APPENDIX Q Q. 1G91 



December 1. — From information received, the commanding officer sends Lieutenant 

 Baldwin and two companies of infantry To Fort Peck, while with Tin- remaining portion 

 of the command lit- moved in tin- direction of Fort Hawley. Starting at 1<> a. m., we 

 are delayed two hoars in gaining The Top of the high ridge immediately in rear of camp. 

 From this point the trail is over a rolling country until 5 p. m., when we reach the 

 headwaters of a small creek. We aTT.-in j>t to pass through the low pine-covered lulls, 

 which narrow Tin- valley of the small creek, but the country is too broken. Continu- 

 ing down iis valley we cross and recross The creek many times. Often the Train Takes 

 The bed of the stream, and frequently iT is delayed by The quicksand. At 9p. m. we reach 

 a creek 4" feet in width, water in pools, and considerable cottonwood along its hanks. 

 Here we encamp near The Missouri River, alter a tiresome march of 19 miles. 



December 2. — At 7.15 a. m. we leave camp, and skirting The low hills that run 

 parallel t<> The river, soon reach iTs bank, but not before The expenditure of much Time 

 and labor in cutting a roadway through The thick growth of underbrush which at 

 this point extends several hundred yards hack from the river. A passage way is 

 soon made through the cut hanks, and crossing The river on The ice we soon reach old 

 Fort Hawley. Here we see what remains of the trading-post, long ago abandoned. A 

 few pieces of burnt timber scattered about, the remnants of an iron stove, and several 

 graves marked by wooden headboards, are all that is left. Passing from here we are 

 occupied until dusk in reaching the top of the high bluffs back of the old fort, and 

 This is accomplished only by The most severe exertion. From The top of the ridge we 

 obtain a tine view of the river-valley, and for miles can follow the beautiful sinuosi- 

 ties of the Missouri, and plainly see the Linle Rockies, 4<» miles distant To The north- 

 ward from cam]). Our day's march is 3§ miles. Good grass and water in cam}). 

 Bed cedar is used for Tire-wood, and is abundant in the bluffs. 



December 3. — Leaving camp at 6.30 a. m. our road is fair until we reach the valley of 

 of Crooked Creek. In the morning we pass through a country of rolling hills, occa- 

 sionally broken, and covered with a growth of fine grass. In the valleys and ravines, 

 ■fl w ell as on the summits ami sides of the hills, the yellow pine and red cedar thrive, 

 softening The rugged outline of the hills, and lending depth and shape to the naked 

 glen in the farthest recess of which the deer rinds a safe retreat. Crooked Creek well 

 deserves irs name. Winding interminably through its narrow sterile valley. iT has a 

 bed 30 feet in width, with much quicksand and little alkaline water. The bluffs on 

 either side are high, grow a little- scattered pine, and serve to conceal the broken 

 country that extends many miles farther hack. We pass down The valley of The creek. 

 which is crossed many Times, and at 1.45 p. m. encamp on iTs bank, after marching 

 13 miles. In camp fair buffalo-grass, some cottonwood, and poor water. 



7 >• i ■ mill ;• 4. — We starT at »'».:><» a.m. and continue down Crooked Creek until 10 a.m.. 

 crossing numerous ravines and passing over a very had road until, leaving The valley 

 of This stream, we emerge into that of the Musselshell, near The month of the river. 

 Here we met Captain Bennett and his detachment. The valley of The Musselshell is 

 about 1 mile in width and is covered with a sparse growth of bottom-grass and much 

 cactus and sage-brush. The high bluffs are on both sides. Toward The east they 

 break away into had land and toward The west into broken country. Much scattered 

 pine grows in the bluffs and ravines, while the valley is abundantly timbered with 

 Large cottonwood. The river, about 100 feet wide, has running water and a gravelly 

 bottom, with small willows growing thickly along its hanks. We continue up The 

 valley of The river for '1 miles, and at 11 a. m. encamp in a grove of cottonwood on iTs 

 hank, having marc lied 6J miles. In The valley deer are plenty and many are secured. 



December b. — Scouts having been sent to find a wagon-road through the bluffs on the 

 east si.h- of the river, report that it w ill be impossible to get a train through. At 6.45 

 a. in. we break camp and retrace our way until Crooked Creek is reached and crossed. 

 Directly after, we cross the Musselshell on the ice near its month, and passing close to 

 The foot of The high cut blnffs ,,f the Missouri soon reach a point near Squaw Creek, 

 opposite our camp of November 25. Here much time is occupied in cutting a road- 

 way around the toot of The precipitous bluff, and farther on. in order To reach The level 

 ground above, The wagons are unloaded and mules unhitched, and both The wagons ami 

 Their contents are dragged up The hill-side by men. We encamp near here on the 

 south bank of the Missouri, where good grass, water, and plenty of cottonwood are 

 found. The distance marched to-day is ? miles. 



December 6. — At 5.30 a.m. we break camp and. crossing To Squaw Creek, enter iTs 

 valley, up which we move over a fair Trail, passing over the gravelly bed of the creek 

 many times before reaching camp at 2 p.m. The creek flows through a well-wooded 

 valley about half a mile in width, which gradually contracts as the bluffs on either 

 side become higher and more precipitous. In The valley fair grass and cottonwood are 

 found, while The bluffs and ravines grow an abundance of pine and cedar. No tpiick- 

 sand met with in the creek, and the water standing in pools is strongly alkaline. Out- 

 march to-day is lti : i miles 



December 7. — The branch of Squaw Creek that we are following becomes smaller and 

 much more winding; the high bluffs confine iT more closely, and iT is a work of labor 



