March
18, 1858
Dear Journal,
Howdy. I am Robert William McMillen, and I am a twenty-six year old man heading
out with my brother, wife, and sister-in-law to the Willamette Valley, in
Oregon. I am heading out for more farmland, because I'm a farmer. I also want a little
bit of adventure, like the old days when I was a kid, trading with the Indians
with my brother, Samuel Conner McMillen, my mother, Abigail Maria McMillen, and
my Pa, Agustus Joseph McMillen. I'm also heading out because our uncle, Ronald
William McMillen, who is a bandit, is getting out of jail soon. I don't want no
bandits hanging around my land and Samuel's. Especially Sam's, because he's a
doctor, and he's got a lot of cash. I'm gonna miss my best friend, Joseph Amos
Stowne, and my favorite pig, Buttercup. Buttercup is my lucky pig. I never did
anything without her, and she never turned me in the wrong direction, not
counting a couple of not so critical situations. Unfortunately, she couldn't
come because she's so old and fat. I'm leaving her and my other cattle with my
wife Christine's parents. And I sure am glad I'm takin' my gun. If you ask me
and a couple of deer on my land, I ain't too bad with a rifle. That's why I ain't
so afraid of Indians and bandits. Now it's DISEASES I'm scared about. I don't
want me or none of my family buying the farm thanks to cholera an' all those
other "viruses", one of my brother's fancy words. And after it all, I'm
gonna settle down with my wife, get some cheap land, an' start a new life in the
beautiful paradise known as Oregon.
Robert
March 19, 1858
Dear Journal,
It's been quite a few days since we got here from Boston. I earned $100 for working in Independence. 'Course it ain't no
matter, since we so rich and all.
2,000 dollars is quite a lot, if you ask me. Though the amount of money in our
pockets ain't remindin' Sam that he won't have the good life, like he did in
Boston, over in Oregon. Oh well, he'll find out soon 'nough.
May 1, 1858
Dear Journal,
Our family has earned $50 for working in Independence. We've bought
everything we need and we decided we don't need more oxen than what I've
brought. I've begun to regret leaving but there is no turning back now. But we
don't have any drinking water and we're about to leave! So, we've decided to
fill our kegs with water here. Unfortunately we accidentally filled the kegs
with contaminated water and we had to dump it out. Now we have to postpone our
trip 'til we find more water. We are going to put water in the kegs and boil it
so we can kill the virus. We hope this will work. Today we also signed a
contract proclaiming Captain Robbin's leadership.
May 2, 1858
Dear Journal,
Today the rain is pouring down but that is the least of our worries. We have to
cross the Blue River! Luckily we have made it across. Yet, it was a tough
struggle. Now all we have to do is just keep going.
July 12, 1858
Dear Journal,
Our train has reached Register cliff. Lucy wants our child Frank to come with
her to Register Cliff but he is not going to go because we don't want him to get
hurt. Lucy was discouraged but at least we are keeping our child safe.
July 13, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are 12 miles west of Douglas, Wyoming and there is a large natural bridge a
ways off the trail. The way is rough and we don't want to get lost so we're not
going to try it. Those who went had a lifetime experience and got lots of
berries. I'm regretting not going but there is no changing that now.
July 17, 1858
Dear Journal,
We have reached Renshaw's Bridge. Torrential thunder storms clash over our
heads. We're going to pay the toll to cross because we don't want to wait for
the storm to pass. We might lose valuable time.
July 23, 1858
Dear Journal,
Today we reached Fort Laramie, an island of paradise. I took a bath, put on my
Sunday best and headed out for a stroll around the fort. I found some good
information on the billboard for us. It said
"Attention! Next spring infected with Cholera. If in need of fresh water,
go north to find fresh spring."
