16Y2 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



In view of the preserft excitement over the gold discoveries in the 

 Bear Paw Mountains, Lieutenant Long's report upon that neighborhood 

 will be found interesting. 



To Assistant Surgeon V. Havard's report entitled " Botanical Out- 

 lines/' &c, I would, invite special attention. 



Upon my application to the department commander, Lieut. William 

 Hoffman, Eleventh Infantry, was ordered to make a thorough reconnais- 

 sance of the Moreau River from its mouth to its source. He is now en- 

 gaged upon this work, having started from Cheyenne Agency April 28, 

 1878. This reconnaissance will fill up a very important gap. 



Unless something unforeseen should prevent, I shall organize at Fort 

 Custer, Mont., an expedition to the Bighorn Mountains and vicinity. 



In addition to the ordinary routine work of the office reports have 

 been submitted upon the following subjects, viz : 



I. Improvement of the Yellowstone River, with map, for the benefit of 

 Mr. Thomas L. Rosser, chief engineer Northern Pacific Railroad (by 

 order of department commander). 



II. Forestry of the department, with map, for the Commissioner of 

 Agriculture (by order 6f the Chief of Engineers). 



III. Report upon certain repairs to be made at Fort Snelling, Minn. 

 Preparations were also made to observe the transit of Mercury, but 



in consequence of heavy clouds daring the time of contacts no results 

 were obtained. 



The topographical assistant, with two of the enlisted men of the engi- 

 neer detachment, left Saint Paul May 20, 1878, for the purpose of sur- 

 veying the reservation of Fort Keogh, Mont. 



Yery respectfully, yoir#)bedient servant, 



Edw. Magkjire, 

 First Lieutenant Corps of Engineers, 

 Chief Engineer Department of Dakota. 

 The Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. 



1.— REPORT OF LIEUT. L. R. HARE, ACTING ENGINEER OFFICER, OF 

 MARCH OF THE SEVENTH CAVALRY DURING SUMMER AND FALL OF 



1877. 



Saint Paul, Minn., January 24, 1878. 



Sir : I have the honor to transmit (herewith a report of the march made by the Seventh 

 Cavalry, under command of Col. S. D. Sturgis, Seventh Cavalry, during the summer 

 and fall of 1877. 



In addition to my report,! inclose a paper by Assistant Surgeon V. Havard, U. S. A.,. 

 upon the botany of the portion of country passed over by the command, Avhich will 

 be found to contain a list of all the more important species of vegetation found in that 

 country. 



I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



L. R. Hake, 

 First Lieutenant of Seventh Cavalry. 

 Lieut. Edward Maguire, 



Corps of Engineers, Chief Engineer Department of Dakota. 



REPORT. 



The command, consisting of eleven companies of the Seventh Cavalry, was encamped! 

 the 2d day of May one mite and a naif directly east of Fori Lincoln, and on ihe 3d 

 left this first camp, marching 15.3 miles to Burnt Creek, passing through Bismarck. 

 The road was in good condition, the wagon-train coming into camp soon after the 

 column : Burnt Creek bridged. Wood was found in Hindi quantities about half a mile 



