best men I ever traveled with.
13th Monday - An old man waked me up two
hours before daybreak – he was packing through on a little Indian
pony - I thought him a very thrilling man - a clear cold morning -
the sand bluffs ran down to the river at this place - the River all
filled up with streaks of sand and streaks of water- little islands
with bushes about waste high as thick as they could stand- a small
kind of cockleburs - we passed on down the River and took dinner at
the last timber - Rob Pierce waded over to an island and packed over
some wood - we prepared to pass over the desert - partially cloudy
some awful deep sand - I don't feel well today - we crossed Bijou
Creek and Beaver Creek. After dinner we drove on finely - there came
an awful storm of wind - Rob Pierce and Barak jumped out of the
wagon and docked it. I also got out and we all held on to the wagon
to keep it from blowing away- we passed two stations and camped on
the bank of the
14th Tuesday - We started from camp half
past six o'clock - we made a good half days drive over good road - I
was barkeeper today and I called out the little keg occasionally - I
got well. We passed a large train of freight wagons and several
immigrant wagons with some of the fair sex bound for the diggins.
The prairie or our everlasting old field becomes exceedingly level
and not a twig to make any variation in the view - cool day – the
mirage showed to great advantage - I could see the tops of the
bluffs, while the base or foot of the bluffs were concealed from
sight by the mirage - in' the evening Huff poked his arm out of the
wagon and the wheel caught it - we drove on a large bottom on the
river and camped - there came a light storm of wind and rain - Rob
and Huff got off to themselves to talking low - Sol told them there
must be no secrets in our camp - we divided our hoecake with a women
- the mosquitoes kept Rob and Bud fighting till three o'clock - Rob
took his blanket and left.
15th - A cold morning - we left our camp
at seven o'clock and immediately encountered some heavy sand road -
we met two wagons and one carriage -there were two nice looking
ladies in the carriage talking and laughing- no man in the States
knows how pretty women are till they are traveling on the Platte
River in Nebraska Territory - we saw a range of high bluff son the
North side of the River about twenty miles off. In the evening we
passed the Lilian Springs, a large muddy pool of water - not good –
we passed another mail station - there we saw a pretty woman all
dressed up in red calico - we saw a dead horse by the side of the
road covered with flies - we traveled down the
16th Thursday - A light Spring rain at
daybreak - at seven odd, we started and immediately struck some bad
sand hills - we met a large train of 27 six yoke of oxen to each
wagon bound for Denver, so our Bourbon whiskey began to get low. The
River about two miles wide, the bank low and water gliding slowly
over the sand, the soil generally poor and sandy, the growth mostly
grass and small kind of bushes growing on the island in the River
which resembles the wild locust of the South. Rob is now making a
drink of soda water - Barak is trying to make a fire of two willow
switches to get out dinner - cool wind from the South. After dinner
we got to the upper crossing on the Platte and bought us a bacon ham
for $4.50 - it weighted fifteen pounds - we got a drink of good cold
ice water - we passed on a high bar about eighty yards from the
River - built us a fire of buffalo chips and prepared us a fort to
fight our mosquitoes -about midnight they brought on the attack and
kept it up till daybreak. The 17th Friday – Me and Bud got by day -
I turned the mules loose and Bud got breakfast overa fire mostly of
buffalo chips, wood being scarce with us. A cold morning with clouds
in the west early after we started, we passed an Indian camp- we
drove on down to the middle crossing and bed - lots of Indians – I
gave three little children a piece of bread, a squaw and child then
came up.-and I gave her some bread, cheer and sugar. This place
consists of our mud house and appears to be on the deadline. We
traveled on - passed a station- got us a good drink of water - drove
on three miles - lost Rob pony -he went back and found the pony - we
passed the lone Tree and met another company of Indians carrying
their drags - we drove into a big bend of the River and camped - all
the mosquitoes in the three territories met us here- this is the
place they promised to give the boys battle - at midnight- Bud, Rob,
Huff and Barak, all got up and wanted to gear up the mules and
retreat, but me and Sol would not go - so we kept the field with
considerable loss.
The 18th Saturday - Barak and myself got
up at daybreak - Barak go tbreakfast and prepared to start - the
mosquitoes gave us another heavy battle before we left and said they
would meet us at the North Platte tonight - we drove on about three
miles and met the largest body of Indians I ever saw - some three
thousand warriors, squaws and papooses - some four or five of them
charged on two dogs and killed them with their arrows -they appeared
perfectly friendly - we then drove on fifteen miles and took dinner
- a very hot day. Some wood - after dinner we passed O'Fallon's
Bluffs and then we passed a large Indian camp of about three
thousand -we gave some papooses some tobacco - we then drove to the
next bend of the river and camped with about one hundred Sioux
Indians. The Mosquitoes met us according to promise - we got supper
and fed four Indians – They seemed to enjoy themselves.
