ITINERARY OF ROUTE FROM FORT UNION TO FORT BENTON. 359 



No. 6. 18 miles; Poplar river. One or more good camps between Nos. 6 and 7. 



No. 7. 23.646 &quot; A point on a small creek riot far from its entrance into the Missouri. 



No. 8. 15.241 &quot; Slough, not far from the Missouri. 



No. 9. 17.42 &quot; A point on Milk river. At least one good camp could be found between 



Nos. 8 and 9. 



No. 10. 13.484 &quot; To a point on Milk river. Several good camps between these points. 



No. 11. 17.62 &quot; To a point on Milk river. 



No. 12. 19.66 &quot; A point on Milk river. Several good camps between Nos. 11 and 12. 



No. 13. 17.75 &quot; Cross Milk river; pursue the trail on the bluffs and descend to that river. 



No. 14. 7.68 &quot; To a prairie lake, destitute of wood. 



No. 15. 12.4 &quot; To second crossing of Milk river. 



No. 16. 12 &quot; To a point on Milk river. 



No. 17. 15.5 &quot; To a point on Milk river. One or more good camps intervening between 



Nos. 16 and 17. 



No. 18. 10.8 &quot; To a point on Milk river. 



No. 19. 20.2 &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; 



No. 20. 16 &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; 



No. 21.18 &quot; Cross Milk river, and encamp on its right bank. 



No. 22. 7.46 &quot; Leave Milk river and encamp on one of its small tributaries. 



No. 23. 17.6 &quot; Encamp on a small stream. Several good camps between Nos. 22 and 23. 



No. 24. 6 &quot;A small stream. 



No. 25. 19.36 &quot; Prairie spring, destitute of wood. 



No. 26. 13.85 &quot; Cross Marias river and encamp on the Teton. 



No. 27. 8.7 &quot; To a good camp on the Teton, or to Fort Benton. 



377.508 miles from Fort Union to Fort Benton. 



The road is already distinctly marked, as there is an Indian trail from one point to the other. 

 Mr. Lambert s map shows all that is essential concerning the direction, &c., of the road. At 

 those points where there is no wood to be obtained, the reliance must be upon buffalo-chips. 

 Where the road now pursues the valley of the Missouri and that of Milk river, it would be neces 

 sary, in very wet weather, for it to follow a rugged course over the adjacent bluffs, as the soil 

 of these valleys is very retentive of moisture, and would probably at such times be impassa 

 ble. The following streams, which there might be some difficulty in crossing during freshets, are 

 generally low in the travelling season, viz: the Little Muddy, Big Muddy, Poplar, Argalia, Milk 

 river, the Box Alder, Woody river, the Marias, and perhaps the Teton. Timber for bridging or 

 for boats can be found at all of them, except the Big Muddy. Here timber would have to be 

 obtained several miles up or down the Missouri. The grass is good, at nearly all points of the 

 road, from about the middle of May to the middle of August. 



I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 



A. J. DONELSON, 



Second Lieutenant of Engineers. 

 Governor I. I. STEVENS, 



Chief of the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey. 



