Diary of William Polke
Wednesday, 26 Sept. 1838
“Left our encampment at the crossing at 8 o’clock in the morning and proceeded on our route. The sick appear somewhat recruited. Owing to the indisposition of our physician no report has been made since Monday. We have reason to believe that the health of the camp is returning.”
“The weather still continues delightful—the roads, however, are again becoming dusty. Provisions and forage seem not so scarce as farther back.”
“The country through which we are now passing is more thickly settled….Distance travelled today fourteen miles. We are now encamped near Decatur, Ill. Forty miles from Springfield. A child died after dark.”
