NARRATIVE OF 1853. 113 
from the Teton river, on which he encamped, September 10 and 11, to rest his animals, which 
were much fatigued by their long journey without good grass or water. At that point, thirty- 
five miles from its mouth, it is smaller than the Marias, where he had crossed that stream, 
being from sixty to a hundred feet wide, from one to three deep, but showing signs of eight 
feet rise during high water. 4 
It continues much the same further down, and is everywhere fringed with cottonwood. 
Near the Trunk his horse was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun in the hands of 
Monroe, the guide, the ball entering just behind Mr. Tinkham’s leg. 
The reconnoissance thus made in ten days included a route of two hundred miles, and 
embraced the great plateau between the Milk and Marias rivers, for seventy-five miles west of 
the route of the main party, besides an examination of the Buttes, and of the Milk, Marias, and 
Teton rivers, for a great part of their course, enabling their course to be very accurately laid 
down. It showed, also, the route generally best adapted for a railroad, should it cross this 
plateau, instead of keeping to the valley. 
September 13-21.— Having now had the advantage of a personal conference with Lieutenants 
Grover and Saxton, I became satisfied that to insure our reaching the settlements this fall it 
was necessary to travel more rapidly than was practicable with wagons; and for this reason, 
and not because I in the least doubted the practicability of taking a train through with com- 
paratively little labor, I determined to move with pack animals. Lieutenant Saxton, from the 
time of my departure from Fort Benton, impressed me with the importance of not delaying, and 
he was fearful, knowing that much time would be required on the road to make the necessary 
examinations of the country, that we might encounter a snow-storm, which would give us 
serious difficulty, particularly as the snow might cover up the grass. | 
Accordingly, during these days, the necessary arrangements were made to push forward the 
whole party with pack animals. The public property was stored at Fort Benton, in the care of 
Mr. James Doty, whom I left in charge of the meteorological post at that point. Mr. Doty was 
also directed to make all the examinations that he possibly could of the country, and to inquire 
into all matters pertaining to the Indian tribes. A very important point that he was to impress 
upon the Blackfeet was the meeting the western Indians in council next year; and he was, 
under the general instructions of the commissioner, clothed with the powers of a special agent, 
in order to effect this purpose. I determined at Fort Benton to send Lieutenant Saxton down 
the Missouri, with his assistant, Mr. Hoyt, Sergeant Wilson of the engineer detachment, 
several discharged men, and all but three men of the dragoon detachment. Had our trans- 
portation been sufficient I should have despatched him through the country ош the Missouri 
to the emigrant route, which had been described to me by the ineine as entirely practicable 
and of a fine character; and for this I had the written authority of the department, which 
empowered me, on reaching the Rocky mountains and making What surveys I could, to send 
parties not required for the westward journey home by new routes, still further to explore the 
geography and resources of the country. 
I was exceedingly gratified at this time by the spirit of the men. Several men whom I was 
afraid had not strength to make the trip, and whom I had first ordered to accompany Jaoutenant 
Saxton down the Missouri, were so anxious to go on that they brought me a certificate DM 
the surgeon, Dr. Suckley, stating that, in his opinion, they were strong enough for the journey, 
158 
