Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 27, 1867

In this letter from May 27, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the arrival of the Union Pacific's commissioners and their acceptance of 40 more miles of road. He again notes the Indian troubles, which have become such a hindrance that "unless we get more government protection the work may be suspended."

North Platte, NE
May 27, 1867

Last Friday evening the commissioners arrived and I took them over the road to the 345^th mile post. They were all well pleased and accepted 40 miles of new road. The same day there were three men killed by the Indians five miles west of the end of the track and a large lot of stock run off. The Indians are troublesome and unless we get more government protection the work may be suspended. I have succeeded in getting three companies of cavalry posted along the line which I hope will be sufficient to drive the Indians off the line. Several raids have been made in the vicinity of our men but mostly the attacks have been made on transportation trains for the purpose of stealing stock.