The journey proved an arduous one.  It was intolerably hot; there were frequent tempests, with floods of rain and violent gusts of wind.  The bottom lands on each side of the river seemed absolutely covered with buffaloes.  Upon ascending any eminence vast herds were seen grazing as far as the eye could reach.  Our adventurers pressed on, quietly and cautiously, following the windings of the stream.  On the fourth day they discovered Indians in the distance; a band of three hundred, well mounted.  Maxwell recognized the chief.  This secured for them a friendly reception.  They were led into their village.  It consisted of a hundred and twenty-five lodges bordering a broad irregular street.

After a hospitable entertainment, they continued their journey and encamped in a little grove of cottonwood, in a cold drizzling rain.  The next morning they caught their first glimpse of the Rocky mountains, about sixty miles distant.  That day they came across a camp of four or five white men who were on a trapping expedition.  They had all taken Indian wives, and a large number “of little fat buffalo-fed boys were tumbling about the camp, all apparently of the same age, about three or four years old.”  Their camp was on a rich bottom, luxuriant with grass, and they had many well fed horses and mules.

They reached St. Vrain’s fort on the tenth, where they were hospitably received by Mr. St. Vrain.  They purchased several horses and mules, and hired three additional men to accompany them across the country, one hundred and twenty-five miles, to Fort Laramie.  On the twelfth they recommenced their journey, and reached the fort on the fifteenth.  This trading post was quite an imposing military construction, with large bastions at the corners, its lofty walls being whitewashed and picketed.  A cluster of lodges of Sioux Indians was pitched almost under the shadow of its wall.  The party which Kit Carson had accompanied had arrived a few days before, and was encamped near by.

Here Fremont received the alarming intelligence that there was great excitement among the Indians beyond.  They were all assuming a hostile attitude.  Several parties of whites had already been cut off and massacred.  Most of the men, at the Fort, remonstrated against his advance till the country should be somewhat settled.  Even Kit Carson, though perfectly ready himself to proceed, declared his conviction that the danger was imminent, and that some encounters with the Indians were inevitable.  He made his will, left it at the fort and was prepared to go.

Just before starting, the Sioux chiefs encamped at the fort almost forced themselves into Lieutenant Fremont’s presence and presented him the following remonstrance written in good French: 

“Mr. Fremont: 

“The chiefs, having assembled in council, have just told me to warn you not to set out before the party of young men, which is now out, shall have returned.  They tell me that they are sure they will fire upon you as soon as they meet you.  They are expected back in seven or eight days.  Excuse me for making these observations, but it seems my duty to warn you of danger.  Moreover the chiefs, who prohibit your setting out before the return of the warriors, are the bearers of this note.  I am your obedient servant,