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Show TO FORT SEDGWICK. 17 for the Quartermaster, which was the only death that oc curred during our three months' journey, save several from an accident to which I shall hereafter refer. We buried the poor man at our next camping ground, and the plain cedar head- board of his grave now stands, another sad spec tacle to the passing emigrant. His wife and several child ren continued a mournful journey along with us to Salt Lake City, whither the husband and father was going to reside. The Platte river is formed by the confluence of two streams the North and South Platte, which takes place a few miles west of the mouth of Cottonwood. Our jour ney then lay along the South Platte. Some change in char acter of the country and scenery, was to be observed. The disappearance of the range of hills on the south, and the valley merging into the broad prairie, gave it rather a different aspect. About ten miles west of Fort McPherson is Jack Morrow's Ranche, one of the largest on the plains. It was the latter part of May when we journeyed along the Platte. The new grass which had not appeared on the prairies of Kansas, had here sufficiently matured to afford excellent pasturage for our animals. It was desirable that the column should make an early start, and it moved from Leavenworth before there was grass on the prairies for the mules. They had been fed on hay, purchased at the ranches along the route, and in some instances at enormously high prices ; but here there was no need of hay, and as soon as the train was parked, the mules were all turned out to graze. This was my first march with a mule- train, and I observed much in the habits of that animal that surprised me. In the first place, I was surprised to see how easily a large herd of them can be controlled. Three or four herders would have no difficulty in keeping together as many hundred mules. They were allowed to graze only during the day, and at night when they were to be tied up to their wagons, they were brought in without the least dif ficulty. The wagon- master would take out a little grey horse, fasten a bell to his neck, and start from the herd 2* |