are tired. During the greater part of this day
we have rode through a heavy rain. The rain
continuing with the approach of night, we made
a large fire, and erected a shelter in imitation of
the Indian hunting camps, covering it with our
blankets. Under this we slept, and were but
little incommoded, notwithstanding the rain
continued during the greater part of the night.

I must not omit to mention that we to-day
passed through a very level plain containing
many thousand acres. This plain is almost with-
out trees. The soil nearly hid by weeds and
grass of last year's growth; the luxuriance of
which plainly demonstrates its extraordinary fer-
tility. In this plain we observed a small pond
or lake in which were wild geese and ducks in
abundance. We are informed that this is one
of the places where wild fowl raise their young.

30th.

Pursued our path and travelled twenty-
three miles through a very fertile, heavily tim-
bered and beautiful country, being a little more
inclined to hills. The ride to-day has been a
pleasing one, in part doubtless from the reflec-
tion that the day would probably close a long,
tedious and arduous journey. We at last reached
Fort Wayne

. As we approached the Fort,
having reached it within about thirty rods, we
were saluted by a sentinel with the word Halt.
We obeyed the command. A sergeant was de-
spatched from the commanding officer, who en-
quired of us on his behalf, Where are you