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Go West, Young Man: Being The Journal Of Elisha Douglas Perkins On The Overland Trail In The Spring

Harold Powell

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Published in Gold Rush Diary: Being The Journal Of Elisha Douglas Perkins On The Overland Trail In The Spring And Summer Of 1849

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In the spring of 1849, a young man named Elisha Douglas Perkins set out from Missouri on a journey that would change his life forever. He was bound for California, where gold had been discovered just a few months earlier. Perkins kept a journal of his travels, and his words provide a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and rewards of life on the overland trail.

The Journey Begins

Perkins began his journey on April 10, 1849, with a group of about 20 other men. They traveled by wagon train, and their journey took them across the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Along the way, they faced a number of challenges, including bad weather, hostile Indians, and disease.

Gold Rush Diary: Being the Journal of Elisha Douglas Perkins on the Overland Trail in the Spring and Summer of 1849

by Thomas D. Clark

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3518 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	192 pages

Life on the Trail

Perkins' journal provides a detailed account of life on the overland trail. He describes the daily routine of the travelers, the food they ate, and the games they played. He also writes about the hardships they faced, such as heat, cold, hunger, and thirst.

Crossing the Rockies

One of the most challenging parts of the journey was crossing the Rocky Mountains. The trails were steep and rugged, and the weather was often treacherous. Perkins and his fellow travelers had to use ropes to climb up some of the steeper slopes, and they often had to travel through snow and ice.

Arrival in California

After months of travel, Perkins and his fellow travelers finally reached California in September 1849. They had traveled over 2,000 miles, and they had faced many challenges along the way. But they had also seen some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and they had made lifelong friends.

Legacy

Perkins' journal is a valuable historical document that provides a glimpse into the lives of the people who traveled the overland trail in the 19th century. His words are a reminder of the courage, determination, and spirit of adventure that drove these early pioneers.

Elisha Douglas Perkins' journey on the overland trail was a life-changing experience. He saw some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and he made lifelong friends. But he also faced many challenges along the way, including bad weather, hostile Indians, and disease. His journal provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people who traveled the overland trail in the 19th century, and it is a valuable historical document that should be read by anyone interested in the history of the American West.

Gold Rush Diary: Being the Journal of Elisha Douglas Perkins on the Overland Trail in the Spring and Summer of 1849

by Thomas D. Clark

5 out of 5