32 RECONNAISSANCE FROM CARROLL, MONTANA, 
teams and dropping the trail-wagon, which had again to be brotight up, we got clear of the foot- 
hills at the entrance of the pass. Crossing the creek, which flows from the westward out of Flat- 
head Pass, and its broad meadow-valley, we continued past the camp of August 8, and over the 
roiling sage-brush prairie to Cottonwood Creek, where we camped, having made sixteen miles. 
During the day, three of the party ascended the mountains on the west of Bridger Pass, and obtained 
a superb view over the Gallatin Valley beyond. 
September 6.—Broke camp at 7. Fair progress was made, but the effect of the wet weather 
Camp on South WAS Still evident in the lower places, and wherever a small creek crossed the road. 
Fork of Deep Creek. Fourteen miles from Cottonwood Creek we passed Sixteen Mile Creek, and inclin- 
ing eastward, and leaving the Baker road, made camp three miles farther on, at the head of the 
south fork of Deep Creek. There was but little wood in camp; the grass and water, however, being 
good. 
September 7.—Taking Reynolds, the guide, I started on in advance of the train for the forks of 
the Musselshell, with the double object in view of intercepting the Carroll mail-stage at that point, 
with probable advices for me, and of obtaining, if possible, some additional, or at least fresh, trans- 
portation, the animals having been greatly pulled down by the severity of the work since leaving 
Ellis. 
Leaving the head of Deep Creek, the trail crosses a divide 200 or 300 feet high, and strikes the 
head of the South Fork of the Musselshell, which it follows to the janction with the North Fork. 
The route for five or six miles is rough and broken, but finally follows the creek, which flows 
SouthForkof Mus gently in a wide, fairly-grassed valley, surrounded by mountains. Many hundreds 
aelepelle of cattle were grazing in this valley, which is an excellent stock-range. The 
“Forks” were reached at noon, thirty miles from camp. Captain Ball’s company of the Second 
Forks of Mussel. Oavalry and Rawn’s of the Seventh Infantry were in camp on the broad, level 
anel tongue of land in the angle of the two streams. This camp is just on the border 
of the Indian range; is well supplied with all the principal requisites of wood, water, and forage; 
and would be an admirable location for a permanent post for the protection of the Carroll road and 
Remarks and sug- the thriving settlements to the westward. These districts are threatened almost 
oe an eee. every summer with forays by the Indians, from which garrisons far in their rear 
fon of garrisons: could scarcely avail to guard them. These hostile invasions are always sudden 
and generally unforeseen, and onl) the promptest movements of troops can be of effect. It is not 
difficult to see that such movements would be greatly expedited and their effect by so much increased 
by meeting the Indians at the very door, as it were, and punishing them there, rather than by 
trusting to the uncertain chance of overtaking them after the depredations had been comniitted. 
The garrison and post of Camp Baker, for example, moved forward and established anew at the 
forks of the Musselshell, would make almost secure the whole country behind, and, in addition, 
would afford a most favorable point from which to send out scouts and reconnaissances, or, on occa- 
sion, to initiate a campaign into the Indian country. Another consideration would be that the 
farther east such a post was established the cheaper and easier it would be to supply. 
September 8.—The train came in at 9 a. m., having camped for the night five or six miles back. 
CampatHoppley’s 1 was fortunate enough, through the kindness of Lieutenant English, Seventh 
ole: Infantry, to obtain the loan for two days of an additional six-mule team, with 
which at noon we pulled out on the Carroll road, in company with Captain Browning and Lieuten- 
ant Woodruff, Seventh Infantry, made the twenty miles to Hoppley’s Hole, and camped by a spring 
just north of the road. Wood was obtained from the eastern margin of this broad and deep couwlé, 
in which, however, the grass was poor and thin. 
September 9.—Started at 7 a. m., in advance of the train, with Captain Browning and a small 
Spikeanih party, for Camp Lewis. Near the spring, in Judith Gap, a small detachment of 
\ Highteeuth Infantry men was in camp. Scattered herds of buffalo could be seen 
grazing on the prairie south of Snowy Mountains. Deviating to the right of the Carroll road, we 
kept along the foot-hills of the mountains, crossing two or three small streams, and finding the grass 
of the hill-slopes rich and luxuriant. An hour’s halt for rest was made on Little Trout Creek, and, 
resuming the journey, a heavy, recently-made Indian trail was crossed, leading northward. Lewis 
was reached at 5.15 p. m., after a rapid ride of forty-five miles. 
