An example. Page 8 of the journal documents his arrival at Fort Laramie. Grammar and spelling are not corrected. He generally wrote an entry for each day, with the miles traveled on the right.
Tue June 11 Crossed River platte the
first time at Fort Laramie it being 3.85 m
from where we crossed loup fork
Tue June 18 From Laramie to Deer creek
where we crossed upper platte is . 98
All the way the platte is a very swift current + bad crossing
Fri 21 June from upper platte ferry to Sweet
Water River is .82 m
Here we crossed some bad hills poor grass
and much Alkalie both in water + in lakes drie
Tues 25 June last ford of Sweet water
from first coming to the river to last
ford (after fording it many times) is .90
Weds 26 from Sweet water to little sandy 33
Little grass _+ water almos barren
Thurs 27 “ Big sandy no grass nor water
Wild sag or wormwood bushes
Sat 29 from big sandy to Green River . 53
To ferry below 3
To Branch of green river 6 m
Tues 2 July to Toms fork of Green River 30
Hilley
Thurs 4 from Toms to Bear River firs ford of
five branches crossing on poles 40
Some verry bad hills + dangerous
Fri 5 second branch ford of of Bear .16
Crossing many little streams soon
after ….. ford we assend + descend a
very long steep hill + bad for cattle
Leave Bear River 44
Branch of Columbia river 20
Or Port Nieu + River ) carried over to Page 24
first time at Fort Laramie it being 3.85 m
from where we crossed loup fork
Tue June 18 From Laramie to Deer creek
where we crossed upper platte is . 98
All the way the platte is a very swift current + bad crossing
Fri 21 June from upper platte ferry to Sweet
Water River is .82 m
Here we crossed some bad hills poor grass
and much Alkalie both in water + in lakes drie
Tues 25 June last ford of Sweet water
from first coming to the river to last
ford (after fording it many times) is .90
Weds 26 from Sweet water to little sandy 33
Little grass _+ water almos barren
Thurs 27 “ Big sandy no grass nor water
Wild sag or wormwood bushes
Sat 29 from big sandy to Green River . 53
To ferry below 3
To Branch of green river 6 m
Tues 2 July to Toms fork of Green River 30
Hilley
Thurs 4 from Toms to Bear River firs ford of
five branches crossing on poles 40
Some verry bad hills + dangerous
Fri 5 second branch ford of of Bear .16
Crossing many little streams soon
after ….. ford we assend + descend a
very long steep hill + bad for cattle
Leave Bear River 44
Branch of Columbia river 20
Or Port Nieu + River ) carried over to Page 24