1688 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



2. JOURNAL OF THE MARCHES MADE BY THE FORCES UNDER THE COM- 

 MAND OF COLONEL NELSON A. MILES, FIFTH INFANTRY, IN 1876 AND 

 1-77. BY LIEUT. O. F. LONG, FIFTH INFANTRY, ACTING ENGINEER OF- 

 FICER. 



Sin: I have the honor to submit the following report of the marches made by the 

 commands under Col. N. A. Miles, Fifth United States Infantry, in 1S76 and 1877. 



FORT PECK EXPKDITIOX. 



After Colonel Miles's engagement with Sitting Bull near the headwaters of Cedar 

 Creek, in October, the latter had moved northward, and, it was rumored, was encamped 

 on the Big Dry River or one of its tributaries. The authenticity of these rumors was 

 confirmed by the report of scouts who proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, the presence 

 of the Sioux chieftain in that section of country. An expedition was organized, and 

 all the available force that could be spared from the cantonment was brought into 

 requisition to swell the numbers of the command and make it as formidable as circum- 

 stances would permit. 



November 6. — At 9 a. m. the train reached the table-land on the north bank of 

 the Yellowstone, immediately opposite the cantonment, the ferrying across the river 

 having been commenced the previous day. We cross the small plateau diagonally 

 over a hard road, and passing through the breaks of the creek with considerable diffi- 

 culty and many delays by reason of the deep arroyos that so frequently cross our trail, 

 finally reach the valley of Sunday Creek. Before midday we cross the creek four 

 times, at the first of which the loose quicksand yields readily to the pressure of the 

 heavy Army wagon, and much trouble is experienced in getting the train through. 

 From this time until camp we pass through the narrow valley of the creek hemmed 

 in by low sterile hills, the sides and top of which are coAered with disintegrated igneous 

 rock. Occasionally a little hematite is seen, and in the cut banks of the stream may 

 be traced small veins of lignite of little density or consistence, and which by exposure 

 to the air readily reduces to pow r der. At 2.30 p. m. we again cross the creek and en- 

 camp, having marched 9 miles. In camp plenty of wood, fair bunch and bottom 

 grass, and alkaline water. 



November 7. — In the morning at 6.45 we pass up the valley of Sunday Creek, which 

 gradually widens and abounds in sage-brush and cactus. The windings of the stream 

 are more numerous, and before 11.30 a. m. we cross the creek eleven times. At many 

 of the places the cutting of the banks is rendered necessary, and artificial crossings 

 are made. Then passing over a few miles of rolling country, where numerous herds of 

 buffalo are seen grazing on the fine grass that grows here so luxuriantly, we again 

 cross Sunday Creek anil encamp on its bank. The day's march is 12.5 miles. The 

 water is very alkaline, wood plenty, and grass good. 



November 8. — At 6.40 a. m. we leave the creek on which we encamped last night, and 

 wind among and over the low foot-hills that lead to the Missouri and Yellowstone 

 divide, over a trail that is hard and dry. Vast herds of antelope and buffalo are seen. 

 In many places we pass through drifts of pebble, where the grass which grows so 

 abundantly elsewhere is stunted and sparse. The road is gradually ascending until 

 cam]) at 1 p. m., when we reach a small creek where the water, intensely alkaline, is 

 found in holes. Buffalo chips are used as a substitute for wood, and the bunch and 

 buffalo grass are fair. Distance marched is 19 miles. 



November 9. — Six a. m. finds us again on the march, and for two hours we pass over 

 a Hue rolling country, until reaching the top of the main divide the trail gradually 

 descends to the valley of a small branch of the Big Dry River, were poor grass, no 

 wood, and little water are found. From lien-, passing over a slightly-rolling country 

 and experiencing some difficulty at the crossing of one dee]) arroyo, at 2 p. in., having 

 inarched 20 miles, we encamp on a branch of the Big Dry. It is about 12 feet in width, 

 with running water, slightly alkaline, and plenty of Cottonwood for the fires. The 

 grass near camp is of an inferior quality and grows sparsely in the poor soil. 



November 10. — Leaving camp' at 6 a. m., for 5 miles our road is good, leading over a 

 tine rolling prairie. The landscape then changes and the country becomes diversified 

 and broken. At 8.30 a. m. we cross a large fork of the Big Dry. where good water is 

 found in abundance, and but little wood and poor grass. Soon after we are delayed 

 by the work necessary to make a crossing over a bad arroyo. Continuing through the 

 broken land, at 12 m. the gravelly bed of a Large stream with running water is reached 

 and passed. There is no wood in sight along the banks of the stream and the grass con- 

 tinues poor. At 12.30 p. m. a large eastern fork of the Big Dry is crossed. This is the 

 largest stream we have seen since leaving the Yellowstone, about 50 feet in width, with 

 low-cut banks, gravelly bed, and running water slightly alkali. It has a good growth of 

 Cottonwood along its banks, but the grass which grows in the sandy soil is thin and scat- 

 tered. At 2 }>. m. we cross this creek again and encamp on its bank, having marched 



