Wildmen
Copyright© 2026 by acolodude
Chapter 2: My Journal Starts
Saturday, February 20, 1864
We crossed the Mississippi and were loaded and ready to head west by sunrise. We took it slow, traveling only about eighteen miles before stopping to make camp for the night.
Grandfather found a stand of trees growing close enough together to provide a kind of natural wall. We positioned the animals against it and made our sleeping area out in front of them. We spaced ourselves far enough apart to keep a good watch over the animals.
Sunday, February 21, 1864
We stayed in camp today since it was the Lord’s day. We checked the animals, cleaned our gear, and rested. It was good to have a day without traveling.
Monday, February 22, 1864
We were loaded and riding before sunrise. Breakfast consisted of a biscuit, a slice of jerky, and water. According to Grandfather, we traveled just over twenty miles before he stopped to make camp shortly before sundown.
We skipped lunch and kept riding to make up for the time we had lost by resting on Sunday. We had a big dinner, a nice stew, to make up for skipping lunch and having such a cold breakfast. We were used to that sort of routine from our days as scouts.
Tuesday, February 23, 1864
We decided to eat a good breakfast and skip lunch again. We rode until the sun began to set, then stopped and made camp just before dark. We heated the leftover stew and finished it off.
I set a few snares because I had spotted signs of rabbits nearby.
Wednesday, February 24, 1864
Sure enough, I caught two rabbits. I cleaned and skinned them, and we planned to have an early dinner of rabbit that evening.
We found a nice creek with a small stand of trees that made a perfect place to camp. We had roasted rabbit and fire-baked potatoes for dinner.
A couple of coyotes tried to sneak into camp during the night, but the animals made a ruckus. Dad grabbed his rifle and shot one of them.
Thursday, February 25, 1864
It rained most of the day, so we traveled no more than ten miles. When we found a small overhang along a low ridge, we made camp early so we could dry everything out as best we could.
We had hardtack for dinner because the ground and all the available firewood were soaking wet, making it impossible to get a fire going.
That was the first night I didn’t sleep at all. I did manage to rest, though, and was able to get up and get going at sunrise.
Friday, February 26, 1864
It stayed wet throughout the day, but the sun was out, and the wind helped dry everything. There was no dust or dirt blowing around, just a steady drying breeze.
We had a nice fire to cook over and keep us warm through the night. Dinner was beans and bacon, with coffee to wash it down.
Saturday, February 27, 1864
We warmed the coffee and finished off the beans and bacon. I added the few quail eggs I had found while gathering firewood.
The ride was pleasant. The sun was out again, and the ground had already dried. We traveled twelve miles before stopping to make camp for the night.
Sunday, February 28, 1864
Dad shot a pronghorn, and we used our day of rest, meaning no traveling, to process the animal and preserve as much of the meat as possible.
We sliced the meat thin and smoked it beneath folded tarps. Almost all of it was preserved, and we set aside the rest to eat over the next couple of days.
Monday, February 29, 1864
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