Transcript
Transcript for Shadrach Roundy journal, 1850 June-September
[June] 27 Passed 7 Graves[.] Roads Good[.] plenty of feed but no wood or water fit to drink[.] plenty of Slough Water for Cattle
28 Heavy Rain[.] Roads Bad[.] Met 2 Teams from Valley[.] passed one Grave. No Wood or Water[.] another Death[.] a Daughter of W[illia]ms Camp
29 Roads bad. More Rain[.] Met Kearney Mail. Lost 6 head of Horses belonging to Motts Camped at a Slue[.] Water bad and no Wood
30 Drove to Fairview in Sight of the Platte and Laid up[.] The Valley Mail came in Camp at noon and Stopt untill next day[.] here we found good water[.] Plenty of Wood and fine feed for our Cattle[.] after leaving Weeping Water Untill we Struck this Creek we found no Water fit for drinking but abundance of Slough Water in almost every ravine and plenty of good feed. but no Wood
July 1st 1850
Roads Bad[.] Several Wet Swamps to cross[.] passed one Grave[.] Bad Water[.] No Wood. 2 carrells [corrals.] this night the Mott crowd in by themselves
2nd Passed a Number of Bad Sloughs[.] Broke axletree of [David Henry] Becks Waggon[.] passed 6 Graves[.] drove on to Cotton Wood point on Platte and Camped[.] found plenty of Fuel[,] Water[,] and feed and saw 3 Graves here
3 Roads good[.] camped at River[.] no Wood[.] Passed 5 Graves
4 Crossed Bluffs. Fight between [Ca.fs] and his driver[.] drove about 23 Miles[.] The Weather being very warm some of the ox Teams failed in getting to camp. Stopt some 5 Miles in the rear[.] 4 Graves this day[.] Camped near River. no Wood
5 Laid up untill Balance of Train arrived then drove about 15 Miles To a Number of Bad Sloughs.
July 15 Met Government Train of 4 Waggons[.] passed 13 Graves[.] saw Fields of Buffalos[.] Camped on Bluff near lower Crossing of South Fork. Motts lost fine Horse by running Buffalos and found a man 3 miles off the road in a Starving Condition
16 Detained on account of Cattle Straying[.] Saw Thousands of Buffalo[.] passed 10 Graves[.] camped at River[.] no Wood[.] a good Spring 100 to the left of Road
17 Passed 17 Graves[.] The Mail from Counsel [Council] Bluff nooned with us[.] Roads Firstrate [.] Camped 1 Mile from Road near River
18 Drove to Upper Crossing of the South Fork. difficulty in crossing on account of Quick Sand[.] Passed 14 Graves. feed good
[----]
July 19 1850
Crossed the River and camped on the other side also Walls 50
20 Drove to Ash Hollow[.] Roads Hilly[.] one Very Steep[.] desend [desent] near the Hollow. Plenty of good Springs here. Wood but no feed. 11 Graves
21 Drove 2 Miles to feed &Laid up[.] passed 5 Graves
22 Passed 12 Graves[.] the Roads Sandy and very heavy[.] Camped at River[.] no Wood[.] feed good
23 Heavy Sand all day[.] Passed 19 Graves[.] Camped on river[.] no Wood
24 Camped 3/4 Mile from road near River & in Sight of Chimney Rock and opposite Ancient Ruin Bluffs[.] Good Spring here and a number along the road[.] passed 14 Graves
25 Passed 14 Graves[.] Camped at River near Chimney Rock
26 Nooned at Chimney Rock then drove to foot of Scotts Bluff[.] passed 12 Graves[.] Camped near Bennets 50
27 Rain[.] Laid over
28 Drove to Trading point[.] passed 6 Graves[.] Feed Scarce. Bennets 50[.] Walls 50. Oregon Packers & Horse Teams for the Mines all camped here[.] No feed or Water for Stock