I told my folks and then I went outside and spent time with the Indians. They
ain't so nasty as I heard and them moccasins are mighty comfy. I saw Ben Smith
buying some clothes for his and Christine's new baby, Madison America Smith. For
some reason, Louise won't let me near the young'n. The night before, we camped
near Muddy Waters, a poisonous spring. Luckily, none of our animals got at the
water. We trapped all the animals in a fence made by the wagons. We found out
that some insects got in our flour supply, so we had to get 50 more lbs. So far
I'm feelin' perty good about the whole thing, but I still can't wait till' I get
to my farm.
July 28, 1858
Dear Journal,
We have reached Devil's Gate. It is so narrow that we have to go in single file.
Buffalo are stampeding. In his haste to get to his wagon, George broke his leg.
Mr. Honeyman tried to shoot the buffalo. But, he is such a bad shot he missed
every shot. Our livestock scattered but we gathered them back together and we
are OK. Luckily, I shot a buffalo.
July 30, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are now at Sweetwater Station. Today we reached another curiosity. There is
supposed to be ice here in summer. We don't want to dig for the ice, but Captain
Robbins disagrees and says women should stay with the stock and others should go
dig. I have been selected to dig for the ice. I disagree with his idea but I am
itching for some adventure. Much to our pleasure we found cool, sweet ice.
July 31, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are in the Rocky Mountains. Our ascent was not so bad but our decent is very
steep. The water is going quite fast. Are we going across that water? I hope
not. Unfortunately, while we were heading down our wagon wheel snapped. Our
wagon tipped over and so did a full cask of water. We have one full cask left.
Luckily in the fast water we refilled our casks and we are OK again. We made it
to Pacific Springs, a valley in the mountains. We were able to temporarily fix
the wagon. Then, to celebrate our triumph of the Rocky Mountains, we sang
"Oh Susannah" all night long.
August 1, 1858
Dear Journal,
Mr. Whitman has gotten bit by a rattle snake. Luckily, Mr. Honeyman had some
whiskey that we poured down Mr. Whitman's mouth. The whiskey helped him and now
he is recovering. We have heard of a lot of crazy cures but we like the whiskey
one best. Mr. Whitman gave us a few good laughs while he was drunk. After that
fiasco, we reached a cross off. If we go the Fort Bridger route, there will be
hostile Indians but there is lots of water and grass. But, down the second
route, the Sublet Cutoff, it will take five days less but it goes down a dry
deadly dessert and it too has hostile Indians. We've decided to use the Fort
Bridger route because we would rather go the resources and danger than just
danger. Luckily while we were there we found water. We bathed and then the
hunters shot an antelope. But, tonight Mrs. Honeyman found that two blankets
were missing. We think it is Indians so we have our guard up.
August 8, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are at Fort Bridger now and we need new oxen. Four are very tired. We are to
buy four new oxen to replace the other ones. Unfortunately, we have to leave my
horse, Billy, here. He is getting old and tired. So, we are buying another one
and we are going to name her Betty. We are going to buy 80 pints of flour since
we are running out. We have earned $10 fixing a fence. But, if my lazy
brother had painted we would have gotten $15. On the message board there was
a sign:
Beware! Indian attacks at Massacre Rock!
September 8, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are going to send scouts out to see if there are any Indians at Massacre
Rock. The scouts are the captain and I. I've been favored more since I'm a
crack shot and all. I hope I don't die. If the captain dies, they will need me.
We've reached Hot Springs. Unfortunately, I got too close and was burned. My
brother gave me a bandage to keep on for two days. Oh well, at least I wasn't
killed. We've heard hostile Indians are near the camp but I'm not scared.
Some nights they're singing, and if I can hear it, it lulls me to sleep. If they attack
they will get a good taste of bullet lead.
September 20, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are on the side of the Snake River. Our side is dry and desert-like. On the other
side it is lush and beautiful. We've decided to cross. Luckily there are three
islands in the middle. Unfortunately, on our way we lost 3 lbs of peas and 5 lbs
of sugar.
September 30, 1858
Dear Journal,
We've left the cold twisting waters of the Snake and I gaze upon the mountains.
