Continuing with the Diary of James Field as published in the Willamette Farmer:
Fri., 11. - The mountains spoken of on first entering the Sweetwater Valley have disappeared in a range of sandhills rising on each side of the stream, leaving a narrow bottom along it, and gradually swelling higher and higher as they recede. They close in to the water's edge just above yesterday's encampment, and on leaving it this morning we were obliged to ascend the hills, traveling over a succession of high, gravelly and rocky ridges for 20 miles, when we came down on the river and camped upon it for the last time. Finding here a small company of men returning from Oregon and California, we embraced the opportunity of writing home again, as it was probably the last chance we would have on the road.
Sat., 12. - Before leaving Sweetwater I will here give the origin of its name, as it was given by the leader of the party spoken of on the 4th inst., and who left us a few days after. He was an old Canadian Frenchman, and had been in the mountains 18 years. He said one of the first trading parties to this part of the country, in crossing the stream at a time when it was swollen by a freshet, got 17 pounds of sugar drowned in it, and so christened it Sweetwater. We this morning crossed it for the last time, giving the waters of the Platte and Missouri the good-bye, and traveling over the sandhills again for 12 miles, camped near a spring, the waters of which flow down Green River to the Pacific, via Gulf of California. The Wind River Mountains are in full view on our right, apparently not far distant, and as we near them the snow appears wasting away from their summits.
Sun., 13. - Found ice frozen in the buckets this morning, and the air frosty and unpleasant. Traveled 20 miles, the road sandy and very dusty, and camped on Little Sandy Creek, a branch of the Green River. The wind for the past three days has been strong from the west, driving a heavy cloud of dust constantly in our faces, nearly blinding us.
Mon. 14. - We camped the two past evenings near Capt. Tethro's company, and he has employed a pilot to conduct his company by a nearer route to Fort Hall, leaving Fort Bridger and the regular trail on our left, and striking it again at Bear River. This morning, after crossing Little Sandy they struck off on their new route, and when we arrived at the turning-off point a vote was taken and it was decided to follow them. Went about six miles, crossing Big Sandy, which is also a branch of Green River, and camped upon it.
Tues., 15. - As Tethrow's company did not wish us to crowd them too closely, we remained in camp to-day to let them get clear of us.
Wed., 16. - We were on the road 24 hours, traveling about 42 miles before we could get a camp. Got to Green River about 6:30 in the morning, our teams well jaded. This stretch was not unexpected, as the old pilot told us of it before leaving the regular road.
Thurs., 17. - It being after sunrise this morning before we got into camp, we stuck to it the remainder of day. Capt. St. Clair, with some 15 or 20 wagons that originally were a portion of Tethero's company came down the river and camped near us soon after we arrived. Tethero's company had not left the river when we made our camp.
Fri., 11. - The mountains spoken of on first entering the Sweetwater Valley have disappeared in a range of sandhills rising on each side of the stream, leaving a narrow bottom along it, and gradually swelling higher and higher as they recede. They close in to the water's edge just above yesterday's encampment, and on leaving it this morning we were obliged to ascend the hills, traveling over a succession of high, gravelly and rocky ridges for 20 miles, when we came down on the river and camped upon it for the last time. Finding here a small company of men returning from Oregon and California, we embraced the opportunity of writing home again, as it was probably the last chance we would have on the road.
Sat., 12. - Before leaving Sweetwater I will here give the origin of its name, as it was given by the leader of the party spoken of on the 4th inst., and who left us a few days after. He was an old Canadian Frenchman, and had been in the mountains 18 years. He said one of the first trading parties to this part of the country, in crossing the stream at a time when it was swollen by a freshet, got 17 pounds of sugar drowned in it, and so christened it Sweetwater. We this morning crossed it for the last time, giving the waters of the Platte and Missouri the good-bye, and traveling over the sandhills again for 12 miles, camped near a spring, the waters of which flow down Green River to the Pacific, via Gulf of California. The Wind River Mountains are in full view on our right, apparently not far distant, and as we near them the snow appears wasting away from their summits.
Sun., 13. - Found ice frozen in the buckets this morning, and the air frosty and unpleasant. Traveled 20 miles, the road sandy and very dusty, and camped on Little Sandy Creek, a branch of the Green River. The wind for the past three days has been strong from the west, driving a heavy cloud of dust constantly in our faces, nearly blinding us.
Mon. 14. - We camped the two past evenings near Capt. Tethro's company, and he has employed a pilot to conduct his company by a nearer route to Fort Hall, leaving Fort Bridger and the regular trail on our left, and striking it again at Bear River. This morning, after crossing Little Sandy they struck off on their new route, and when we arrived at the turning-off point a vote was taken and it was decided to follow them. Went about six miles, crossing Big Sandy, which is also a branch of Green River, and camped upon it.
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| Looking north and upstream about where Oregon Trail emigrants headed for Fort Bridger and Salt Lake City crossed Little Sandy Creek. Randy Brown photo. https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/crossing-little-sandy-creek |
Tues., 15. - As Tethrow's company did not wish us to crowd them too closely, we remained in camp to-day to let them get clear of us.
Wed., 16. - We were on the road 24 hours, traveling about 42 miles before we could get a camp. Got to Green River about 6:30 in the morning, our teams well jaded. This stretch was not unexpected, as the old pilot told us of it before leaving the regular road.
Thurs., 17. - It being after sunrise this morning before we got into camp, we stuck to it the remainder of day. Capt. St. Clair, with some 15 or 20 wagons that originally were a portion of Tethero's company came down the river and camped near us soon after we arrived. Tethero's company had not left the river when we made our camp.
From “The Diary of James Field” Willamette Farmer (Portland, OR, Fridays: April 18 – August 1, 1879).
6 Jun 1879 (June 30-July 14)
13 Jun 1879 (July 16- 21)
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