sued; an additional ration of pork was cooked last night. We saw antelope and an eik today; occasionai rain all day; the cold is disagreeable, despite woolen clothes and great coats. It is curious to observe this evening the various modifications of the trench furnaces for cooking mentioned in regulations. There is a very little dry buffalo ordure, most of the men made coffee with the dry stems of last year's weeds found unburnt on the creek bank. I saw one man make a boiler of coffee with the aid of a spade in his air furnace, burning but a single piece of dry wood weighing about half a pound. Fuel could thus be carried on horseback. June 9th. It rained steadily throughout the night and until 10 o'clock this morning. It is so cold that the breath is visible, as in winter, from condensation of moisture. We marched at 7 o'clock, and arrived after a fatiguing day at the Little Arkansas at 5 o'clock. This small stream is probably named from the resemblance of its sandhill bluffs, quick sand bed, etc., to them of the Arkansas River. The horses were unsaddled and grazed about an hour at noon, while some arrangements of teams were made. Three worn out mules in our team from Fort Scott, had to be replaced, two of them were of necessity left on the prairie. Partially wooded sand hills of the Little Arkansas and the Arkansas beyond, were to be seen to our left this afternoon; the prairie is still remarkably flat. We crossed no stream of water; there are but few trees on this creek. I consider the prairie passed for two days, rich land; the seeds of the trees will be borne on the long thin wave of agricultural immigration. Should not dragoons have a leather case to secure the lock and receiver of their carbines from rain? It would have other advantages, or uses. If the government would spend a penny in canvass to make "bell" backs to their cavalry tents it would save a pound in saddles and other equipage; rains and sunshine are injurious to leather. The march, 24 miles; wind N. June 10th. This morning a note from Capt. Boone was discovered at the ford. It is dated yesterday, June 9th, and states that he marched to cross the Arkansas to the buffalo range, and so keep on the crossing. On my part a communication is established, as, if there were a military object, I could communicate with his detachment in a few hours. Capt. Boone must have marched about 11 o'clock from appearances. I arrived six hours later. An officer and eight men were sent ahead at 9 o'clock to hunt. After drying blankets, etc., the Little Arkansas was crossed and the march commenced at 12 o'clock. Marched 10 miles to the S. W. and encamped on a small wooded stream, a branch of the Arkansas River. Its bluffs here present a greater appearance of forest than anywhere seen since losing sight of the Kansas. Mixed with the broken hills of white sand the view is decidedly urban; picturesque and beautiful. My dispensing with the depot of rations at Cotton Wood Fork was founded, in part, upon information, which was incorrect, or, led to the wrong conclusion that I should find buffalo considerably east of this point; then it becomes important that I should reach buffalo, and symptoms of scurvy have been developed in two men. For three reasons I move on in advance of the caravan, on safe ground, intending to stop at Cow Creek, nine miles further, until communication is re-established with them. Lieut. Love has come in and reported that he saw no buffalos; but that about two miles to the south some 200 mounted Indians came charging upon his party, which then displayed a white flag; the Indians then approached in a more friendly manner, they proved to be Kansas, and said they mistook the party for Pawnees (doubtful). They reported their camp to be near; no women or children were seen. Lieut. Love further reports that their first inquiry was about wagons (traders?) I determine to send back a company to meet the traders who should be at the Little Arkansas tomorrow. 1 About 20 Kansas have been in camp; they brought dried buffalo meat and were exceedingly anxious for tobacco. I unluckily have none; but gave them a little pork (in exchange). They are on their return and would likely be impudent to the traders. At dark I have fired off two skyrockets, having previously sent the men to the pickets. The horses were exceedingly alarmed and could scarcely be restrained. The Indians report buffalo two days west. A gentle air from the N. W. today. June 11th. Capt. Moore marched early with Company C for the Little Arkansas. The Kansas passed the creek eastward and stopped not far off. A number come into camp and received permission to trade buffalo meat for tobacco. There are about 100; have been four days on their journey west, and have plenty of meat. I remained in camp on a pretty Savannah rising almost insensibly to a hill, where I have posted two videttes. Sent out an officer and 13 men on a scout this morning. They returned in four hours, saw nothing of interest except fresh buffalo signs and Capt. Boone's camp, a mile to the South; he left it yesterday morning. The Kansas departed at 12 M. is a singular circumstance that none of them saw the rockets which were sent up vertically. An inspection this evening, which is Sunday. I manage to graze all the horses at night within a chain of sentinels, indeed almost within the lines of tents. It occurs to me that dried fruit should be a part of the ration in campaign, or marches like this so common to the western army, where no