NARRATIVE OF 1853. 117 
It will not be uninteresting here to state that Low Horn, the quiet and even meek spokes- 
man at the council, and the trumpet-toned chief in the presence of his men, crossed the Missouri 
in 1855 with his whole band, moved up the Judith, and camped on the Muscle Shell—the first 
man who extended the hand of welcome and friendship to the western Indians as they crossed 
the mountains on their way to the council, showing, most conclusively, that faith can be put 
in Indians; for it must be recollected that two years intervened between my conference with 
the Indians at Fort Benton, in 1853, to their reassembling, in 1855, at the council appointed at 
that time. I will here remark that on the 18th of September a special council was had with 
various young men of the Blackfeet tribe, who had come from the south, where they had gone in 
search of horses, and were on their way to their northern homes; and in every case this idea of 
peace between the Blackfeet and their hereditary enemies, and between both and the white 
children of the Great Father, was received with the greatest delight and satisfaction. 
DEPARTURE FROM FORT BENTON. 
- September 22.—This morning we bade adieu to Fort Benton, and separated from the portions 
of the expedition who were assigned to duty east of the mountains. Before sunrise we saw 
Lieutenant Saxton off in his keel-boat, drawing eighteen inches of water, accompanied by Mr. 
Culbertson, who was directed by me to report to the department at Washington, and to urge 
the importance of the Blackfoot council. Lieutenant Grover, on a smaller craft, commenced 
his minute examination of the Missouri. Mr. Doty, who had won very much upon me by his 
intelligence, his fidelity, his promptitude, and energy of character, parted from me with feel- 
ings of hope and pride at the idea that now a field was opening to him where he could be useful 
to his country and make a reputation for himself. I take this occasion, in parting from Mr. 
Doty at Fort Benton, to pay an humble tribute to his worth and services. Не is now no more; 
but he was my friend and companion at the great council held in 1855, where he acted as 
secretary of the commission. Twice did he traverse the country with me from the Pacific to 
the Missouri. Unwearied, indefatigable, and able, his services were felt, not only in our Indian 
duties, but in developing the geographical resources of every portion of the country which he 
had an opportunity to observe. 
As we left the fort, soon after sunrise, 
us into the experiences and vicissitudes of life in a remote 
numerous Indians, and accessible to information from home but once or twice a year, 
felt also that we had made warm and fast friends of all the inhabitants of that region—voyageurs, 
Indians, and gentlemen of the Fur Company. And I ascribed it mainly to one reason, that 
they felt that beneficent results would flow from the expedition, and they saw that every man 
was thoroughly in earnest in furthering it. 3 
In order to make a long march this day, the evening before I despatched my train to a point 
well up the Teton, some twelve miles from Fort Benton; and there Mr. Osgood and Mr. 
Stanley, who had remained behind with me at Fort Benton, and myself breakfasted with tho 
rest of our party. The accompanying view gives some idea of the valley of the Teton. I wr 
here remark that Dr. Suckley, who had started with Lieutenant Donelson in the main train, 
and who had left it on the second day in order to visit the falls, was not able to find their 
track, and consequently returned to Fort Benton. He, and Messrs. Evans and Kendall, who 
had assisted me in my correspondence, were the additional members of my party. 
we felt that our short sojourn there had not only let 
mountain post, surrounded by 
but we 
