1694 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



noon to-day we make camp, having lost much time in making a roadway among the 

 dead cottonwood that is found scattered about in this part of the valley. We cross 

 the river once to-day, and the ice, made weak by recent rains, will scarcely support the 

 weight of our heavily-loaded wagons. 



In the morning at 7 we continue the advance, passing over a trail which in dry 

 weather would he good, hut now hy reason of excessive rains and melting snow is 

 rendered heavy. 



We cross the river six times before making camp at 3.15 p. m. near the month of 

 Otter Creek. A cold, continuous rain falls during the day, making it exceedingly dis- 

 agreeable for men and animals. 



Otter Creek is a stream of the third order, and almost as large as Tongue River 

 itself. Its valley is quite wide and well wooded, and the running water flowing over 

 a gravelly bed is but slightly alkaline and very clear. This creek is well known to 

 the Indians, and the large, well-worn trails running through its valley testify to the 

 use they have made of it when passing from the south to the north on their hunting 

 expeditions or predatory excursions. 



January 5. — At 7.30 a. m. we are again on the march. The valley begins to narrow 

 and the windings of the river are much more frequent. High cut bluffs meet it and 

 render frequent crossings necessary. Sandstones and shales occur in large quantities 

 in the bluffs, and occasionally is seen a slight sprinkling of hematite. "Many artifi- 

 cial crossings of the river are rendered necessary, and until noon the march is slow, 

 tedious, and difficult. 



Continuing up the river valley, we soon enter Wolf Mountains, the snow-capped 

 peaks of which tower above us to the height of several hundred feet. 



The deep canon of the mountain's meeting the valley break away into ravines, and 

 these in their turn become as ramous as the roots of a tree. The valley is covered 

 with drift containing many beautiful specimens of quartz. Again we are visited with 

 a severe and continuous rain, making the road heavy and everybody uncomfortable. 

 Early in the afternoon we pass through a large Indian camp more than a mile in 

 length, with every indication of its recent occupation. At 5 p. m., after marching 14| 

 miles, we make camp. 



Moving out of camp at 7.30 a. m., we follow up the valley of the river, crossing 

 the latter four times, and each time with considerable difficulty cutting away the 

 banks to facilitate the crossing, and in several instances the weakened ice to make a 

 ford. A blinding snow-storm commences early in the morning, lasting all day, and 

 through this the little command moved undauntedly, endeavoring to lessen the dis- 

 tance between it and the hostiles. At 2.50 p. m. Hanging Woman's Creek isreachea. 

 It is an eastern branch of the river, quite large, with running water and a valley half 

 a mile in width, well wooded as tar as the eye can reach. At 4 p. m. we encamp; 

 having reached 15 miles. The grass in the valley is better, being more abundant ami 

 nutritions. A little ash is interspersed with the cottonwood along the banks of the 

 river, and plenty of yellow pine is seen on the mountain-side and lining the ravines. 

 AVe pass to-day through several large Indian camps, in the last of which a few emaci- 

 ated Indian ponies are quietly grazing. The tires are still smoldering, and many 

 lodge-poles and Indian trinkets lie scattered about. We infer from this that the camp 

 is aware of our presence, has been moving slowly, and is but a short distance in ad- 

 vance of us. Soon darkness comes, and the snow continues falling, while the cold is 

 intense, the mercury sinking many degrees below zero. 



January 7. — At 7.30 a. m. we continue the advance, cross the river three times, and 

 experience so much difficulty in making headway that we encamp after 1*2 m., having 

 marched but 2^ miles. Our scouts, who have been in advance of the command, 

 return, bringing with them eight Cheyenne captives, among them two young bucks, 

 with ponies, lodges, and all their paraphernalia, having captured them a few miles in 

 our front. Again they were sent out on a seont, with instructions to locate, if possi- 

 ble, the Indian camp. At dusk firing was heard up the valley, the companies were 

 quickly deployed as skirmishers around the camp, and the colonel commanding, tak- 

 ing three companies and a piece of field-artillery, moved forward to the relief of his 

 scouts. Indians were seen riding around the hills on both sides of the \ alley, and the 

 firing still continued. The assistance had arrived none too soon, for the brave scouts. 

 having been corralled by more than 100 Indians, had taken to the brush, and were 

 fighting against heavy odds in true frontier style. They were soon released from their 

 precarious situation uninjured, but several of their horses were killed in the skirmish. 

 Orders were given to have the pack-train in readiness for the morrow. Daylight on 

 the morning of January 8 revealed to us the close proximity of the Indian camp, and 

 the position we occupied with respect to it. The broad bottom-land of the valley, 

 extending several miles in our front, is broken here and there by the windings of the 

 river and the groves of cottonwood. Wolf Mountains on both sides of the river and 

 a short distance from it break into ranges of hills which extend to the valley and are 

 perpendicular to it. Immediately in rear of camp is a high cut bluff, commanding an 

 extensive view of the valley in front and the low hills in rear of camp; but this, in 



