Samuel Black Crockett came on the Oregon Trail with General Gilliam and the Simmons-Bush party.  His father sent him to see if Oregon Country would be a good place for the entire family to settle.  Samuel stayed in Tumwater for a while, where he helped Michael T. Simmons to build a gristmill, before he moved to Whidbey Island.  His father, mother, and brothers joined him there in 1851.  These excerpts from Samuel’s diary show what life was like on the Oregon Trail over a period of four months, including a misunderstanding with some Native Americans.  The spelling and capitalization read as they are in the original manuscript.

Diary of Samuel Black Crockett, 
May - August 1844 

May

Friday 10^th.  Traveled 5 miles today and stoped on the bank of the missourie found a bad boat and difficult crossing.

Saturday 11^th.  today we crossed our waggons and encamped on the south bank of the missourie.  we also attempted to swim our cattle but failed and in consequence they scattered.

Sunday 12^th.  today our cattle were scattered through the woods and with difficulty we found some of them and ferried them across the river.

Monday 13^th.  some of our cattle are still lost and we are detained hunting for them the great part of which we found.

Tuesday 14^th.  today we found the cattle and ferried them over. traveled 4 miles.  crossed a desperate slough and encamped.

Wednesday 15^th.  we now find ourselves in an indian country and game scarce.  traveled  10 miles and encamped on musquito creek.  rained all day and night.

Thursday 16^th.  started today for wolf river and upon we had went two or three miles the waggons were mired in a quag; by unloading and doubling teams we got out an proceeded to wolf river where we found plenty of indians and part of the oregon company crossing the river on two canoes made for that purpose.  rained nearly all day.

Friday 17^th.  All of the company crossed wolf river today and part of them left for the old encampment of the main company and part of them encamped on the bank for the night.

Saturday 18^th.  Started early this morning and traveled hard all day and overtook General Gilliam’s main company; all of the wagons arrived at camp but two; found the company very large and a great number of cattle; rained all day.

Sunday 19^th.  All the company lay by today it being very wet and disagreeable.  Today we formed ourselves into companies each company consisting of about 20 wagons and elected all necsary officers both civil and military.  a number of waggons did not organize themselves today.

Monday 20^th.  Today General Gilliam thought it best to go six miles farther where we could stop and dry our clothing provisions etc. which we did at a beautiful grove.

Tuesday 21^st.  This morning we were detained for different causes:  there was an allarm raised that the indians had driven off some of our cattle and 15 men were armed and ordered to pursue which they did but found no indians though they found some cattle that had strayed away.  when they returned the company started and traveled a few miles and stopped.

Wednesday 22^nd.  This morning we rose early and went to gather the stock when Mr. Gilliam discovered an indian trail which he found led to a fire where the indians had been; he immediately gave the allarm.  it was now discovered that several horses were missing and about 30 men started after them in great haste and soon came to a fire where the indians had been and found a plain trail which we followed and found that they had driven off cattle.  we now pursued with great energy for some time crossing some of the most difficult places that I ever crossed before.  at length we came in sight of three indians who were on a high prairie and who we afterwards found out to be spies and were placed there to draw our attention from the trail.  Nearly all of the company immediately followed them and took two of them prisoners and the other escaped.  we then started the prisoners under a guard to the agent and went to hunt the trail again … we had followed [the trail] a short distance when we found sign where they butchered all the cattle.  we then went to the agent (Mr. Richardson) who called the braves and Chiefs together for counsel.  after various transactions they promised to bring in the horses by 10 o clock next morning.  we then returned from the village to the agents house and stayed all night.

Thursday 23^rd.  This morning the indians met at the counsel house to see what could be done.  the indians acknowledged to killing the cattle but positively denyed having our horses but offered us 4 ponies to make peace.  these terms we positively rejected and told them that if we did not get our horses we would burn the village to ashes or have the men prisoners that stole our property; they did not produce the horses and we took 14 prisoners and conveyed them with the six head of cattle in company with the agent to where we were encamped and when they got there we found our horses had got away from them and were by some of our company so the indians were liberated.  About night it commenced raining and rained all night very hard and wet us very much and made the ground so we could not travel.

Tuesday 28^th.  It rained all night last night and we lay at camp today and determining what we would do.

Wednesday 29^th.  Lay at camp again today principally on account of incessant rains and deep mud.  It faired away this evening and the Sun set clear which raised our spirits a little.

Thursday 30^th.  Lay by today also to bridge a creek …

Friday 31^st.  All the companies started this morning and by the middle of the day they finished crossing the creek and proceeded to the next creek where another important event occurred which was the addition of another member to Mr. Sagar’s family by the birth of a daughter.  The waggons crossed the creek and encamped.  Fair today.

June

Sunday 2^nd.  Did not travel today on account of Mrs. Sagar’s health and today the Rev. Mr. Skrew delivered us an excellent sermon at the conclusion of which our laws and regulations were read.  General Gilliam and Major Simons started today to overtake Capt. Cummins and his company to get information concerning our route etc.

Monday 3^rd.  Traveled 15 miles and all three of the companies encamped together and formed a circle.  No timber this evening.

Monday 10^th.  Rained last night and nearly all day so that it was very disagreeable working.