These are the first mountains we've really had to cross. I've heard of harsh
winters and many more dangers. But, I'm not thinking of that now. I'm thinking
of the things I've had to go through: contaminated water, digging for ice,
scouting for Indians and many more things. I was voted 1st Lieutenant and I've
had to deal with my family. I'd love to get more time away. But, as soon as I
reach Oregon, as I vowed I will, I will set up a farm and hunt and farm in
peace.
October 5, 1858
Dear Journal,
The Blue Mountains seem like a pile of bunny hills compared to the Rockies. We
made it up the Blue Mountains but now there is the steep treacherous ride down.
I think we should use our rope to anchor our wagon to a tree and slowly bring it
down. But, we chose Cecilia's way and our wagon somersaulted down the mountain
and our provisions went flying. We had to kill one of our oxen, but otherwise we are
okay. Another wagon did the same but they are all right as well. That oxen always
bit me but I still wish he wasn't dead. I'm glad it wasn't worse than it was.
October 12, 1858
Dear Journal,
We are at Whitman Mission, Walla Walla County, Washington. We are at mile 1,709
in our 2,000 mile journey. This is the last place to get supplies, and we are low
on them. We have three choices to get to the Willamette Valley. One, we could go
down the long, harsh Barlow Toll Road, and get bad land. Second we could go down
the river, which is much faster, but just as dangerous. Or we could spend the
winter at Whitman Mission, something we are positive we won't do. So it seems
that rafting is the best choice, so we're doing that.
We've sold our wagon and we're heading down the river. Westward Ho! Three
families on another wagon train had to sell three of their oxen each, so we sold
them ours for 60 dollars, a fair price.
I'm very concerned that we might lose some supplies, or we might not make it to the
Willamette Valley. Just in case, we've selected two scouts to go if any thing
happens. They are John Honeyman, and my own brother! If he dies, I'll really
miss him.
We made it fine the first few days, but then a canoe crashed, and we had to
leave the two scouts behind so we wouldn't be cramped up. We made it safely, but
when our Indian guides went back to get the scouts, they had mysteriously
disappeared. So I'm afraid to say, my brother and good friend John are dead.
October 28, 1858
Dear Journal,
Yeeeeehaw! I love the good ol' Willamette Valley! Soon as I got here, I picked
out the best farm land. We bought five cows and a horse named Boy, since we had
to sell Betty back at the mission. I'm livin' well. Cecilia and Christine ain't
been doin' much schoolin', so it's mostly me supportin' the family. But little
does every body know that I've found gold up in the hills while I was huntin'! I
traded it in for some money, and every once and a while I go up there and find
gold. An' that's not the only good thing! My best friend Joseph Stowne came in
another wagon train, just as I finished my farm! He's livin' well too, but I think
him and Cecilia should get hooked up, her bein' a widow and all. We all miss Sam
and John a lot. I visit their graves every day There's nothin' under 'em, but I
like to think of them sittin' down there peacefully. He could be a pain
sometimes, but he's still my brother, an' I'll never forget him.
The Honeyman's have been goin' along pretty nicely, though it seems hard
sometimes for Daniel to take care of his family, so me and Dan help him out some
times. Dan and his family have been doin' good for themselves too. They're
raisin' Abby well. Dan at first was going to head back east to aid more wagon
trains, but he's decided to stay here instead.
And the Whitman's! When they got here, to their surprise, they found George's
mother, Narcissi Whitman! Abby and Morgan we're mighty happy to see their
grandma again. They have been doin' fine too, havin' the biggest family an' all.
And the Robbins have been doin' just fine. Maddy's growin' up quick, and her
parents are mighty proud.
This bein' my Oregon Trail journal, I guess it's time to end it. I suppose when
diaries get ended, they kinda die. So when you go up there, send my regards to
Sam and John!
Robert William McMillen
P.S. Christine's tryin' to make me better in penmanship.
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Last Updated: 08/28/04