Transcript

June 22 1847, over 1500 other pioneers started out from the Elkhorn with the intention of remaining all winter and, if possible, raising crops of grain, etc for themselves and those that were to follow. In this latter company Mr. Taylor drove a four ox team from the Missouri to this valley and speaks of his first impressions of that mode of travel as being very pleasant. His head was filled with romantic ideas concerning the noble red man, as portrayed by James Fennimore Cooper, ….stories and he was anxious to participate in some adventures with them. On closer acquaintance he found them an interesting people. They often spent days in the camp trading with the emigrants and seemed to look upon them with favor. They were a picturesque set belonging mainly to the Sioux, Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes who were at that time a wealthy and independent race, clad in bright new costumes of buckskin abounding in graceful fringes, magnificently beaded and decorated with vermillion and porcupine quills, while their robes were of the finest buffalo, and their head-dresses of eagle feathers.

As they pursued their journey the hills became black with herds of buffalo as far as the eye could reach. One evening just after camping on the north side of the Platte, one of these enormous herds commenced fording across directly opposite the camp. There was danger then that the buffaloes would trample the train into kindling wood. It was growing dark, they could not be seen, but the rush of the water and the bellowing of the bulls made a combined roar that was simply terrific. Fires were hastily built, the people shouted, the dogs barked <and> guns were fired in order to divert <them> from their course, but all this <was> nothing in comparison to the roar of the buffaloes. They could not stop or turn aside because of the pressure of the immense throng in the rear. Fortunately the current of the river carried them just below the camp and the impending danger passed.

Hunters were <duly> appointed to kill game for the companies, and were told to kill only such <a> number as were needed by the people. and did not slaughter many simply for sport. It took three yoke of good cattle to drag one of these large buffaloes into camp after he was killed. During the journey Mr. Taylor made <several> sketches of Scotts Bluffs and other prominent points by means of a camera obscura.

Drove into the valley Oct. 6^th 1847, and camped just south of what is called the "Pioneer Square".