APPENDIX QQ. 1677 



• 



On the 18th, marched 21.45 miles to a camp on Long < !reek, following :i divide from 

 Che river, along which a very good road was found with n<> difficult obstructions. 

 Water was found in pools and springs. These springs furnish water in small quanti- 

 ties the entire year. Grass isveryiine (buffalo) wood scarce This is an important 

 * am] > in passing by this route from the Yellowstone to the Muscleshell, as it is the 

 only place where water is found until after crossing the divide. 



On the 10th. marched '.VJ.IA miles to the Muscleshel] River, crossing the divide at 9 

 a. in. The ascent is very steep, inn a good road was cut out by Colonel Stanley in 

 i'?:;. which is still in good condition. On the northern slope the descent is gradual, 

 with one exception, to the Muscleshell. This one exception consists of a very steep 

 hill, down which it was difficult to pass the wagons. From the highest point of the 

 divide an extensive view is obtained of the .Muscleshel! Valley, and at this time the 

 valley was covered with immense herds of buffalo. To the west the Crazy Woman 

 Range is in plain sight, its Bummits covered with snow; on the north, the Little 

 Snowy Range, similarly clad. The country along the Muscleshell is broken and hilly; 

 the valleys narrow, but very fertile. The bottoms are covered with a growth of Cot- 

 tonwood and ash (cottonwood mostly), with an occasional scrub-oak. The hills have 

 i growth (sparse) of scrub pine and cedar. The river is a Bwift-rnnning stream, with 

 an average depth of about 18 inches and 20 yards in width. The features of this 

 country, with its magnificent grass pastures, make it the best game country of this 

 entire region. The broken grounds furnish hiding places for deer. elk. hear, and all 

 ■other game in great abundance, while the prairies are covered with buffalo during the 

 milder months. Grass was scarce in camp, hut this was due to the buffalo having been 

 in such immense herds that they had eaten it all off. 



On the 20th the command remained in camp awaiting arrival of supply-train, which 

 fame in about 9 p. m. 



On the morning of the 21st. dispatches were received which informed the command- 

 ing officer that the Nez Perces had changed direction and were moving in the direction 

 of the Wind River country. General Sturgis determined to turn toward the Yellow- 

 stone, intending to intercept them if they came down the Yellowstone or out of the 

 Taik by way of Clark's Fork. The route lay along a divide running south, the road 

 being very good, including crossings to small streams. Camp was made 17.85 miles 

 from Muscleshell, on the headwaters of a small tributary; water, grass, and wood 

 plenty. The ascent to the divide was difficult, hut the best here of any point that I 



have seen. 



On the 22d marched. 22.90 miles to Big Willow Creek, passing through afl alkali flat 

 for ahout 5 miles at the headwaters of Canon Creek. This flat would be impassable in 

 wet weather, hut a good wagon-road can always he found skimming the foot-hills to 

 the west of the road. Big Willow Creek is a small stream fed by springs which fur- 

 nish water the year around; grass and wood plenty for camping purposes. 



On the 23d mart lied to Yellowstone, 2 miles above mouth of Stillwater, camping 

 near Huntington's ranch. This route from the Muscleshell is the most practicable of 

 any in this region, there being only two difficult places, the ascent to the divide from 

 the Muscleshell. and the descent to the Yellowstone bottom from same direction. A 

 road has been cut around the point opposite the mouth of Stillwater, over which 

 toll is exacted. 



On the 24th remained in camp, and on 25th marched to Crow Agency, fording the 

 Yellowstone opposite Huntington's ranch. The ford is very difficult on account of 

 the velocity of the current, the striam at this point being a perfect torrent, and also 

 the great number of rounded stones on the river-bed. It is fordable only in low-water 

 (latter part of August. Septemher, and Octoher). The stream separates into two 

 channels ahout 100 yards wide each. The Stillwater is a mountain torrent, the water 

 moving at a velocity of about 10 miles an hour with an average depth of 1 foot and 

 20 yards in width. The valley Ls \ try fertile and surrounding country beautiful. The 

 hills which inclose on each side are covered with pine and cedar to a point ahout 2 

 miles below the agency, from whence there is a depression to the mountain base, which 

 has no timber except along streansu The Snow Mountains are ahout 20 miles south 

 of Crow Agency, and were then covered with snow, hut this was unusual, as the snow 

 generally melts off in .Inly and does not cover them again until Septemher. The 

 command remained at Crow Agency until the 31st. The weather was delightful, cool 

 breezee coming down from the mountain continually, invigorating men and animals. 



On the 31st the command marched to Bandans Fork (local name "Bed Lodge 

 Creek"), 11.47 miles, which is a small, sluggish stream tributary to Rocky Fork, and is 

 peculiar for its current only, which differs from the other mountain streams by reason 

 of its slow current. Trout, that are found in great numbers in the bolder mountain 

 creeks, shun this almost entirely. The road was very good with the exception of the 

 hill at the agency, which is very steep, requiring three teams to pull up one wagon. 

 It leads nvcr a hroken country which LS covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, but 

 destitute of timber except along creek bottoms, (amp on Bandans Fork; plenty of 

 wood, water, and grass. 



