g anxious to get
along. We shall probably overtake them at St. Laring, which is about
ninety miles from this place. The weather is pleasant and warm with a
fair chance for grass. Fuller and J. Ingalls undertook to go to Court
House Rock this afternoon, which looks to be but a few miles from us,
but after traveling about twelve miles they thought it looked quite as
far as when they started, and they turned back; they got into the camp
about eleven o'clock at night.

3d. Drove twenty-five miles, and passed the Chimney Rock. We camped
about two miles back from the river on the bottom, and about four miles
from a large bluff resembling the fortification which we named Fort
Whitey, from its white appearance. Several of the boys went out on a
wild goose chase to the bluffs for wood, there being a few straggling
cedars in sight which appeared to be not over two miles distant; they
started about four P.M. and got back at ten o'clock at night pretty
well fatigued, with no fuel, being unable to reach the cedars.

25 miles.

4th. Had a heavy rain last night, and got a late start, but drove
thirty miles and caught up with the rest of our company who left us on
Sunday. We passed Robadove's trading post, at Scott's bluffs and camped
about two miles from it at a spring of clear cold water gushing out of
a rock.--This ought to be called the Rock of Horeb, situated as it is
in a desert land. Our road to-day led back from the river and we have
had a scarcity of water for our horses.

We have had a dry, hot day, with great scarcity of grass. The country
is getting more barren. Found an indifferent camping ground.

25 miles.

6th. Passed another French trading post to-day with its usual
accompaniment of Indian wigwams. Litwiler swapped horses with an old
Indian who took a fancy to his horse because it was white, and his
squaw wanted it, he said. We reached Fort Laramie about four o'clock,
P.M., forded the Laramie river, and camped about two miles from the
fort on the bluff, the authorities at the Fort prohibiting emigrants
from camping in the valley.

26 miles.

7th. Remained this day at the camping ground to write home, there being
a post office at the Fort. There are a great many wagons left at this
point by many taking to packing. Thousands of dollars worth of property
being thrown away, but anything we wish to buy, we have to pay double
price for. Fort Laramie is situated at the junction of the Laramie and
Platte river