vegetable food is to be had. At the season when It nature provides man with fruits and vegetables the soldier is suddenly put on an unnatural, unwholesome diet of salt meat and flour. June 12th. Marched nine miles to Cow Creek. We found no buffalo, which I had reason to believe I should have fallen in with four days ago. It is four days since I left the traders, they were halting at 11 o'clock. They should be here tonightat less than 15 miles a day. These unforseen and unusual circumstances have thrown me out a little in my calculations; this is not "dashing over the wide prairies." I have but 15 days' rations of pork and bacon, and the crossing is at least 120 miles further. I find it necessary to go on tomorrow to Walnut Creek, where I have a reasonable expectation of finding buffalo. Capt. Moore is with the caravan; Capt. Boone is on the left flank; protection is complete. We passed several branches today fringed with bush and tree and some groves, all on waters of Cow Creek; which, coming from the north, turns eastward and follows the course of the Arkansas before uniting with it. Many of the trees have been killed, doubtless by the searching fire which followed last hot and dry autumn. The Kansas dried and smoked much of their meat here. The men have found a cache, containing a chest of four pound balls and canisters of grape shot and musket balls; the falling away of the creek bank had exposed it. It was made by an old company of traders. They sometimes brought out a four pound cannon. We find grouse here; the soil is still rich; fish are plenty, as also are moschettos; weather cool, wind high from the South. June 13th. This has been our great day, our first meeting with buffalo. I marched soon after 6 o'clock. Raining a little and we feared a bad day. It, however, soon cleared off. Twelve miles brought us through sandy hillocks into the Arkansas bottoms. An officer and 12 men had been sent somewhat in advance to hunt; two beautiful antelope, a buck and doe, walked across ten paces from the head of the column. I turned out a little to the river between 11 and 12 o'clock, watered and grazed the horses for an hour; while here two buffalo crossed to our side, Dursued by a horseman who fired from the opposite bank. I believe it was a man of Capt. Boone's command. Marching or the buffalo thickened, running hither and thither, between the hunting parties in the hills and some small parties of officers and men who advanced from the column. About 12 were killed, six were brought in; a seasonable supply.. The last pork issued was out last night, but I would let no more be issued. In the afternoon a Sergeant of Co. K came to me from Capt. Boone who sent word he would join me in the evening if he could, but Lieut. A. R. Johnston had this morning most unfortunately (and to our extreme regret) wounded himself through the foot, and with a very large ball. Encampment between 3 and 4 o'clock on Walnut Creek. Capt. Boone's tents on the other side of Arkansas are visible. It has been a day of extreme excitement--probably to all the command; many buffalo approaching that were tired with running. I could indulge quite a number in a short chase; at least 30 have been wounded. The soil here is pretty good, more sandy. but few trees on the river and creek. This morning we marched through a village of "prairie dogs," of perhaps 100 acres; this animal I think a distinct genus. Marched 22 miles; weather pleasant, wind N. E. June 14th. Capt. Boone and Lieut Buford came over this morning. The Captain, from the information of his Osage guide. supposed he was at or near the "crossing;" it is still at least 100 miles. He has 80 or 90 men of D. E. and H. Companies: some Osages who encamped with him lately stole eight or ten horses and mules, making him believe for a time, by most consummate acting, that it had been done by wild Indians. The Captain met another set afterward, whom he thought implicated and retaliated, despoiling them of their arms-but did not replace his horses. Capt. Boone determines to ascend the Arkansas, little or no further. Mr. C. Bent arrived this morning from "Bents' Fort". He has 14 well laden wagons with ox and mule teams; the first he prefers. He is taking in cattle, raised at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, to a Missouri farmer. Mr. Bent says that no Mexicans had arrived at the Arkansas ten days ago. His brother left Santa Fe about 20th of April, and that Governor Armijo (who owns a large share of the merchandise) and 600 men were to march the 3d of May. Capt. Boone informed me that after the council on the Brazos (attended by Gov. Butler, Ind. Com.), K. Lewis, an intelligent white naturalized among the Creeks, remaining behind some days, brought information a few days before he marched that 300 Texans had met there to come and waylay the caravan : and that a "Col." Ryburn was so posted by the commanding officer of Fort Washitan to be raising in that vicinity a force for the same purpose (this he wrote to Gen. Taylor, who forwarded a copy to Capt. Boone.) It is possible these land pirates may have defeated Armijo. June 15th. Early last night we were visited by a storm of rain, wind and hail of extraordinary violence; very soon nearly every tent was prostrate. The lightning illuminated the night with the light of day. Br. Brant informs me that three men, two white, have lately been killed on the Pawnee Fork, about 30 miles to the west; they are supposed to have been a party from Missouri on a |