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Page 20 our rations and forage being very near exhausted and haveing not enough to last us to Camp Wheaton. we took as near a route as passiple for the purpose of intersecting the trail made by the wagons when on their way in to Camp Wheaton. Marched 15 miles and struck Blackwater at our former camping ground on that creek The weather is pleasant to day. Left 3 or 4 horses on the road to day exhausted and nearly starved. It is now necessary to move as fast as our Horses will permit of being ridden for Camp Wheaton or we will nearly all be dismounted in one day. Horses are to tired to graze. The men have picked up all the corn lying around on the ground, (where our Horses were fed when moving South) for the purpose of keeping up the strength of their Horses as much as possible. Febuary 8th 1866 Moved early in morning and marched 15 miles on our old trail to Big Beaver and went into camp. Left two more Horses on the road to day. They were however brought into camp late this evening. Febuary 9th 1866 Moved at daylight. on our old road to Little Beaver. 8 miles and their grazed our Horses two hours. Saddled again and moved 12 miles to Republican River striking it at Camp Wheaton moved up the River one mile to a point where we could cross. The ice is very rotten and a good many Horses broke through. A wagon train could not cross here now. Reached Camp Wheaton at 5.45.P.M. Horses and men very tired. Have found some corn and rations. which were in very good time to save command from starving.