Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 23, 1867

In this letter from May 23, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his new office in North Platte, NE. He also mentions the "troublesome" Indian situation, lamenting that the government "does not give us sufficient protection."

North Platte, NE
May 23, 1867

I write you the first letter from my new headquarters. I have been here and up the line some days but have had no place to write. My office is not completed, but I have got my desk (a new and good one) in one corner and while the carpenters are busy laying the floor and finishing off the building, I can do some business, but first write you.

My office, when finished, will be comfortable and convenient. There are three rooms, one for myself and Frank, one for the engineers and one for general use. It costs one thousand dollars. I have been as far west as the west end of the fourth hundred, the grading being pushed along rapidly and will be completed as far as let, by the 15^th of June.

The Indians are about the same as last year. Occasionally they run off a lot of stock for some train men. The government does not give us sufficient protection, if the Indians are disposed to be troublesome to do much good. I have been trying to have General Sherman give up the grand expedition to powder river country and put all the available forces on our route. Hope to succeed. The commissioners are in Omaha, NE and will be here Saturday morning to inspect forty miles of road built this spring.