THE MISSOURI AND PLATTE RIVERS, ETC. 
cut u e 
impracticable at this place for wagons, and we ought to 
have gone down the stream 8 or 10 miles.) Having 
gained the ridge, our route was good, over high prairie, 
4 with some dry lake beds, and no wood nor permanent water 
= to Muddy creek, 19} miles - . 
Muddy creek here’is a small running stream, twenty feet wide, 
with banks ten feet high, and steep, with muddy bottom, 
and is troublesome to cross; grass good; wood scarce, but 
lenty lower down. Fresh signs of buffalo now wer 
Fi, 
abundant, and several bulls were seen to-day. ' 
A -20.—Route led us over many secondary ridges and 
After going 14 miles crossed Beaver creek, a small running 
stream, a little larger than Muddy creek, to which it is 
in every respect similar, but has considerable wood along 
its banks, and beaver dams in the stream. Continued on 
.. for 5 miles ; camped at a poor water hole, with no wood ; 
| 
: 
i 
| 
| valleys, and was laborious for the animals. 
. 
- day’s march 19 miles ~—- - - - 
A 91.—Route to-day good. Reached in 12 miles a clear 
stream, fifty yards wide, with sandy bottom, banks fro 
rea y 
4 to 10 feet high, and lined with cottonwood and willow ; 
os 31 miles - - - : 
_ The crossing of the Platte gave us no trouble, as it was no 
~~~ where more than 1 foot deep, and spread out. over its bed, 
here a mile wide; the slough north of Grand island is 
about 30 yards wide; the banks of the Platte are 4 to 5 
feet above the bed; the valley is 5 to 8 miles wide, and 
_ rarely overflowed. ks ee 
a7 
Distance from 
Fort Pierre. 
234 
210° 8 
