352 



RECREATION. 



The timber around it is thicker. The 

 water is ice cold in both lakes, and no bet- 

 ter water is found anywhere. 



From the lakes we went to the Mead 

 ows, a large park surrounded on 3 sides 

 by timber. Next morning, on account of 

 some pack mules having strayed off, the 

 troops did not start until 7. The infantry 

 received orders to go back to the lakes, 

 camp there 2 days, and then return to the 

 post. After going 15 miles we camped, at 

 12.45 P- m., on a little creek, tributary to 

 Paint Rock, which flows into the Big 

 Horn basin. 



On August 6th the troops moved off at 

 6.45. We were approaching the Big Horn 

 basin, which lies below the Western slope 

 of the Big Horn mountains. We rode 

 through huge sage brush, whose tops we 

 could hardly reach when on horseback. 

 The mountain slope is cut into steps by the 

 projecting rim rocks. Everything was 

 soon covered by the fine dust kicked up by 

 our horses. 



On the trail we passed the place where 

 a young Englishman chased a big horn 

 sheep over a precipice. A granite monu- 

 ment low marks the spot. At noon we 

 reached John Luman's ranch, on Paint 

 Rock, and went into camp. Mr. Luman 

 sent us some sweet corn and new potatoes, 



which tasted delicious after so much bacon 

 and hardtack. 



The next day we began the ascent of the 

 Western slope, and could again see Clouds 

 Peak to the Southeast. We made 18 miles 

 before camping. 



August 8th was a cold day; water froze 

 in the canteens. The first 5 or 6 miles of 

 our march was over an exceedingly steep 

 trail. Crossing Shell creek, we saw bear 

 tracks in the mud. From that point grass 

 became more abundant and the country 

 grew better. Timber was large and clear 

 of underbrush. 



At 1. 15 we crossed the Sibley battle 

 ground. There, on the 29th day of July, 

 1876, 30 men — U. S. Cavalry — headed by 

 Frank Grouard, escaped from a surround- 

 ing chain of over 1,500 Sioux. We reached 

 the town of Dayton at 7.30 p. m., after rid- 

 ing 46/2 miles since morning. We were 

 off the next day at 7.15 and reached Sheri- 

 dan at 12.45, where wagons from the post 

 met us. I have neglected to say that after 

 leaving Shell creek we traveled on the 

 Phil Sheridan trail several miles, and as 

 far as we followed it, found it as distinct 

 as though made the year before. 



Arrived Piney crossing at 12 m., Au- 

 gust 10th, after a ride of 26 miles. There 

 I left the troops at 4 p. m. and rode on 

 home — 16 miles. 



SAIL SKATING AT PETOSKEY, MICH. 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY GEO E. SPtfANGE 



