Rocky Mountains. 431 



In all our marches we observed the following order. 

 Capt. Bell, mounted on a horse whose gate was regular and 

 uniform, and well calculated for the estimation of distances, 

 preceded the party, attended by our guide. — The soldiers 

 and attendants, formed into two squads, for the better ma- 

 nagement of the pack horses, followed in single file. — The 

 scientific gentlemen occupied any part of the line that 

 best suited their convenience. — Major Long followed 

 in the rear, for the purpose of superintending the re-adjust- 

 ment of deranged pucks, and urging any disposed to linger, 

 to the observance of a close order of march; a duty attended 

 with no inconsiderable trouble and perplexity. 



Though our route lay at the distance of several miles from 

 the Platte, we could distinctly see the narrow and inter- 

 rupted line of timber which grows along its course, and, oc- 

 casionally, we had a transient view of the river itself, spread- 

 ing like an expansive lake, and embosoming innumerable 

 islands. About eighteen miles from our encampment, our 

 course led us into the valley of a small river, called La petite 

 Coquille or Muscleshell creek, which we ascended six miles, 

 not deviating from the course we had taken. In the middle 

 of the day we encountered a violent thunder-storm without 

 dismounting from our horses. The plain about us, for a 

 great distance, was destitute of timber, and so level that our 

 party formed the most prominent object in an extent of seve- 

 ral miles. It is not surprising that, in this situation, we 

 were a little startled at seeing the lightning strike upon the 

 ground, at the distance of two hundred yards from us. We 

 could not have been deceived, in relation to this appearance, 

 as we distinctly saw the water and mud thrown several feet 

 into the air by the shock. The storm was so violent that, 

 notwithstanding all our care, we could not prevent our bag- 

 gage from being wet. We crossed the Coquille six miles 

 above the place where it enters the valley of the Platte. This 