Sunday the 19th - We got up and some of
the squaws and papooses came to us for breakfast. Bud grumbled and
growled - there is no accomodatin him - he always opposed that I
think to be fair and just between the white man and the red man of
the forest - I think the white man generally treat them very badly -
we pass through their country, burn their wood, kill their buffalo,
deer and antelope - it is no more than just for us to give them a
little bite to eat once in a while - we traveled on down the river -
passed the junction of the North Platte and South Platte -a great
bend in the river - we traveled about a east course - I slept a good
deal today - cool and pleasant day - no variation in the face of the
country - one everlasting old field - after dinner we drove three
miles to the Junction House - there we saw Jack Morrel huggin' two
Indian squaws- at this place the cottonwood timber set in a dense
forest along the river- thence a little further down the bluffs or
little mountains set in about three miles down the river and
scattering among the bluffs, just enough to make them lonesome as
the mountains of lduma - We camped at a place called Box Elder - me
and Sol went to the river for wood - found some grapes- very sour -
we cooked a mess of beans - at half past eight Barak, Bud both went
hunting till twelve - no mules - I slept and had pleasant dreams.
20th Monday - We got up at daybreak and
all turned out to hunt our stock. We hunted till nine o'clock and
met back at our wagon - no trace of mules- I went out into the
Bluffs - I was astonished to see the Bluffs as we called them - were
perfect mountains with deep and rugged ravines with thick bunches of
ceder - Rob offered an old mountaineer ten dollars to bring us our
stock - he mounted his pony and dashed off down the Platte River in
pursuit of them - we have some hope till we hear his report -he came
back - no find them - and Barak took off down the river - a seven
mile ride - Rob Pierce hired a horse and took off - found a man who
gave him short words - he made him take him to the mules - three men
had them tied. Rob made them loose the mules and they shot twice at
him and he let them have it with one barrel of his double barrelled
shotgun - the man hollowed. Rob's pony ran off - Our mules ran out
of the Bluffs to me and Barak - we caught them - drove them down to
21st Tuesday - I had cramp in
my legs - we drove on till dinner without anything of note occurring
Two wagons and twelve men stopped with us -there was one Missourian
- a whole souled man. We drove on to Smith's ranch and camped
with our twelve men - all good fellows.
22nd Wednesday - We drove till dinner and
overtook Mr. Roberts of Iowa.We had a cordial meeting - we then left
and crossed Plum Crek and got into buffalos - we saw one hundred of
them - Rob shot several of them with his shotgun, but it no fetched
them - we drove on and camped by ourselves again- I wanted to drive
till we got with other wagons - Sol Roe said we were able to protect
ourselves. The mosquitoes are our cousins - they paid us another
friendly visit. We got very tired of our cousins as they were
pitching into everything.
23rd- Bud got breakfast - a cold morning
- we started and Rob killed a buffalo which stopped us one hour - we
then drove on to Fort Kearney and took dinner. Rob bought three
watermelons. Sol bought us a box of sardines- this place is situated
in the middle of a large bottom. I saw some beautiful women at this
place. The houses are mostly all built of prairie sod cutin the
shape of brick - we bought us five more watermelons and dozen
for$1.50. We then drove down to where our road leaves the Platte
River and camped at a place where there are three or four little mud
houses and a grocery store bearing the name of the worst horse
thieving place on the road - I did not like our camping place - I
would prefer to drive after supper - all the wagoners are passing us
and going on which makes our place look a little more suspicious,
but Rob fears nothing and I reckon we shall have to stay here and
risk our chances.
24 Friday No man came about us last night
- there are four sheep and five chickens at this place here this
morning at this place we bid the
25th Saturday - Clear and cool morning -
Bud got breakfast. Rob and Sol are to sleep till breakfast - every
morning they are so good and kind to us. Barak and Bud cook day
about - Huff sleeps and lazier every morning till the boys get
breakfast and in the day time he tells big tales how he came round
the women and had them liking him better than anybody else according
to his own tales - he always comes out triumphant. But I have
doubts. I never like to hear any man speak disrespectful of the
ladies- if they do men a favour, it is right and just and fair that
men should hold their tongues - we passed on over some high prairie
- bend in the river and at nine o'clock and it took us till one
o'clock to drive over- then the boys prepared cooking beans for
dinner - I was rather opposed to the process as I was very hungry
and all women know it takes a day to cook dry beans - The grass was
very dry, short and poor. After boiling the beans we drove about
eight miles down the Blue and camped the Green, the flies worst I
ever saw - some better grass. Rob says me and him will get home by
tomorrow two weeks - me and Sol had gathered wood - Barak, Bud and
Huff are getting supper - Rob has gone fishing, caught two catfish.
The mosquitoes are awful bad.
The 26th Sunday - Some clouds - Barak got
breakfast and we ate and started for Big Sandy - we crossed over the
high Divide - 18 miles without water- the whole plain covered with
grasshoppers - we came to a house and bought five watermelons - we
then drove to Big Sandy and ate dinner. We then drove six miles over
to Little Sandy and camped for the rest of the night with a large
train of wagons - I got some post oak wood - we had a little rest
from the mosquitoes.
