Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/96

86 that ends in the mountains. The distance is said by the hunters to be from one to two thousand miles (but doubtless these estimates are much exaggerated). The inhabitants of this region know more of the mountains and Santa Fe than of New York or New England. Our party goes with one of sixty men (Mr. William Sublette, our captain, is a well known trader,) to the headwaters of the Lewis River. He is the best guide of the country.

The narrative is again taken from Mr. Ball's journal:

We found that William Sublette and his men were encamped near Independence, Missouri. He readily consented to our joining his men; we must be under his full command and take our share in guarding camp and in defending in case of an attack by the Indians. Here we purchased more horses, having bought a few at Lexington to carry our baggage. Here a Mr. Campbell and his party also joined Mr. Sublette's party, making in all a party of eighty men and three hundred horses. Captain Wyeth's party consisted of twenty-five men. We took with us fifteen sheep and two yoke of oxen. Each man was to have charge of three horses, two packs and one to ride. We also took some extra horses in case some were stolen or worn out.

We were kept in strict military order, and marched double file. Those first ready took their places next to the commander. We always camped in the form of a hollow square, making a river or stream the fourth side. The horses were hobbled (fore feet tied) and turned out of camp to feed. When brought into camp at night they were left hobbled, and were tied to stakes driven close to the ground, giving each horse as much room as could be spared him within the square. The watch changed every four hours. If found asleep, the watch was obliged to walk the next day for punishment. Captain Sublette's camp calls were as follows: "Catch up; catch up," which was at sunset. Then each man brought his horses into camp. At dawn the call was "Turn out; turn out," and then horses were turned out of camp to feed, while we breakfasted. Then the horses were saddled and packed. At noon a stop was always made for half an hour. The horses were unpacked to rest them, each horse carried one hundred and eighty pounds. Not being able to trot with this load, they soon formed the habit of walking fast.

There was so little dew or rain that we did not need our tents, so we slept on the ground wrapped in our blankets, our saddles for pillows. I always wrapped myself first in my camlet cloak, pulling the cape over my head to shut off the wind or moon. This was our camp routine until we reached the Rocky Mountains.

May 12—Left Independence, traveling west on the Santa Fe road. The fifteenth we left Santa Fe trail, going northwest to the Kansas