A postal researcher recently shared this very old and
rare letter with us from an emigrant on the trail through
South Pass in 1849.
We 've left the spelling as he wrote
it:
Orrigon Pacific Springs
July 27th 1849
To My Dear Wife. Mary- and all my family-
Greeting,
Here I am in Mr. Switzer's tent, writing. Three miles west
of the great south pass of the Rocky Mountains, 20 miles
south of Fremont's peak, which is covered with snow. I have
eaten snow this day brought to me by Sam from Sweetwater
river just above where I crossed said stream. I have just
drank tea made from the waters that run west. I am in Oregon
country and within 25 miles of California territory. I
expect to be at Salt Lake by the 15th of August. I am well
and hearty, can walk from 20 to 25 miles per day, sleep on a
board, and go without many comforts which I thought as home
were indispensable to life. My hopes are strong of being at
Sutter's Fort in California by the first day of October, a
new route having been opened by the Mormons, which makes the
distance 150 miles less, and brings the sandy desert in the
basin down from 75 miles to 17, where we cross the western
rim of the basin.
He is probably calling Wind River
Peak Fremont Peak - many maps weren't very accurate in those
days, and once across the pass, he was in Oregon Territory
If you would like to share information about Fremont County please feel free to contact me: Rebecca Maloney
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