APPENDIX Q Q. 1689 



15 miles. Our scouts, who have been in advance of the command, return and report a 



small Indian lodge-pole trail 8 or 1<> miles in our trout. 



November 11. — A storm gathered la>t night, and this morning the ground is covered 

 with snow, completely obscuring the Indian Trail. From 6.20 until 8 a. m. our road leads 

 over a rough, broken country, and then emerges in a tine rolling prairie. Here a severe 

 snow-storm greets us and continues all day. We cross several small streams where 

 the water stands in pools, and then over the low divide which separates the creeks, 

 until, at 2.15 p. m.. a Large running-water stream is reached, on which we encamp, 

 our march for the day being 14 miles. Plenty of cottonwood, and fair bunch and buf- 

 falo grass are found here. Indieat ions of the near presence of the Indians grow better 



as w c advance. 



November 12. — Early in the morning the command moves up the eastern branch of 

 the Big Dry, crossing and recrossing the stream many times, and passing over a country 

 which, at first broken, grows decidedly bad. Numerous deep ravines cross our road, 



and many tedious delays are made in passing them. The weather is severely cold and 

 our march is slow and wearisome. At 4 p. m.. just before reaching the Big Dry River, 

 -we are delayed in making an artificial crossing oxer the branch of the Big Dry -which 

 we have been following all day, and later by cutting a passage through the hanks of 

 the river itself. The bed of the river is nearly one-fifth of a mile in width, and much 

 quicksand alternates with the gravel strewn along the bottom. The channel proper is 

 about 20 feet in width, through which flows the clear wafer tit all seasons of the 

 year. From indications of the cut hanks, in the spring when the river reaches its max- 

 imum depth, it is probably not greater than 5 feet. The country on either side is very 

 broken, much of it being had land, and high, precipitous, sterile bluffs meet the river 

 at many points along its course. A little scrub pine is seen in the hills, and along 

 the banks of the river there is a tine growth of large cottonwood and occasionally small 

 willow. At 4 p. m. we encamp on Big Dry in a grove of cottonwood, and in a position 

 well sheltered from the severe northeast wind. Our march to-day is 12 miles. The 

 grass in cam]) is plentiful and nutritious. 



November 13. — The weather was extremely cold last night, the mercury indicating 

 12 below zero. Two parties are sent out to scout the country in different directions. 

 We remain here in camp to-day in order to recruit our stock. 



November 14 and 15, — We follow up the Big Dry. passing over its frozen bed, and 

 often experience much difficulty in moving the train through the quicksand so fre- 

 quently met with. The general nature of the country is the same as described until 

 we approach the Missouri River, when the scenery becomes less dreary and cheerless. 

 The rugged sterile hlutfs develop into low rolling hills covered with a lair growth of 

 grass, and the river widens and is more thickly timbered. Continuing up its bed we are 

 soon in sight of the high bluff of the Missouri, and at noon of the 15th encamp opposite 

 Fort Peck, about 1 mile from the Missouri River. Our marches for the two days are, 

 respectively, 2:*> and 20 miles. 



November 16. — The train has been engaged to-day in delivering rations, forage, &c., 

 on the south hank of the river. A long continuous rope, worked by the soldiers, is used 

 in •• snaking " the articles across the river, the ice being too weak to support the weight 

 of a loaded wagon. 



November 17 and 18. — We remain in cam]) on the south hank of the Missouri; the 

 weather is very cold, the thermometer indicating 10° below zero. 



November 19. — A slight rain falls during the night. In the afternoon Colonel Miles, 

 with six companies of infantry, breaks cam]) and moves to the north side of the river 

 near Fort Peck. Here we remain for the night. Captain Snyder with the remaining 

 companies of the Fifth Infantry continues in cam]) on the south side of the river. On 

 the morrow he will retrace his steps Up to the Big Dry River, and scout the country 

 in the vicinity of the Black But e. The objecl of this movement is to force the hos- 

 tiles northward toward the Missouri River, while we will make a detour ami endeavor 

 to intercept them. Fort Peck is located on the north bank of the Missouri River, 

 nearly opposite the mouth of the Big Dry. The log buildings composing the post are 

 situated in an inclosure several hundred yards in length and hall" as wide, and sur- 

 rounded by a high stockade. Immediately on the hank of the river it is sheltered from 

 the cold winds by a range of high bluffs which meet the river a short distance below 

 the post. Fort Peck was established, in 1866, as a trading post, by Abel Farwell, agent 

 forDurfee A Peck, and in 1871 the Indian agency, hitherto at Fort Browning, on Milk 

 River, was removed to Fort Peck. The interests of the government are looked after 

 by one company of infantry. It is an agency for the Tetons. Santee. and Yanktonnais 

 Sioux, Canoe Assinniboines. 



November 20. — At 6.45 a. m. we ascend the ridge back of Fort Feck, and for four hours 

 move over a slightly ascending ami rolling country, growing rich grass, until, reaching 

 a small divide, we pass it and descend to the valh\ of Willow Creek, a branch of Milk 

 River. Before reaching this stream our road has been over a hard gravelly soil, with 

 rolling prairies on both sides of the trail. We pass the creek with considerable diffi- 

 culty, and are delayed in cutting our way through its steep hanks. Use is made of tin* 



