30 FROM FORT LEAVENWORTH TO FORT KEARNY. 



the first we had seen, were found. Cacti were met. with during 

 the day, also the purple mallow, as well as a small red species, the 

 perfume of which is very sweet, resembling that of heliotrope. 

 Dwarf Artemisia was also abundant. The measured distance from 

 Fort Leavenworth to this point, by the usually travelled route, is 

 two hundred and ninety-six miles. 



Tuesday/, June 19. — Ther. at 5 o'clock, 70°. Men and animals 

 much fatigued by the journey of yesterday. We travelled up 

 the Platte fifteen miles, and encamped within two miles of Fort 

 Kearny, on the bank of the river, for the sake of water and grass. 

 Wood for cooking could be procured only by wading the river, and 

 bringing it from the opposite side on the shoulders of the men. 

 After encamping, rode up to the fort, and called upon the com- 

 manding officer. Colonel Bonneville, whose adventures among the 

 Rocky Mountains are so well known to the world. He received 

 us very courteously, ofi'ering us every facility in his power in 

 furtherance of our progress. We remained at this post until the 

 afternoon of the 21st, to recruit the mules, get many of them shod, 

 and to procure such necessary supplies as could be obtained. The 

 post at present consists of a number of long low buildings, con- 

 structed principally of adobe, or sun-dried bricks, with nearly flat 

 roofs ; a large hospital-tent ; two or three workshops, enclosed by 

 canvas walls ; storehouses constructed in the same manner ; one or 

 two long adobe stables, with roofs of brush ; and tents for the accom- 

 modation of the officers and men. There are stationed here two com- 

 panies of infantry and one of dragoons. I was told that the hail- 

 storms had been very frequent this season and quite destructive, 

 cutting down the weeds and stripping the trees of their foliage. 



Lieutenant Gunnison being still quite feeble, and unable to ride 

 on horseback, I purchased for his use a little spring-carriage, 

 which had been left here by a party of emigrants. Such abandon- 

 ments are very common; most of these sanguine and adventurous 

 companies, by the time they get thus far, beginning to find out that 

 they have started on their journey with more than they can con- 

 trive to carry. In order to lighten their load, most of them dis- 

 pose of every thing they can possibly spare, and at almost any price. 

 Flour and bacon, for example, had been sold as low as one cent 

 per pound ; and many, being unable to sell even at that price, had 

 used their meat for fuel. The pack company from Boston, which 

 had passed us on the route, and which we found encamped here on 

 our arrival, left before our departure. As they had been entirely 



