22 j= #XPLORATION OF THE COUNTRY BETWEEN 
vation west of the 97th meridian ; that the Territory is occupied by — 
rful tribes of roving savages, and is only adapted to a mode of — 
ife such as theirs ; that it must long remain an Indian country ; that — 
the Indians should be made to feel the power of the United States; — 
that the military posts, in consequence, should contemplate perma- 
nency ; that Forts Laramie and Pierre are the most important positions 
r, sir, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, — 
uate Lieutenant Topographical Engineers. 
Brevet Brig. Gen. W. F. Harney, ~ : 
U. S. army, commanding Sioux expedition. 
be eR IEE ov a at gl 
_ DETAILS OF ROUTES. 
Latitude, longitude, altitude, and magnetic declination. 
APPROXIMATE. 
Place. Latitude. | Longitude. | Altitude. | Mag. var. 
“ . an hice ly aor é i" 1 7 omar, ® ot pes of 
° oy Feet. 
Fort Ridgely... Cx MBE O95 07 eh 
Sioux City 42 32 96 26 | 1,250 
Fort Kearny 40 38} 9906 | 2,000 
Fort Pierre 4493:| 10024:| 1,504 
Fort Laramie... 42 12: 10431; | 4,250 
ee a eae 
Description of route from Fort Pierre to Fort Kearny. 
NOTES. Mie 
we ; ss Distance from 
| Fort Pierre. 
Fort Pierre, situated on a high bottom land on the right bank 
: of the Missouri river—grass very scanty, there having been 
no spring rain. Left Fort Pierre, Aucust 8, 1855. 
( tom land—a dark, sticky, clay soil, with sage. 
growing mpon it, for two miles; then crosses a high, nar- 
ge to Bad river, at a good ford, with 
rock m. When flooded, must be ferried, 4} miles 
