Letter from the Indian Expedition-1865

GRAVES, DODD, SMITH, JONES, HUGHES, MOBLEY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 6/21/2016 at 09:21:59

Dubuque Herald, Sept. 4, 1866

Letter from the Indian Expedition.

We are permitted to make extracts from a letter received by Gen. Jones from his son, W, A. B. Jones, one of the party with J. F. Graves, of this city, on an Indian expedition. It contains the latest information from the expedition.
Fort Zarah, Kansas, Dec. 21, 1865

My Dear Father: I have thought of writing you for some days, but have each time deferred it. Two weeks ago our train, consisting of 24 men, 17 wagons and 160 head of cattle,reached this point in a snow storm, since which time we have experienced very cold weather. Out train has laid up for the winter, and Col. Dodd (Indian Agent) , who was 250 miles in advance of us with Mr. Graves is expected back to pay off all the hands, and I presume send them to the Missouri River. Mr. Fellow, W. Smith, and James Hughes accompanied Messrs. Graves and Dodd. I have concluded to accompany a man by the name of Smith (Government Interpreter and Indian Trader), who goes south and west of here about 100 miles to trade with the Cheyenne, Comanche, Iowans and other tribes, and will be gone from here two or three months. Mr. Smith has six wagons below here loaded with goods, out of which he will realize $60,000 worth of buffalo robes. He asked our wagon master to recommend two honest, sober men to him from our train, and he named myself and another man. Unless I am prevented in some way, I shall certainly go. I have not seen Mr. Smith to speak to him but will see him on tomorrow. He knows you and mother. He is a very good man and I am glad to have the opportunity to go with him.

The snow is one half foot deep above here, and the cattle belonging to three or more trains within 40 miles, amounting to 400 or 500 head, have frozen to death. The men are straggling along trying to reach the Missouri River. We are fortunate not to have got farther, as beyond this there is deep snow, and no timber.

Ed. Mobley is here, looks blue, and will no doubt go home. The fort is occupied by two companies of regulars, domiciled in huts dug into the banks of Walnut Creek, which empties into the Arkansas River one and a half miles below this point. We have plenty of buffalo meat and they are in sight at all times.