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What those stores consisted of can only be imagined. It was doubtless a general assortment of goods needed for a representative civilized community, as the inhabitants of every military post were known to be. There was, of course, a large supply of corn for the post animals, flour, sugar, coffee, and other groceries; amunition, perhaps, with some needful medicines; also a box of books for the general good, to pass away the coming long winter nights, and convey some new thoughts from the centers of literary intelligence in the far East. Perhaps there was a box of books for some one at the Fort from some personal friend, sent in the care of the Quartermaster, for this was the last opportunity of conveyance before the year ended. Of the greatest importance to the future well-being of the western country and the coming civilization, might have been some of the contents of that train load of freight which we took into our wagons then at Fort Leavenworth.

But we were soon on our way westward with it, and slowly but surely moving on toward the mountains. Then there were but few settlements and farms west of Fort Leavenworth, so that we were soon traveling along over the great prairie, which extended hundreds of miles ahead of us.

The first large stream we crossed was the Big Blue, at a fording place near where the city of Marysville, Kansas, is now situated. I remember some of the cottonwood trees on the river bottom there, which were somewhere about three feet or more in diameter. The next place at that time was the crossing of the Big Sandy Creek. Here a man named Patterson had a stockade made of hewn logs known as Patterson's Ranch, where he did some trading with the travellers and the friendly Indians. There was nothing on that trip that escaped the notice of an observing man,-most of which I remember as plainly as though I were on that trip, and this was nearly forty years ago.

It was soon after leaving the Big Sandy that we came across a large extent of burnt country-that is, there had been a recent prairie fire, and it was burning then-but for a whole day, I think, and part of the next, we travelled over this burnt prairie. It was to me and to all of us a most desolate looking region indeed. On all sides was a perfect blackness as far as the eye could see, the only relief being the blue sky above and here and there some partly burnt white bones of some buffalo or other animal. It was a perfect picture of despair, with hope left out. But I knew that that would end; that the winds would come, the winter come, the snow or rain come again, and and springtime come; and then where all this blackness was, the earth would take on its beautiful green and the beautiful flowers would come, and all be brightness and cheerfulness again.

The next object of attraction was when we came to the summit of the sand hills bordering the Platte Valley. For there in the distance my eyes first saw that grand valley of the Platte spread out as far as the eye could reach, with the waters of the river glistening in the sunshine, and the dense groves of trees on the islands making a fine relief to the scene. Along the level valley of the Platte River we had to travel something over four hundred miles.

The next day,-it must have been October 20-the flag of Fort Kearney came in sight, and with it the Fort, looming up like an oasis in the desert. Fort Kearney! Name full of interest to the early freighter and the early settler of central Nebraska and the farther West! Fort Kearney! Name so full of historical incident and reminiscence! What could have been the freighting business across the plains without Forts Kearney and Laramie, and other forts dotted over that great plateau lying between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains ? There would have been no freighting, that is all, and there would have been no need of reciting this personal experi

ence to-day. Fort Kearney! There within sight of the star-spangled banner waving from the flagstaff, every man connected with the freighting outfit felt that he could rest for a short season at least, in mind and body, and get whatever supplies might be needful for the rest of his journey. Fort Kearney! How time's memory comes springing up before me, as I think of the men and scenes associated with it, that have come and gone.

When we arrived there in October, 1856, the officer in command was Capt. Wharton of the Sixth United States Infantry. There were two companies of Infantry there then, and two companies of dragoons or cavalry. The fort buildings were built of three classes of material, wood, adobe and prairie sod, while a double row of cottonwood and ash trees lined the drive-way around the parade ground.

