~ 
222 NARRATIVE OF 1855. 
a day. І will here remark, that I doubt whether such an express service as we were obliged 
to employ at Fort Benton to keep the Indians in hand was ever employed in this country with 
the same means. Many of our animals, which had done service all the way from the Dalles, 
travelled at express rates more than a thousand miles before we started on our return from Fort 
Benton. Many of our mules travelled from seven to eight hundred miles with packs, in going 
to the boats for provisions and to the hunting grounds for meat: and yet, after our treaty was 
concluded and we were ready to move home, we were able to make very good rates with these 
same animals, although the season was so late as November. 
I had forgotten to mention in the proper place that, whilst at Fort Benton, I examined the 
Missouri towards the mouth of the Marias, and especially a very narrow place,'called the 
Cracon-du-Nez, separating the Teton from the Missouri. This place is only about one hundred 
yards wide, and will require simply that length of cutting to bring a railroad line from one river 
to the other. "The Teton valley was only about forty feet higher than the йс акай уаПеу 
of the Missouri, and there will be no difficulty in adjusting an easy grade. 
RETURN FROM THE BLACKFOOT COUNCIL. 
We got through with the Blackfoot treaty, everything having succeeded to our entire satis- 
faction, and, indeed, beyond our most sanguine expectations. The greatest delight and good 
will seemed to pervade the minds of all the Indians, and we left them at the mouth of the Judith 
on our way to Fort Benton, and proceeded thence to the waters of the Pacific, rejoiced that our 
labors had had such a consummation. I do not propose to give a detailed narrative of my 
return trip, but simply to refer to such points as may be necessary in my purpose of presenting 
the character of the country. І had intended making many observations and examinations on 
my way back, in the way of detail, with a view of perfecting the information already gained, 
but the second day of my march from Teton my expressman, Pearson, reached my camp with 
information of the Indian war which had broken out in Washington and Oregon, and of the 
defeat of Major Haller. He brought me letters from official sources, stating that my only chance 
of safety was to go down the Missouri and return to the western coast by the way of New York. 
I remained in camp the following day, October 30, to make my arrangements to meet this 
unexpected condition of things; for my determination was fixed and unalterable that an attempt 
should be made to reach the settlements by the direct route, and that all dangers on the road 
should be sternly confronted. I sent back Mr. Doty to Fort Benton to get a large quantity of 
powder and ball, additional arms, and additional animals; put my force into camp awaiting his 
return, and at noon the next day, October 31, with Robie and Delaware Jim, we started to ride 
express to the Bitter Root valley. "That night we camped on Sun river, having made a distance 
of some twenty-nine miles from about noon to sundown. 
On the 1st of November we were in saddle at early dawn, pushed towards Cadotte's Pass, 
between the Crown Butte and Rattlers, passed by the Bird Tail rock, crossed the Dearborn, 
and went into camp four miles before reaching the divide, at a point which was the camp of Lieut. 
Grover and Mr. Robie in their winter trip of 1854. This evening a snow came on about an 
hour before sundown, or we should have crossed the divide that night. The weather in the 
morning was clear and beautiful, but, as we had no tent, we built up a large fire in order to dry 
ourselves, and got breakfast before leaving camp; and at half past eight o'clock we were on 
the road. "There were some six or seven inches of snow on the ground, but the weather was 
extremely mild, and the snow was rapidly passing away. I went up the divide on the ravine 