The 27th Monday - The train drove off at
daylight - clear and beautiful morning - we took a high cut on the
road - said to be four miles nearer- we found the road bad, hilly
and rocky - we drove over to Rock Creek by half past nine o'clock
and stopped, fed and rested a while at this place- there is a store
and clerk attending to it - he has two bottles partly full of
stricknine whiskey and a few bushels of corn for sale. They are
considerable of timber in this Creek, Walnut burr, oak, mulberry and
diverse other kinds - we drove on to Wolf Creek - there is the best
of well water there - four men playing cards - one woman playing
with a baby. The corn about waist high and not one ear on it. We
then drove on to a place called
The 27th Monday - The train drove off at
daylight - clear and beautiful morning - we took a high cut on the
road - said to be four miles nearer- we found the road bad, hilly
and rocky - we drove over to Rock Creek by half past nine o'clock
and stopped, fed and rested a while at this place- there is a store
and clerk attending to it - he has two bottles partly full of
stricknine whiskey and a few bushels of corn for sale. They are
considerable of timber in this Creek, Walnut burr, oak, mulberry and
diverse other kinds - we drove on to Wolf Creek - there is the best
of well water there - four men playing cards - one woman playing
with a baby. The corn about waist high and not one ear on it. We
then drove on to a place called
The 28th Tuesday - A beautiful morning -
clear and cool - Barak had breakfast by sun up - we struck out
twelve miles to Marysville, a little town situated on the east bank
of the Big Blue River, the town had the appearance of being in a
dilapidated condition - we then drove on to a creek seven miles east
of Marysville and fed there was a train of immigrant wagons here
after dinner - we drove on - came to a new road said to be six miles
closer - some few cornfields on this stream - all burnt up to tassel
- no ears on the stalk. We then struck for a creek seven miles off-
got there at sun down - no water in creek we drove on till one hour
in the night - found a little water in a puddle and camped for a
night - small allowance to eat.
The 29th - I got up and fed the mules -
Bud got breakfast - Huff manages to sleep every morning and let the
boys wait on him - he trys to be a gentleman - no go. We drove four
miles to Ash Prairie, a little trading post where there are three
stores we traded with Uncle Golin a little - we then drove on to a
little town called Senaca - this appears to be a flourishing place-
some buildings situated on the west bank of the big Ninchaw - no
water in this creek - we then started off and Huff got out and rode
on horseback- we passed a schoolhouse where they were teaching the
first marks of civilization- we stopped at a house and boiled us a
pot of potatoes - after dinner we struck off and passed another
town, Catamuly - we crossed several small creeks - all dry and
dusty in the beds, we camped by a farmers house, bought us a pound
of butter and ate them with good relish. The farmer came out and
chatted with us till nine o'clock - the face of country uneven,
rather hilly, with timber on the dry creek - very dry.
30th Thursday - Me and Barak got up by
day, I fed the mules and he got breakfast, Huff slept as usual - he
is man of a singular opinion - he argues strenuously for the
doctrine of universal salvation - he denies part ofthe Bible being
the word of God and contends largely for all the passages that goes
to support his theory, if deny one single text being the Word of God
with the Sam propriety we can reject the whole. We drove off and
passed the Kickapoo Indian Reserve. Those Indians have farm stock of
all kinds and are civilized. Timber of several kinds with many
creeks, bu tnot one drop of water in them - the face of the country
uneven, rather hilly - we stopped and fed opposite a little town
called Hinneydunk. We then struck out on our road. Huff said we was
in the parallel road. We traveled by large farms, the corn all dried
up - we stopped at a house, bought eggs, butter, the corn of a woman
- 15c for eggs and butter. The boys say we are where we live again.
Friday 31 - Most beautiful morning we
have had - all up by light - all in high spirits - only eight miles
from Atchison - now on three miles of town - I took a view of the
valley of the great Missouri River - we land in Atchison half past
eight o'clock - eat the best of watermelon, peachesand lager beer
cheap - at one o'clock I treated all the boys to a drinkof cider -
we parted and Barak and Bud and Huff left us - at night we wenton
the steam boat Banjo to a nigger exhibition, paid $1.50 at the hotel
and I prepared to start at 4 o'clock.
Sept. 1- Saturday - Me and Rob and Sol
got on the cars at half past four o'clock and ran up the M. River 20
miles to
2nd Sunday - At three o'clock I waked up,
we were fast on a sand bar, hunt two hours got off at five o'clock
and went sweeping down the Mississippi River. Wet morning wind from
the west, passed high bluffs - landed at a considerable town called
The 3rd Monday - Got on the cars at 5
O'clock and went sweeping through
Lincoln ---------- 3
The rain came down in torrents - rich and
level land with heavy timber- many flourishing towns - several
likely young ladies on board - one by me. Rough and hilly, big and
dense forests of timber - good crops – now becomes exceedingly rich
and level land - great crops - we landed at Cairo at ___ o'clock -
our cars rang their bell for a slow time all through the town - we
got off the cars and stepped on the great steam boat "Hannibal" and
went sweeping down the Ohio River - this river will average about
one mile wide smooth and beautiful waters. We landed at
Vote:
First cotton field - open - we ran to
The 4th Tuesday - At ____ we passed wreck
of cars - large cotton field. Short passed
End of Diary
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