Continuing with the diary of James Field:
Frid. 20. - Reached Ft. Larimie about noon, traveling eight miles, the road sandy, traveling heavy. It is situated on Larimie's fork of Platte, in a rough, barren region of country, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, the dark outlines of which are now in view, and is one of the forts of the American Fur Company. Fort Platte is about one mile from it, further down the fork, and belongs to some French traders. the Sioux have been collected here in considerable numbers this season, but many of them are now gone, the traders tell us. Those that are here are very friendly with us, wishing to make all sorts of trades, even to swapping horses for girls. I think them as intelligent, cleanly-looking Indians as ever I saw anywhere. Noticed a number of half-breeds among the young Indians, and am told it is the regular custom of the traders to keep Indian wives at the fort. They say it is necessary for their personal safety, as they are then considered one of the tribe, and should one get killed his friends will avenge his death. The Sioux have numbers of very fine horses, the best I ever saw among Indians, and they prize a good one highly, they are so useful for killing buffalo. They are very anxious to trade their ponies for good American horses. The only guns among them, or that they will have, are short, large-bored shot-guns, and they don't want a rifle at any rate. Many of the company spent the afternoon in writing to their friends, and one little incident amused me much. I was lying beside my wagon, in which a woman was writing to her friends in Illinois, when a young Missourian, a girl about 8 years of age, steps upon the wagon-tongue, and says, "Mrs. C., are you writing a letter?" "Yes" "Put something in to Uncle Jack and Aunt Lucy for me, won't you?"
Sat. 21. - Went about 20 miles over a rough, broken country with a range of mountains having several high peaks in view on our left. Had a moonlight march to get a camp, it being near 11 o'clock when we left the fort, which brought us into camp about 10 at night, when we reached a small creek.
Sun. 22. - Went 12 miles through a country presenting the same wild and barren aspect as yesterday, which brought us to the north fork again, on which we camped. Since reaching Fort Larimie, the aspect of the country has changed entirely. We no more find the smooth level prairie, on which the wagon rolls for miles without any pulling, as one might say. The whole country is covered at intervals with pine and cedar timber, so that buffalo chips find a poor market, and the intervales along the streams are narrower, and afford much less pasture, being dry and unproductive.
Mon. 23. - Having an excellent camp for wood, water, and grass, and plenty of dirty duds in the wagons to keep the women out of mischief for one day, we concluded to lie by.
Tues. 24. - Went about 14 miles, the road better than any in the neighborhood of Fort Larimie, being less sandy and uneven. About 7 miles from our last encampment, passed the camp of a small detachment of U. S. dragoons, having a baggage wagon with them, as they are conveying a disabled soldier back to the fort. His name is Smith, and the accident occurred some 40 miles ahead. In drawing his gun from a thicket of brush it went off, shattering his arm in two places so that it was necessary to amputate it above the elbow, which operation has been performed, and he appears to be doing well.
Wed. 25. - Went about 8 miles, camping on a small stream, about 4 miles from the river. Saw near camp a flock of partridges, the first I have seen since leaving home. Country again broken and rugged, road hilly.
Thur. 26. - Went 16 miles, camping on a stream somewhat larger that the last, with the surrounding hills full of red clay, giving them the color of brick. I am disappointed in the part of the country we are now traveling, as we were told of several stretches of 20 and 30 miles along here without water, but we have found none such yet, as in every deep ravine we are nearly sure of finding water and more or less grass. This evening wehave an excellent camp for both, and as for wood, it is plenty everywhere in the deep hollows.
Frid. 20. - Reached Ft. Larimie about noon, traveling eight miles, the road sandy, traveling heavy. It is situated on Larimie's fork of Platte, in a rough, barren region of country, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, the dark outlines of which are now in view, and is one of the forts of the American Fur Company. Fort Platte is about one mile from it, further down the fork, and belongs to some French traders. the Sioux have been collected here in considerable numbers this season, but many of them are now gone, the traders tell us. Those that are here are very friendly with us, wishing to make all sorts of trades, even to swapping horses for girls. I think them as intelligent, cleanly-looking Indians as ever I saw anywhere. Noticed a number of half-breeds among the young Indians, and am told it is the regular custom of the traders to keep Indian wives at the fort. They say it is necessary for their personal safety, as they are then considered one of the tribe, and should one get killed his friends will avenge his death. The Sioux have numbers of very fine horses, the best I ever saw among Indians, and they prize a good one highly, they are so useful for killing buffalo. They are very anxious to trade their ponies for good American horses. The only guns among them, or that they will have, are short, large-bored shot-guns, and they don't want a rifle at any rate. Many of the company spent the afternoon in writing to their friends, and one little incident amused me much. I was lying beside my wagon, in which a woman was writing to her friends in Illinois, when a young Missourian, a girl about 8 years of age, steps upon the wagon-tongue, and says, "Mrs. C., are you writing a letter?" "Yes" "Put something in to Uncle Jack and Aunt Lucy for me, won't you?"
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| Fort Laramie, 1845. Image from http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/photos.html |
Sat. 21. - Went about 20 miles over a rough, broken country with a range of mountains having several high peaks in view on our left. Had a moonlight march to get a camp, it being near 11 o'clock when we left the fort, which brought us into camp about 10 at night, when we reached a small creek.
Sun. 22. - Went 12 miles through a country presenting the same wild and barren aspect as yesterday, which brought us to the north fork again, on which we camped. Since reaching Fort Larimie, the aspect of the country has changed entirely. We no more find the smooth level prairie, on which the wagon rolls for miles without any pulling, as one might say. The whole country is covered at intervals with pine and cedar timber, so that buffalo chips find a poor market, and the intervales along the streams are narrower, and afford much less pasture, being dry and unproductive.
Mon. 23. - Having an excellent camp for wood, water, and grass, and plenty of dirty duds in the wagons to keep the women out of mischief for one day, we concluded to lie by.
Tues. 24. - Went about 14 miles, the road better than any in the neighborhood of Fort Larimie, being less sandy and uneven. About 7 miles from our last encampment, passed the camp of a small detachment of U. S. dragoons, having a baggage wagon with them, as they are conveying a disabled soldier back to the fort. His name is Smith, and the accident occurred some 40 miles ahead. In drawing his gun from a thicket of brush it went off, shattering his arm in two places so that it was necessary to amputate it above the elbow, which operation has been performed, and he appears to be doing well.
Wed. 25. - Went about 8 miles, camping on a small stream, about 4 miles from the river. Saw near camp a flock of partridges, the first I have seen since leaving home. Country again broken and rugged, road hilly.
Thur. 26. - Went 16 miles, camping on a stream somewhat larger that the last, with the surrounding hills full of red clay, giving them the color of brick. I am disappointed in the part of the country we are now traveling, as we were told of several stretches of 20 and 30 miles along here without water, but we have found none such yet, as in every deep ravine we are nearly sure of finding water and more or less grass. This evening wehave an excellent camp for both, and as for wood, it is plenty everywhere in the deep hollows.
From “The Diary of James Field” Willamette Farmer (Portland, OR, Fridays: April 18 – August 1, 1879).
9 May 1879 (June 18-29)
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