Saturday 15^th.  For several days there has been incessant rains day and night which has caused us to remain on the virmillion [river] where I last wrote.  The Virmillion is at this time very high and swollen beyond all conception which caused part of the company to have to remove to the bluff.  The canoes for crossing the river are now finished and ready for use when the waters assuage.  Some of the companys seem disheartened but this evening has the appearance of fair weather which causes us to revive again. 

Sunday 16^th.  Today the Rev. Mr. Parish preached a sermon after which Charles Sexton, our clerk, read and commented some on our laws, all of which was done in good order.

Monday 17^th.  rained and frustrated our designs in crossing the river.

Tuesday 18^th.  Commenced crossing early this morning and crossed the greater part by night.

Wednesday 19^th.  the waggons all crossed today except 2.

Thursday 20^th.  finished crossing today and traveled 6 miles.  fine weather.

Sunday 23^rd.  Capt Shaw’s company crossed [the Blue River] and hands from three companies drove the cattle down the river and commenced swimming them, but the banks on the opposite side were so mirey that the cattle could scarcely be got out so after crossing nearly half we declined swimming any more and drove the [rest] to our old camp.

Monday 24^th.  Swam the [rest] of the cattle today with better luck.

July

Sunday 7^th.  we arrived on and encamped on the bank of the big Platte [River].  found it to be a broad shallow stream and we had to carry wood off an island.  The banks of the Platte may truly be called a valley of dry bones from the vast quantity of buffalow bones which are found there.  [the buffalo] have been slain and suffered to rot on the plains ...  Found aboundance of antilopes, killed too and traveled 15 miles.

Thursday 10^th.  traveled a few miles and discovered an aboundance of buffalow.  the waggons stopped at a grove in the river when a great number

Wednesday 17^th.  made 17 miles and encamped near the fort on the south fork of [the] Platte [river].  we had no wood but made a substitute of buffalow dung.  rain last night.

Thursday  18^th.  both Companies crossed the South branch of [the] Platte [River] and encamped on its north bank … 2 buffalows killed.  no timber.

Saturday 20^th.  had a hard storm of rain and hail and made 15 miles and encamped but with little wood.

Sunday 21^st.  killed 2 buffalow traveled 12 miles had nothing to burn but buffalow dung.  rain.

Monday 22^nd.  made 12 miles and encamped where we have to leave the south fork of the platte [river] to cross to the north fork.  innumerable herds of buffalow were seen on the opposite side of the river as far as the eye could see.  killed 2.

Sunday 28^th.  passed the great natural chimney today which is one of the greatest natural curiosities known.  It is composed of clay and stones, and rises out if the centre of a cone which is 100 feet above the level of the [plain.] 

Tuesday 30^th.  made 15 miles and had a great deal of dust yesterday and today.

August

Thursday 1^st.  after traveling 15 miles we reached fort [Laramie] which is situated on the west bank of [the Laramie River.]  It is built of unburned brick and covers a considerable quantity of ground.  it belongs to the american fur company and is kept in good order.

A considerable number of [Sioux] Indians are at this place who come here to trade.  They are evry way the neates and best looking indians that I ever saw.  and is the strongest tribe in north america.  they desired a present which they got and then smoked the pipe of peace with out officers.

Friday 2^nd.  lay by today trading and having waggons repaired. 

Sunday 4^th.  16 miles and then camped on a creek that runs through the black hills.  in plain view of the rocky mountain.

Monday 5^th.  Mrs. Susan Seabring died last night leaving a husband and small family of children.  traveled 16 miles and encamped on horshoe creek.

Tuesday 6^th.  traveled 20 miles over a very rough hilly rocky country with scattering pines.  killed 2 buffalows and saw fresh sign of grisley bears.

Wednesday 7^th.  lay by repairing a waggon. 

Thursday 8^th.  repairing waggons.  killing buffalow and drying the meat.  Mrs. Frost died.

Friday 9^th.  traveled 15 miles.  very rocky.

Tuesday 13.  today Mr. Clark and myself left the company to go before and hunt.  we accordingly went on about thirty miles when night came on and we stoped for the night and found nothing but salt water to drink.  passed a brittish oil spring and seen aboundance of buffalow.

Thursday 15^th.  roasted some of the hump ribs of a buffalow for breckfast which were delicious and when done we went a mile up the creek to the independence rock which is a tremendous castle of solid rock rising out of the level plane, 100 feet high, ¼ mile long and half as wide.  we found a great number of names inscribed on it.  we ascended the rock and looked up and down the valley but could see no buffalow.  we went back to our camp, took our meat and went about 8 miles down the creek … we cut our meat and put it out to dry and went to the band to kill more [buffalo].  we shot 2 cows but could get neither.  returned to our meat and found the wolves had eaten most of our meat.  went up the creek and stayed with Ford’s company all night.

Tuesday 20^th.  12 miles.  came in sight of the snowcaped mountains.  myself sick yesterday and today three buffalow killed.

Saturday 24^th.  crossed the divide which separates the Atlantic and the Pacific waters.  18 miles and encamped on little sandy.  no buffalow.  no grass.

Tuesday 27^th.  10 miles.  plenty of grass.  I have been very sick for several days but am getting better.