TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, 17 
troops are required to guard the passes and make frequent scouts, sometimes of considerable extent, 
and hence spend but little time in garrison. At the date of my arrival, two companies were absent, 
one scouting, the other acting as escort to the party of the Secretary of War in the Yellowstone 
Park, while a third was preparing for the field, and started early next morning. 
August 10.—Employed the day in preparations for the trip to the park. The greater portion of 
the necessary pack-animals were then in the park, and my arrival was fortunately 5. amations for 
timed, since they were on the return, and expected back in two or three days. By the trip into tho el: 
advancing to meet them, double that time could be saved. Accordingly,the bag- 
gage was reduced to the smallest possible amount. All tranks and boxes were left bebind, and the 
necessary articles put into canvas sacks, brought from Saint Paul for the purpose. Tents were dis- 
carded and only tent-flies carried. The instruments were carefully rolled in bundles of bedding, 
and the basket containing the chronometers strapped to the spring-seat of the odometer-cart, 
Riding-animals were obtained and a six-mule team secured to carry the baggage and stores until 
the pack-train should be met. Toward evening we went into camp about three 
miles southeast from Ellis, on Coal or Rocky Cajion Creek, a small affluent of the 
Gallatin, uniting with it near the fort. 
August 11.—Broke camp at 6 a. m., and proceeded across the creek and up its valley. The 
trail followed the creek-bottom, crossing it several times, and over a rocky, hilly 
road, through a caiion of considerable grandeur, shaded by lofty, precipitous lime- 
stone pinnacles. The general course was south and east, up the east bank of the creek, gradually 
ascending and bending more to the southward. The road improved, the available space becoming 
greater and the hills less steep. Crossing a low divide extending across the valley, the head of 
Trail Creek, a tributary of the Yellowstone, was reached. Through both creek- 
valleys, the flies were very numerous and annoying. There are two ranches on 
Trail Creek, the second one twenty-five miles from Ellis, where the creek-valley widened and entered 
that of the Yellowstone, which presented the familiar features of a broad, dry, stony stretch of 
prairie, sloping down to a beautiful stream, with borders fringed with trees. The 
river has a stony and gravelly bed, an impetuous current of six or seven miles an 
hour, a depth of as many feet, and width of about 100 yards. The waters, constantly freshened by 
mountain springs and torrents, are cold and clear, and alive with trout of great size and variety, 
These range in weight from half a pound to two pounds and upward. Their favorite food is the 
grasshopper, great numbers of which fall into the stream, but they will also take the fly freely. 
The Snow Mountains border the river on the south and east, their lofty pinnacles glittering 
with snow. Chief among the range is Emigrant Peak, rising 6,000 feet above the 
valley and attaining an altitude of 11,500 feet above the sea. It is a very hand- 
some mountain, of fine outline and great richness of coloring. Débouching from Trail Creek, the 
road bends south and west up the left bank of the river. We here met the party of the Secretary 
of War, in two spring-wagons, going in to Ellis. The pack-train had been left behind at Gardner’s 
River Springs, to follow more leisurely. Pushing on up the valley, crossing several small brooks 
flowing from the mountains, and passing two or three ranches, camp was made Chinn rear Bek 
near Bottler’s ranch, half-way to the Mammoth Springs and thirty-five miles from — “¢’s Baveh- 
Ellis. Sufficient wood was readily attainable, and a swift-flowing brook was close at hand; but the 
grass, never luxuriant, had been thinned by frequent camping. 
August 12.—Broke camp at 8 a.m. The road passed Bottler’s ranch, where travelers can find 
fairly good food and todging, and proceeded up the level valley to a rocky point coming down from 
the mountains to theriver-bank. Surmounting this, we followed up the valley again, crossing two or 
three rude but sufficient bridges, at one of which was a toll-house. Itappeared that 44) :oaa from 
a company in Bozeman had obtained a territorial charter for a toll road from that oe a Pera 
place to the Mammoth Springs. The road had been made practicable for wagons, _ner’s River Springs. 
and considerable work expended upon it up to the toll-bridge; but the main labor directed to the 
caiion above, which had hitherto been a serious obstacle and impassable to vehicles. Continuing, 
the road bent more to the south, and entered the cafion, following a hilly trail, blasted out of the 
rocks. The cafion is some three miles in length, and the view from the highest partof — second Cason of 
the road is very fine. The river, compressed to a width of 75 or 80 feet, is of a rich "B® ¥elowstone. 
3 W 
Camp on Coal Creek. 
Cajion on Coal Creek. 
Trail Creek. 
Yellowstone River. 
Emigrant Peak. 
