I really enjoy old newspapers. I like the immediacy of the reporting. Here's an excerpt from a letter that was printed in the Liberty (Missouri) Weekly Tribune on June 8, 1849. The letter was from J.M. Hixson and was dated May 20, 1849. Mr. Hixson was a member of a wagon train that was heading west. He was part of a hopeful horde.
These accessible .pdfs of fragile old newspapers are such a gift to us today. Here's a goldmine of Web resources.
... We traveled about 50 miles up the Little Blue, and struck across the plains to the Platte – it being 21 miles. On Friday night had a very severe storm of thunder and rain. This was a bitter night for standing ground. We nooned on the Platte. The Lexington company stopped near us. In a few minutes after we stopped, the alarm of Indians was given – our mules were soon secured to the wheels of our wagons, and guns in hand we marched out in front of our wagons for battle. The two companies of us numbered 54 men, and we expected rare sport. But on looking down the prairie we discovered the whole bottom lined with them – about 1000. The advance party came up full speed to Capt. Brown’s company, when two men without orders fired on them, but fortunately did no damage. The Indians immediately retreated back to the main body. In the meantime there was a white man came up and said they were Sioux, and had been out to fight the Pawnees, and were friendly to the whites. We sent a couple of men out to meet them, and made them several presents of provisions, and they departed apparently satisfied; though doubtless, if those shots had taken effect, we would [have] had trouble. We were in the heart of the Pawnee country, and had just heard of their having killed two men and robbing 5 wagons – and 54 men against 1000 was right fearful odds – but our little party appeared perfectly calm.
We are now encamped six miles below Fort Childs. This is the first day we have laid by since we started. We have remodeled our loads, taking 180 days provisions, leaving about 400 pounds Bacon and the same amount of Flour from the wagons. We can only get 2 cents for Bacon at the Fort, and the same for Flour. There will be thousands of pounds of provisions thrown away on the plains, as emigrants are generally mistaken about the amount their teams can haul. I do not see how such a mass are to get along when they get there, without provisions; but all are anxious to get there first, and are pushing their teams, as it is impossible for them to take heavy loads. We are trying to keep with the first company thro’. There are about 800 teams ahead; but we think by the time we get to Fort Laramie we will overhaul a good portion of them.
It is time to stand guard, and I must close. I will keep you regularly informed of everything of interest that transpires on the route hereafter.