68 EXPLORATION FROM A. D. 1852 To A D. 1857. 
Both parties, however, united at Big Muddy river, and the route proposed for Lieutenant Don- 
elson was abandoned. The entire party then took the road to Fort Benton, which, leaving the 
Missouri at the mouth of Milk river, follows this stream to the western end of the Bear's Paw 
mountains, and there crosses over the prairie to the Missouri at Fort Benton. 
On the 3d of September, Mr. Tinkham, with a few men, left the main party at Bear's Paw 
mountains, and examined the valley of Milk river nearly to the 49th parallel. Thence he pro- 
ceeded to the Three Buttes, (there are also three peaks of this name lying on the source of 
Lewis river.) He then pursued a southwest course to Maria’s river, and crossing this stream 
took a southeast direction to Fort Benton. 
On the 11th of September, Mr. J. M. Stanley left the Maria's river, near Fort Benton, and 
proceeded to the Cypress mountains, in the British Possessions, from which place he returned 
to Fort Benton, passing near the Three Buttes and Lake Pakokee. 
On the 9th of September, 1853, Lieutenant Mullan, with a small party. left Fort Benton to 
visit the Flat Head camp reported to be *beyond the Muscle Shell," designing to conduct a 
delegation to the council to be held at St. Mary's village. A barometrical profile of the route 
was to be taken by Mr. Burr, but on the 10th the barometer became unfit for service. 
Crossing the Missouri, Lieutenant Mullan travelled in a southeast direction, passing along 
the sources of Judith river, until he reached what he calls the Muscle Shell river. This stream 
was probably the Yellowstone river, as will be seen by comparing his map and description with 
those of Captain Clarke in Lewis and Clarke's Expedition.* Lieutenant Mullan afterwards 
agreed with my opinion when I called his attention to the matter. 
* Governor Stevens, in his reports, always speaks of this stream as the Muscle Shell river. As I felt compelled to differ 
from him in compiling the general map, I submit herewith the evidence in favor of my opinion 
1, Two points of the routes of the reconnaissances made under Governor Stevens, viz: the. mouth of ihe Yellowstone 
and the Hot Springs, near the source of the Missouri river, are also on the trail of the reconnaissance of Captain Clarke. 
Having laid down the Yellowstone river from Captain Clarke’s map, assuming Governor Stevens’ position for these two 
common points as correct, I found the Yellowstone to occupy nearly the position where Lieutenant Mullan places the Muscle 
Shell. 
2. Lieutenant Mullan travelled eighty miles south of the so-called Muscle Shell, without reaching the Yellowstone, which 
would require an error of not less than eighty miles in Captain Clarke’s map at this point—a thing very improbable, 
cially as from the survey which I made of the Yellowstone from its mouth to Powder river, it was found that the position 
of the latter point was nearly correct, as laid down from Captain Clarke’s map, in the manner stated. 
3. The description of this portion of the Yellowstone by Capt. Clarke corresponds well with that of the Muscle Shell given 
by Lieutenant Mullan. Captain Clarke says, in his Journal of July 16, 1806: ** Although just leaving a high snowy mount- 
ain, the Yellowstone is a bold, rapid, and deep stream, one hundred and twenty yards in width." Lieutenant Mullan says, in 
his journal of September 13, 1853, in speaking of the Muscle Shell: ‘‘This river is about forty to fifty yards wide, and 
between two and four feet deep, with a very rapid current; the current is much more so where we struck it than the Mis- 
souri itself. The stream, during the high water season, judging from the portion of the bed at present dry, is about one hundred and twenty 
yards wide.” Sons ee ee Cos Clarke passed down. 
Captain Clark says: “Th t the ri ugh and rocky, and still retain great quantities of 
snow ; and two other high snowy mountains ma may he ó ditisquitbed, bearing north fifteen or twenty miles, and the other 
nearly east. 9 9 s At the distance of nine miles from the mountains, a river” (called on the map Shield's river,) 
* discharges itself in the Yellowstone from the northwest, under a high rocky cliff.” 
Lieutenant Mullan says, (journal of September 19,) “ The country south of the Muscle Shell, extending to the base of the 
west fork coming from the Snow mountains, which was well wooded, and as large and rapid as the northwest fork, with 
which it made an angle of ۳ 
Lieutenant Mullan's northwest fork I take to be Captain Clarke's Shidd’s river, and the southwest fork, the Yellowstone. The 
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