noon
-LSB- 1 -RSB- -LSB- Footnote 1 : To get the local descriptions , the color , atmosphere , `` feel '' of a day and a country so long gone by , any writer of to-day must go to writers of another day . The Author would acknowledge free use of the works of Palmer , Bryant , Kelly and others who give us journals of the great transcontinental trail . -RSB- The wilderness , close at hand , soon was to make itself felt . Wingate 's outriders moved out before noon of one day , intending to locate camp at the ford of the Big Vermilion . Four miles in advance they unexpectedly met the scout of the Missouri column , Bill Jackson , who had passed the Wingate train by a cut-off of his own on a solitary ride ahead for sake of information . He was at a gallop now , and what he said sent them all back at full speed to the head of the Wingate column . Jackson riding ahead , came up with his hand raised for a halt .