Friends of the Reveille: Here we are, May 17th [15th?] in a beautiful encampment on the Wakanisha [Wakarusa] river, all in the enjoyment of excellent health and a fine flow of spirits. The recent rains have made the roads very bad; indeed, for three miles before reaching the elevated ground upon which we are encamped, it was a complete swamp. By assisting each other, however, we all got through without experiencing any accident that we could not ourselves repair; the rearmost division, comprising seventeen wagons, all getting into camp by nine o'clock last night. We shall remain here one day, to repair damages and roads, and then hasten on to the Kansas. I understand that there are some thirty wagons for California about a day's travel behind; they
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