92 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
and civilians, and I concluded that the only way to overcome all difficulty was to pursue a firm, 
steady course, according to the terms of my written order. The distance to-day was seventeen 
and two-thirds miles. 
August 22.—The route to-day was not as good as it has been since we left Camp Atchison. 
There were some little spurs to cross, and the valley itself was occasionally interrupted by 
shingle. The first sage was seen to-day, though in small quantities. We crossed Milk river, 
five miles from camp, and took a cut off to the sonth. Thus far Milk river has had a very 
gradual descent and a somewhat sluggish current. We made our camp, after moving nineteen 
and a half miles, one quarter of a mile from the river, in the vicinity of a very heavy growth 
of cottonwood, there being a high bluff between us and the river. The water to-night was 
poor, there having been a high wind through the day, which affected the sands of the stream 
and made the water exceedingly muddy. : 
As usual, the evening was spent in considering the question of the proposed Blackfoot council, 
and our relations with the Blackfeet, and in examining the work of the parties, and preparing 
for the work ahead. We passed through large herds of buffalo to-day. 
August 23.—We left camp late in consequence of the oxen straying, and about a mile from 
camp crossed Milk river. The order to walk some miles each day had been carefully observed, 
and the effect was to be seen upon our animals. On reaching our camping ground, which was 
in a hollow on Milk river, grass poor, and water some half mile off, we found a deputation of 
Gros Ventres, consisting of seven of their chiefs and principal men, five of ‘whom were accom- 
panied by their wives. Among these were the Eagle Chief and his son, White Eagle, and 
the Little Soldier. The wife of the son of the Eagle Chief was a very pretty woman. Her 
name was the White Antelope. They welcomed us in the most cordial manner and were 
dignified in their deportment, which was marked by the strictest propriety. We were invited 
to visit their camp, about thirty miles further on. As it was my desire to exhibit to them our 
confidence and wish to enter into perfectly friendly relations, I invited them to join the gentle- 
men of the party assembled around a large camp fire. After smoking and talking for some 
time, lunch was served up about dusk, consisting of coffee, rice, &c., after which they made 
us presents of horses, giving one to myself and two to Mr. Culbertson, to whom they seemed 
to be much attached. "There was a large tent put up for their accommodation, and a supper 
was provided about ten о’ clock. ; 
As my health had now been rapidly improving for some days, I determined to push ahead as 
rapidly as possible with two advance parties, in order to examine the approaches to the mountains. 
Accordingly, I organized two parties under Lieutenant Grover, and Mr. Lander for the above 
purpose. To Mr. Lander I assigned four, and to Lieutenant Grover five members of the party. 
Each was provided with reserve horses, and with fifty days’ rations of flour, sugar, and coffee. 
These arrangements delayed me, so that on the following morning, August 24, I got off some- 
what late. We expected to reach the Indian camp to-night, but were obliged to go into camp 
1} miles this side, where we found excellent grass and water. I determined to make our 
guard duty light. We had with us four gentlemen who could serve as officers of the guard, 
five men as non-commissioned officers, and seven privates. Our Indian friends were again 
with us to night, and we treated them with bread and coffee. 
I learned to-day that а feud has lately broken out between the Gros Ventres and the Black 
