Soldier Creek, two miles from Kansas Landing until we first organized and elected Peter Burnett captain and myself orderly sergeant.[1] Moved about five miles and encamped on the banks of the Kansas River, in a square. My duty required me to take the names of men for duty. They numbered 254. The number of wagons was 111.
Friday, June 9.—We moved from the wet encampment about two miles, and encamped about noon at a small grove of timber south of the trail. The weather cleared up about noon. We divided our company into four divisions and elected a captain and orderly sergeant for each. Sergeant Ford on guard.
Saturday, June 10,—Left the encampment about 8:00 o'clock. I went on with the advance guard. About 11:00 o'clock came up to where a dead Indian lay on the prairie, with his head cut off and his body much mutilated. Supposed to have been done by the late Kansas war party against the Pawnees. We picked up some arrows on the ground. Traveled about ten miles and encamped at a grove on the North side of the trail. All prairie to-day. The weather fine and the roads wet and soft. Sergeant Gilmore on guard.
Sunday, June 11.—Left camp about 8:00 o'clock. Weather fine. I traveled in advance with the pilot and advance guard. Time passed agreeably. Company moved on well, considering the soft condition of the ground. Passed the California wagons about 1:00 o'clock. Saw but little timber on the trail, but some in sight on the South side of Blue River, which we have been traveling up for four days, leaving the main fork from two to four miles on our left hand. Camped at night on the West side of Horse Creek, after a day's travel of fourteen miles. Rained in the evening. Had
- ↑ In his "Recollections of an Old Pioneer," published in The Quarterly for March, 1904, Mr. Peter H. Burnett gives the date of this election as being June 1. Reference to page 68 of the March, 1904, Quarterly will also furnish a short account of the happenings on the days omitted by Mr. Nesmith.
