FROM CANTONMENT STEVENS TO OLYMPIA. 555 



another; when, leaving the Hell Gate, we followed up this small stream, and halted at noon at 

 the foot of the divide between Flint creek and the Hell Gate. 



This divide is mainly a high-rolling prairie, the hills attaining an elevation of 300 to 500 feet, 

 and the ascent is so gradual as to afford a first-rate wagon road, and the descent is the same. 

 Soon after reaching the foot of the divide, we crossed Flint creek, a considerable fork of the Hell 

 Gate, and encamped soon after striking the river again. 



July 24. Continued up the river through a fine broad valley, affording luxuriant grass, and an 

 abundance of wood along the river. Crossed the stream once, and avoided the remaining cross 

 ings by taking the side-hill trail. The valley still affords a good wagon road. About noon 

 reached the mouth of the Little Blackfoot, up which stream we turned our course, leaving the 

 Hell Gate on our right, and encamped at sundown on the Little Blackfoot, four miles above 

 Lieutenant Mullan s camp of March 25. 



July 25. Continued up the river, on a course nearly due west, ten miles, then northwest four 

 miles ; when we left the stream, and passing over a fine prairie, course due west, in four miles 

 reached the summit of the divide. The ascent is very gradual, and affords a capital wagon road. 

 The descent was steep, but we had mistaken the trail, and two miles north of this there is a good 

 road. 



Following generally the route taken by Lieut. Mullan, crossed three small creeks, and en 

 camped on the north branch of Prickly Pear creek, having found a good wagon road to this point. 



July 26. Continued on a course nearly north, and in four miles struck another creek, travelled 

 down three miles, and struck Small Prickly Pear creek ; leaving this, and passing over a hilly 

 country, sparsely timbered with pine, and somewhat difficult for wagons, struck a fine prairie, 

 through which passes a broad, large trail leading towards the Missouri. Crossing this prairie we 

 struck another creek, and then passed across a high hilly country to a mountainous ridge, through 

 which we took the pass called by the Blackfeet Nah-too-see-o-ko-toke, or Medicine Rock Pass. 

 Thence the trail passed over high hills composed of loose decomposed slate and sandstone, 

 and making a somewhat difficult road. In ten miles from the Medicine Rock we reached a fine 

 bold creek twenty feet wide, called by the Blackfeet Assiniboin river, from the circumstance that 

 several Assiniboiris were killed here several years since. Its valley is narrow, but affords a 

 tolerable road. Two miles above where we struck it, the river forks. Took the southern branch, 

 and passing up three miles, encamped, having made 30 miles. 



July 27. Here we left this stream, taking a course due north, and in three miles crossed 

 another creek, and following down one mile, came to a broad plain stretching towards the Mis 

 souri. Passing over a high prairie-ridge bounding the plain on the north, in four miles more 

 struck a small branch of Dearborn river, now nearly dry, and in eight miles more came to Dearborn 

 river itself. Here we nooned. The day was oppressively warm, as indeed have been all the 

 days since we left Fort Benton. Continued on over a rolling prairie, crossed Beaver creek, 

 passed between the three peaks, and encamped after sundown on Crown Butte creek, near Bird 

 Tail Rock, having made a fatiguing day s march of forty miles. We are now in the trail of the 

 main train, and of course there is a good road to Fort Benton. 



Lieutenant Mullan s wagon route from this point to the St. Mary s valley is practicable, in my 

 opinion, for wagons moderately loaded, and, with a small expenditure of labor, may be made an 

 excellent road. 



July 28. Continued on over the same trail by which we came, and therefore it needs no de 

 scription. 



In climbing to the top of the butte called Crown Butte, I fell, and bruised my hand so badly 

 as to deprive me of its use. 



Pushed on, crossed Sun river, and encamped five miles below. 



The next day my hand and arm were very much swollen, and so painful that I could scarcely 

 ride. However, we reached the falls, and pitched the tent in our old encamping ground. 



