Transcript

From the Salt Lake Express Mail Company.
ROCKY MOUNTAINS, 70 Miles west of Fort Laramie, July 28th 1850.

DEAR EDITOTS [EDITORS]:--Here we are encamped among the Red Hills so called, the earth nearly red as pains, caused by calcination this being the crater of some vast eruption; and we find the peaks, hills and rocks, thrown into admirable confusion by a tremendous effort of nature.

We have been three days from the Fort, and have had almost constant rain, at least once in twenty-four hours if not all the time, which makes the road very heavy.

Yesterday the weather was exceedingly cold, inasmuch, that a good overcoat and mittens felt well; some hard showers yesterday, and all last night. Yesterday we passed Thomas Johnson's company of fifty wagons, all in good health and teams in good order--left them five miles at the Le-Bonte. Grass was very scarce all day. We left Bishop Johnson's company on the 24th, near the Fort, in fine health and spirits, and teams in good order rolling along fast; and the companies behind are in like good condition and health. We are daily passing tons of Iron strewed all along the road; wagons, carriages, harnesses, saddles, trunks, chests, kegs,--every thing burnt, and the iron strewing on the plains 'tis really a sickening sight. For curiosity we throwed together in a pile, when it was near, and there was more then a wagon load, besides the tire that lie around in every direction.

Friday forenoon we passed a country beautifully sprinkled over with pins; timber to-day has been scarce--only in the creeks, and that is willow. Fort Laramie is a very pretty and a growing place; with a store at hand as well filled as any you can find in the States.

A number of deserters from the Fort were re-captured on Horse Creek, and we met them coming back the next morning. Our captain brought one into camp and gave him food on condition of his returning to the Fort; he said he had eaten nothing for three days, and we learn that there are more still ahead, but pursued. We saw a fine Buffalo yesterday, but did not succeed in capturing him. We have seen no Indians but a few in a village near the Fort; nor do we expect to see any soon.

I must close, an opportunity offers for sending this back. More Anon.
AMICUS.