SMOKY HILL FORK ROUTE. 
13 
abundant can be properly applied to so scarce an article. Quite far to the' north and west, 
twenty or twenty-five miles, we at one time had a view of the Kansas valley, which appeared 
well timbered. 
Mr. McClannahan, (a gentleman whom we had met on the steamer in coming up the Missouri 
river,) who had been favorably impressed with the reputed character and direction of the route 
we were to explore, and who was on his way by the Platte and Sweetwater route to California 
with a large flock of sheep, which had already reached the Missouri at St. Joseph when we met 
him, changed his route and here came up with us. He was accompanied by his partner, Mr. 
Crockett, and by two brothers, Messrs. Burwell, with a fine herd of cattle, also for the California 
market. Besides these, he was soon joined by two gentlemen, Messrs. Ross, with their families, 
destined for the land of gold. The lateness of the season, and the vast amount of stock which 
had passed up the Platte, sweeping away all the grass, had determined these gentlemen to 
follow our trail; believing that it would not only be found practicable, but shorter and more 
abundantly supplied with grass than any of the usually followed routes, and that they could easily 
keep near us, rendering their passage comparatively safe through the various Indian tribes to be 
passed to the east of the Great Basin. 
It had been Captain Gunnison’s intention, till last night, to turn off here with his party from 
the Santa Fe, and follow for'a short distance the emigrant road to Salt lake and Oregon, and. 
thence up the Kansas on its south side, beyond the Big Bend of ihe Arkansas river, taking 
nearly a direct course for the mouth of the Huerfano. But after much inquiry about the country, 
of Indians and others who know something of it, and a long conversation with Major Fitzpatrick 
and Mr. Wm. Bent, whom we met here, he determined to divide his party at this point, and with 
a few men, an instrument wagon and a few pack-mules, to proceed himself partly by this route, 
directing me to proceed with the train and balance of the party, by the usual Santa Fe road to 
Walnut creek, and there await his arrival. Near our camp were the dwellings and farms of a 
few Christianized Indians. 
June 26.—Captain Gunnison and party, consisting of Mr. Kern and Mr. Homans, also a 
teamster and a packer, with Captain Morris and a few of his men as an escort, moved off at the 
usual hour, 7 o’clock, by the Kansas river and Smoky Hill Fork route. The journal relating to 
this part of the survey is taken from Captain Gunnison’s notes, and much of it is an extract 
from them: “Contrary to the general rule, (it being Sunday,) we leave for Wahkafrussi this 
morning, having learned ihat the Indians are assembled there for church service or meeting, 
and start early to witness the occasion, never having been at one of their missionary gatherings. 
Lieutenant Beckwith also moves off on the Santa Fe road—our men and animals having had 
nearly all the week to rest. 
“ At eight miles we came to a house and field, and descended a hill half a mile farther on, 
where we crossed a fine creek which we had been nearing on our left for two miles. This 
creek is fringed by a dense growth of oak, elm and poplar. Passing over a fine plain for four 
miles, we crossed another stream which has beautiful groves along its sides, of red and white oak, 
sycamore and locust. Young hickory is also springing up along its banks, and it is to be hoped 
that fires will be kept off until it can contend successfully for existence, and add to the beauty and 
usefulness of this fertile country. After a ride of 14.89 miles, we encamped on the southern 
side of the Wahkarrussi, a tributary of the Kansas river. Half a mile above the crossing, which 
is a ferry at high water, a sandstone several feet thick, in horizontal layers, is cut through by 
the creek. 
11 June 27.—At 7 o’clock we were crossing the rich, alluvial bottom of the Wahkarrussi. It is 
one and a half miles wide, covered with rich grasses. To our left, and on the other side of 
the creek, is the Wahkarrussi mound, a hill that is a conspicuous land-mark for a great distance. 
Yesterday we were all day steering to the right of it. On the north side it is wooded from the 
brow to the stream. Five miles out we ascended the limestone ridge between the Kansas and 
