History of the Donner Party | Page 7

of the
dear old mother who was spared the sight of the misery in store for her
loved ones. Could those who performed the last sad rites have caught a
vision of the horrors awaiting the party, they would have known how
good was the God who in mercy took her to Himself.
Chapter II.

Mrs. Donner's Letters Life on the Plains An Interesting Sketch The
Outfit Required The Platte River Botanizing Five Hundred and
Eighteen Wagons for California Burning "Buffalo Chips" The Fourth
of July at Fort Laramie Indian Discipline Sioux Attempt to Purchase
Mary Graves George Donner Elected Captain Letter of Stanton
Dissension One Company Split up into Five The Fatal Hastings Cut-off
Lowering Wagons over the Precipice The First View of Great Salt
Lake.

Presenting, as they do, an interesting glimpse of the first portion of the
journey, the following letters are here introduced. They were written by
Mrs. Tamsen Donner, and were published in the Springfield (Illinois)

Journal. Thanks for copies of these letters are due to Mrs. Eliza P.
Houghton of San Jose, Mrs. Donner's youngest daughter. Allusions are
made in these letters to botanical researches. Mrs. Donner, C. T.
Stanton, and perhaps one or two others who were prominent actors in
the later history, were particularly fond of botany. Mrs. Donner made
valuable collections of rare flowers and plants. Her journal, and a full
description of the contents of her botanical portfolios, were to have
been published upon her arrival in California.
Though bearing the same date, the letters here presented were written at
different times. The following appeared in the Springfield Journal, July
23, 1846:
Near the Junction of the North and South Platte, June 16, 1846.
My Old Friend: We are now on the Platte, two hundred miles from Fort
Laramie. Our journey so far has been pleasant, the roads have been
good, and food plentiful. The water for part of the way has been
indifferent, but at no time have our cattle suffered for it. Wood is now
very scarce, but "buffalo chips" are excellent; they kindle quickly and
retain heat surprisingly. We had this morning buffalo steaks broiled
upon them that had the same flavor they would have had upon hickory
coals.
We feel no fear of Indians, our cattle graze quietly around our
encampment unmolested.
Two or three men will go hunting twenty miles from camp; and last
night two of our men lay out in the wilderness rather than ride their
horses after a hard chase.
Indeed, if I do not experience something far worse than I have yet done,
I shall say the trouble is all in getting started. Our wagons have not
needed much repair, and I can not yet tell in what respects they could
be improved. Certain it is, they can not be too strong. Our preparations
for the journey might have been in some respects bettered.
Bread has been the principal article of food in our camp. We laid in 150

pounds of flour and 75 pounds of meat for each individual, and I fear
bread will be scarce. Meat is abundant. Rice and beans are good articles
on the road; cornmeal, too, is acceptable. Linsey dresses are the most
suitable for children. Indeed, if I had one, it would be acceptable. There
is so cool a breeze at all times on the plains that the sun does not feel so
hot as one would suppose.
We are now four hundred and fifty miles from Independence. Our route
at first was rough, and through a timbered country, which appeared to
be fertile. After striking the prairie, we found a first-rate road, and the
only difficulty we have had, has been in crossing the creeks. In that,
however, there has been no danger.
I never could have believed we could have traveled so far with so little
difficulty. The prairie between the Blue and the Platte rivers is beautiful
beyond description. Never have I seen so varied a country, so suitable
for cultivation. Everything was new and pleasing; the Indians
frequently come to see us, and the chiefs of a tribe breakfasted at our
tent this morning. All are so friendly that I can not help feeling
sympathy and friendship for them. But on one sheet what can I say?
Since we have been on the Platte, we have had the river on one side and
the ever varying mounds on the other, and have traveled through the
bottom lands from one to two miles wide, with little or no timber. The
soil is sandy, and last year, on account of the dry season, the emigrants
found grass here scarce. Our cattle are in good order, and when proper
care has been taken, none have been lost. Our milch cows have been of
great