These evidences of civilization were what greeted the eye of every delighted beholder as each viewed the scene before him. To one, however, who lived there so many years of his life, the historical place has particularly stirring memories-especially of brave men whose destinies in life fell so far apart in life's affairs by reason of their different and varied sentiments. There were army officers trained in the same school even, and fond companions in garrison and camp life, who would afterwards. meet each other or face each other's shot and shell on opposing battlefields of bloody carnage and destruction. I can see some of those men in memory now as they sat silent and thoughtful in the private room of my post office, listening to the reading of the telegrams just fresh from the stilus of Mr. Ellsworth, our telegraph operator, as he wrote sheet by sheet from the ticking telegraph before us for fort Fort Kearney and the Pony Express, to convey to Denver, Salt Lake, and San Francisco the momentous and alarming news of the firing on Fort Sumpter. These with many men of prominence in public affairs later on in life, whom I have seca or spoken

with, or associated with at old Fort Kearney, all come plainly before me, strangely mixed in this mention of personality,--but who will all be familiar to some of you, by reputation if nothing more. Do you recognize them as I call the roll of men of historic fame or renown? Gen. W. T. Sherman, Gen. Pope, Gen. R. H. Anderson, Gen. Beverly H. Robertson, Gen. Miles, Gen. Ruggles, Gen. Hawkins, Gen. Joe Johnston; Gen. Carrington; Gen. Livingston; Ex-Gov. Alvin Saunders; Lt. Gov. Thos. J. Majors; Gen John M. Thayer; Maj. Lee P. Gillette; Dr. John E. Summers; Dr. Geo. L. Miller; Gen. Harry Heth, Post sutler and interpreter; John Heth; Col. A. J. Dallas; Col. Chas. A. May; Maj. Morris; Maj. McCown; Col. Alexander; Dr. Alexander; Dr. R. B. Grimes, with many others. Besides the individuality, incidents are recalled, to add to its historic fame, such as Indian alarms and Indian demands; the spiking of the cannon to prevent their being sent South; the insult to Gen. Sherman by an enemy, which caused the immediate abandonment of the Fort; together with other incidents that might be recalled.

But enough. We are freighting across the plains and that means motion, so with all needful supplies secured, we gather up the cattle, yoke them, get them hitched to the wagons, and then, with a "Gee Buck" and "Wo-ah, Sandy, Get Up Black and Go Along Brandy," the chains are tautened, and with one more good look at the Fort and its surroundings, we roll along towards our next stopping place and destination, about three hundred and fifty miles further west, Fort Laramie.

By this time the men had all become well disciplined in all the needed requirements of the trip, which was very necessary for its successful accomplishment. It was often the case that a mutinous spirit was developed among men when teamsters and wagon masters did not always work together in harmony. We had a man in command, however, who was in every way capable of filling the responsible position.

It was just as it is on board a ship; each man had to be ready to obey orders at a moment's notice-for in case of a sudden visitation from hostile Indians, quick movements and a singleness of purpose would have been necessarythe wagons quickly parted; the cattle quickly unhitched; a defensive corral formed with the chains; the cattle secured and the loaded guns ready for instantaneous action.

The rules of Alexander Majors, one of the government contractors, were found to be of valuable service with every train that went out on the plains. No swearing or profane language was allowed, and no drinking of strong drink, or gambling under any circumstances. With such requirements faithfully adhered to, the men soon got to be quite orderly and under perfect control, and of course much better fitted to contend with the rough and trying experiences of such a trip.

After leaving Fort Kearney two or three days more found us in camp at Plum Creek, where we had to contend with a snow storm of about two days' and nights' duration. With cattle depending on the grass for their food, and that grass yellow by reason of loss of vitality and the approach of the winter season, it was hard to hold the stock for the beating and blinding storm. But with all the hardship of that storm, I have often thought we were well favored, when compared with a storm that came seven years later at the same place, when every teamster with twelve wagons had to take a storm of flying arrows and bullets from about two hundred Cheyennes, and every one scalped, not a man being left to tell the tale.

But such are some of the incidents connected with early freighting, and the keeping up of the connection of eastern civilization with its little counterparts and representative military settlements in the wilderness of what was down on the maps as the Great American Desert.

In the storm at Plum Creek, we managed to hold our stock, and as soon as the storm was over we were soon

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