1698 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



stream with cut "banks and rain-water in pools. This is Spring Creek, which flows to 

 the northeast through a rolling country as far as the eye can reach. To the south- 

 east, and ahout 10 miles from our trail, Black Butte stands prominently projected 

 against the horizon. A short distance on we experience a little difficulty in crossing 

 a dry branch of this stream, which, like Spring Creek, is timbered with cottonwood 

 and forms a junction with it a few miles below. Passing from here, the road ascends 

 gradually tlirough a rolling country, somewhat broken on either side of our trail, until 

 reaching a high divide which separates the waters of the creeks passed during the day 

 from those of Squaw Creek, it soon reaches a point where the divide falls almost pre- 

 cipitously, and is lost in a confusion of had lands. Darkness comes, and groping our 

 way through these mauvaises terres we follow the tortuous course of a small fork of 

 Squaw Creek, which flows westward tlirough a narrow valley hemmed in by high and 

 rugged hills clothed with pine. Finally we make camp at 10 p. m., after a weary and 

 fatiguing march of 35.83 miles. Pools of alkaline water are found, and cottonwood 

 grows in abundance along the hanks, where is found grass of a very fair quality. 



September 23. — The morning discloses the wild and picturesque scenery by whj , h 

 we are surrounded on every side. Towering abo^e us to the height of several hun- 

 dred feet, the rugged sandstone bluffs, beautifully tinted by the alkaline constituents 

 of the soil, and the different colored strata are somewhat relieved by numerous deep 

 ravines clothed with pine. Reaching the summit of one of the highest of the bluffs, 

 we see that they break away to the north and south in a bad-land waste. The only 

 course open to us is to follow the sinuosities of the creek on which we encamped last 

 night ; and picking our way through the huge masses of rock that have found a rest- 

 ing-place in the bed of the stream we follow its course about 10 miles, where it joins 

 the main fork of Squaw Creek coming in from the northeast. The valley now widens 

 and groves of cottonwood line its banks, crossing and recrossing the stream many 

 times; its gravelly bed, free from quicksand, does not delay our trains, and continuing 

 our march for 5 miles, at 11 a. m. we give the stock the benefit of the water, slightly 

 alkaline, found in pools, and of several hours' grazing on the luxuriant grass that 

 grows in the bottom. The Missouri River is but a few miles ahead of us. We see its 

 high bluffs standing out in bold relief, and trace its course some little distance by the 

 thick timber that grows so abundantly in its valley. Some anxiety being experienced 

 for fear that we may have to wait possibly several days for a steamer to ferry the 

 command to the north side of the river, Lieutenant Biddle, Seventh Cavalry, is sent 

 ahead with instructions to hail any passing boat and endeavor to induce it to wait 

 until the command comes up. Soon a messenger returns from that officer with the 

 welcome news that a steamer awaits us — au assurance that we will not be delayed in 

 crossing. Breaking camp we continue our course down Squaw Creek over a fair 

 road, and soon come to the valley of the Missouri, where passing through the rank 

 growth of sage-bushes and underbrush at 7 p m. we encamp on the south bank of the 

 river, our total day's march being 21.57 miles. Since leaving the Yellowstone we had 

 marched 146 miles, and the miserable water from the alkalescent to the strongly alkaline 

 had begun to tell on men and animals, but the refreshing draughts of the pure Missouri 

 River water, served to reinvigorate to restore the spirit and animation, and to relieve 

 the fatigue. 



September 24. — We are up early this morning and actively engaged all day in ferry- 

 ing the train and cavalry across the river. In the angle formed by the Missouri and 

 Musselshell rivers, to the south of the former and east of the latter, is an upheaval of 

 nature terrible to contemplate for military purposes — the high sterile bluffs separated 

 by dee}) gorges, ravines, and gulches, worn by waters coursing through the loose soil 

 until canons are formed; and through this kind of a country we must needs find a 

 pathway for our pack animals. Starting at 7 p. m. in the darkness, after considerable 

 trouble we find a buffalo trail and follow its crooked windings, balancing ourselves 

 on the precipitious side of a bluff, at whose base, hundreds of feet below, Hows the 

 Musselshell, or ascend the steep slopes of the high banks only to Hud a steeper 

 declivity awaiting us. However, we soon reached a- gravelly ford of this river, about 

 100 yards in width and 18 inches dee]), some 3 miles from its mouth. Crossing to its left 

 bank, we passed down its valley cut by arroyos and with a heavy growth of sage- 

 bushes; crossed Crooked Creek, and at 11 p. m. reached the Missouri again on the 

 west side of the Musselshell, near its mouth. No odometer could he used, and the 

 estimated distance of our night's march is 8 miles. 



September 25. — At 10 a. m. the steamer Fontenelle crossed the pack-train, mounted 

 infantry, and pari of the cavalry, to the north side of the Missouri, and skirting the 

 low hills that touch the river at this point we soon reach an opening, growing rich 

 bunch and bottom grass and bordered by large cottonwood. The low-foot-hills to the 

 west incline toward the north and develop into a ridge of high bluffs which offers 

 shelter from the tierce wind blowing from that direction. Here we find our train 

 which was ferried across the river the day previous. For years t he Mussel shell country 

 has been a favorite hunting-ground for the Sioux Indians, and in their migraf ions north- 

 ward they have followed the trail up Squaw Creek, crossing the Missouri near the 

 point where We are encamped. 