29 Drove 2 Miles[.] Round Bluff to good Camp ground[.] 6 Graves.
30 Drove 20 Miles[.] Camped near River[.] good Feed[.] passed 6 Graves[.] only 8 Teams[.] Ballance of Train withdrew and went ahead
31 Passed 17 Graves[.] Camped within 10 Miles of Fort Laramie[.] met a Return Gover[n]ment Train[.] Feed Good[.] Plenty of Wood
August 1st 1850
Crossed Larimie [Laramie] Fork at Noon[.] Passed 15 Graves. also Bennets 50 and Balance of our Train[.] Camp[ed] 3 Miles ahead of them beyond the Steep desend [descent] of hill[.] one more Team left this day (the widow [sic]
2 Crossed Some Steep Hills[.] passed 3 Graves[.] Camped at Dead Timber Creek in Company with Sessions 50
3 ["error" is written in the margin] Laid up 3/4 of the Day on acc[oun]t of [David Henry] Beck[']s Cow Straying[.] drove 5 Miles to [sentence unfinished]
3 Drove to Horse Creek[.] Road heavy[.] Good Spring here[.] feed Tolerable
4 Laid up 3/4 of the day[.] Lost Cow by Running back[.] drove 5 Miles over Big Hill and Camped at 1st Creek[.] feed good and some Water[.] Passed 5 Graves
5 Drove to La Bonte[.] passed 3 Graves and camped 2 1/2 Miles up Creek in Co[mpany] with Stewards Team of 5 Waggons & Col Reese
6 Drove to A La Prele[.] Passed littles Train. Broke Waggon of Griffeths on Red Sand[.] plenty of Wood & Water[.] feed Scarce
7 Drove 8 Miles to Fourch[e] Bois[e] passed 4 Graves Wood[,] water[,] & grass plenty
8 Drove 3 Miles beyond Deer Creek[.] passed 3 Graves[.] plenty of feed[.] [David Burlock] Lamoreaux left ox this day
9 Drove 12 Miles[.] good feed and plenty of Wood and water near deep gulph [gulf]
10 Laid up[.] ox Died for Lamoreaux
11 Came on to Upper Platte ferry[.] crossed river and Camped on opposite side[.] 3 Graves feed Scarce[.] destruction of Property here by gold diggers Tremendious
Aug 12th 1850
Drove 12 Miles on new Road and Camped on Platte River for the last time[.] Roads hilly and very sandy[.] feed fine
13 Camped at Willow Springs[.] 1 Grave here[.] no feed[.] Met Gover[n]ment men Fort Hall
14 Drove to Greace [Grease] Wood[.] Met Express from Valley[.] passed 2 Graves[.] food good & plenty of sage
15 Camped at Independence Rock[.] Roads sandy and very heavy[.] feed Tolerable[.] no Wood[.] quite a number of dead cattle on the road
16 Drove 3 Miles beyond Devils Gate[.] passed 6 Graves[.] feed excellent
17 Drove 13/4 Miles beyond Sage Creek[.] passed 4 Graves[.] Boys left [David Henry] Beck[.] wood and water[.] no grass of any acct[.] Road heavy and very Sandy[.] crossed Sweet Water twice this day
18th Laid up[.] Cold Rain Storm
19th Still Storming.
20 Drove to Rocky Ridges[.] passed 2 Graves[.] Roads very bad[.] feed tolerable good
21 Killed 2 Buffalos[.] Laid up and dried Meat
22 Same
23 Drove to Ford No 4[.] Lamb part of Johnsons Co Joined in[.] feed good[.] Met Cattle from Valley for littles Train
24 Camped at Ford No 5 passed number of Dead Cattle[,] Ice Spring &1 Grave[.] feed poor
25 Drove 10 Miles to Where road leaves River [.] passed one Grave[.] feed Scarce
26 Crossed Rocky Ridges Road[.] after that good[.] Camped on Willow Creek[.] passed 2 Graves[.] feed good
27 Drove to Pacific Springs[.] passed 7 Graves[.] feed good
Aug 28th 1850
Drove 10 Miles on New Road to avoid to[o] Sandy[']s[.] found feed good &[.] Water plenty
29 Drove 8 Miles by noon to 3rd Creek[.] from here no more Water for 24 Miles when you Strike big Sandy[.] Road good[.] Drove 6 Miles further & Camped
30 Started at 1 oclock and drove to Big Sandy by 9 & Laid by untill 3 and came on 1 Mile beyond the Bend
31 Drove to green River by noon[.] feed here excellent[.] Difficult crossing[.] Water very high[.] Came on to Where Road leaves River and Camped in Company with Thomas Johnson'[s] 50[.] Plenty of Timber and Water but feed Scarce[.] 3 Graves
September 1st 1850
Drove on to Hams Fork and found excellent feed[.] one Grave
2 Camped 1 Mile beyond 4 Crossing of Blacks Fork[.] feed fine
3 Drove to Fort Bridger. Stewards Train here[.] feed good[.] 2 Graves
4 Drove to Soda Springs[.] Met help for Lamoreaux[.] feed good[.] Met Capt Stansbury this day[.] passed 4 Graves
5 Met I [Shadrach] Roundy near Summit of High Ridge[.] drove to Bear River[.] found feed good
6 Drove to Deep Rivine [ravine.] feed good
7 Camped near Red fork of Weber[.] 4 Graves[.] feed pretty good
8 Kanyon [Canyon] Creek Roads bad but plenty of Feed
9 Summit of 2nd Mountain[.] no feed
10 Nooned between the 2 Mountains and Camped in the City of the Great Salt Lake
Distances from Bethleham [Bethlehem] to Government Roadgood place to camp all along 30Weeping Water (good Spring) 10 40Salt Creek no water to [dr...] 10 50Spring Creek on Platte Bottoms 60 110Cotton Wood point on River 34 144Fort Kearney 86 230River 12 242Plumb Creek 18 260South Fork 1st Crossing 63 323Upper Crossing 47 370Ash Hollow 18 388Chimney Rock 66 454Scotts Bluffs 8 462Trading point 13 475River 20 495Foot of Bluffs 20 515Fort Larimie [Laramie] 10 525
See Claytons guide for further Particulars.