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REPORT OF SURGEON W. H. FORWOOD, TJ. S. A. 



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THE WIND RIVER VALLEY. 



Descending into the ralley from the heights at .South Pass, our course 

 was through Bed Canon and the nourishing settlement at Lander, over 

 to the Biji Spring near Washakie, where we remained one day to pre 

 pare tor the final start with saddle-horses and pack animals. The 

 scenery from the plains around Washakie is very picturesque. The 

 valley is inclosed on all sides, excepting at the southeast, by mountains 



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Fort Omaha, Nebr., 



September 17, 18S2. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report of my observa- 

 tions and collections of specimens illustrative of the general features, 

 natural history, and resources of the regions explored during the ex- 

 Xieditionof Lieutenant General Sheridan through Northwestern Wyom- 

 ing. Without any pretensions to a purely scientific discussion of the sub- 

 jects embraced in this report, I have endeavored to seize upon the chief 

 points of practical interest observed along our route, and will present them 

 with as few technicalities as ]>ossible in such form as may best contrib- 

 ute to a general knowledge of the places visited. The long ride of 450 

 miles in twenty-four days, over new trails in a portion of the country 

 comparatively but little known, necessarily precluded a thorough ex- 

 amination of all its many interesting details, and hence the results are 

 less complete than its importance demands. 



The excellent health of the command and the fortunate escape from 

 accident along the march made the demands upon me as medical officer 

 very light and obviates the necessity for any further report on this 

 point. 



The expedition started August 7, from Fort Washakie, Wyo., pro- 

 ceeded up Wind River beyond the mouth of De Noir Creek, and thence I 

 over the Continental Divide in a southwesterly direction to the Gros 

 Ventre Valley ; down this into the basin of Snake River at the foot of 

 the Tetons ; up Snake River and Lewis's Fork to the National Park, 

 and out by way of Baronett's bridge and Soda Butte Creek to the head 

 of Clark's Fork and Index Peak, and then by an easterly course across 

 the Bear Tooth Mountains, descending to the plains at a point near the 

 canon of Little Rock (reek, and so down Clark's Fork and the Yellow- 

 stone to the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at Billings, 

 Mont. The route through these several regions will be taken up and 



considered in chronological order. 







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