Westward Ho!

May 1^st, 1858

Dear Diary,                  

I am scared because dangerous animals can attack the wagon or someone can get killed in the family.  I still want to go because I want a new life with new friends.

May 2^nd, 1858

Dear Diary,

We had to decide to climb up or not to climb up and we decided that we were not going to climb the mountain. We are going to stay on the trail, because if we did climb up someone could get lost and we don’t want that.

Aug 8^th 1858

Dear Diary,

We need to buy four new oxen so they can pull our wagon. That’s why we’re all going to find work, so we can make money to buy the four oxen.

Aug 9^th 1858

Dear Diary,

Today we found out that the Indians at Massacre Rock are ready to attack us. We are going to send out our Captain Featherhead and Mr. Honeyman to talk to the Indians and see if we can cross the river without fighting with them.

Aug 10^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

 The Captain went and talked to the Indians. It took two days for them to listen, but at the end of the second day we could cross the river.

Sep 9^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

I didn’t know about the hot springs so I got burned by them. But now that I know about the hot springs, I learned that  they are hot sometimes so you shouldn’t get too near them.

Sep 25^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

As we cross the river our plan is to stop at each small flat land spot and take care of everyone and everything.

Sep 30^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

We crossed the Snake River so I feel really good because I didn’t like that Snake River. I hope that we can get to Oregon soon.  When we get through the Indians and we get through the Snake River, life will be easier. It is starting to be cold outside. I feel that I am safe.  I have my mama and I have my daddy. The only thing that bothers me is my big sister, Abby (I can’t get a turkey because she has a horse.)

Oct 1^st, 1858

Dear Diary, 

We didn’t cover our wagon together with someone else’s wagon. We had trouble getting across the river. We got through it because our friends helped us. When we left the Snake River I said goodbye to the old place and I’m ready to start my new life.

Oct 3^rd, 1858

Dear Diary, Plan:

Our plan is to lock the wheels on the wagon, and the other plan is to bind a rope and sort of pull the wagon down slowly this steep trail.

Oct 5^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

Our plan worked, so we came down safely from the steep mountains. But there were two wagons that couldn’t do it. Their wagon was okay but two oxen died. So when we got ours  down, we were at Ladd County and it is really beautiful here. Now I’m really looking forward to seeing Oregon. The only thing I know about Oregon is that it is big and I really, really want to know more about it.

Oct 12^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

We are at Whitman Mission in Walla, Walla Washington.  We have traveled 1,709 miles and we are almost out of food.

Oct 15^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

Now we are going on the canoe. It worked but we have to send out two scouts. They are Sam McMilllen and Daniel Honeyman. My dad (George Whitman) really wanted to go but mama said no! My dad is now really mad at mama.

Oct 27^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

We never heard from the two scouts again. We think they were killed but we hope not. Everyone else came to Oregon.

Oct 28^th, 1858

Dear Diary,

I am really happy that we finally made it to Oregon. Oregon is better then I thought.  It is like a dream come true. The best thing about it is that I got a turkey and his name is Mini-Morgan… 

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Last Updated: 08/28/04