336 
FROM FORT HALL TO HEAD OF HELL GATE RIVER. 
streamlets, is well calculated for the purposes of grazing. We heard, while at this place, of the 
lamentable fate of Captain Gunnison and his party, who, being in command of a Pacific Railroad 
Exploration, was massacred by the Utah Indians within two hundred miles of Salt Lake City. 
It caused a feeling of sadness and sympathy in our small party. We sincerely regretted that we 
could not have been within reaching distance, to have given our assistance and aid to this band 
of explorers through the mountains, whose pathway through the country of a hostile tribe of 
Indians was accompanied with peril, danger, and difficulty. This we deemed a fit and proper 
subject for our government to take notice of, and to visit upon these Indians retaliation, with 
marked severity. At 12 m. we resumed our march up the Snake River valley, accompanied 
by Captain Grant, who, in addition to his kindness in affording us the hospitality and comfort of 
his home, has travelled with us to our night’s camp. Journeying up the Snake River valley six 
miles, we encamped on its left bank; finding here good grass, wood, and water. 
The night of this day was mild and slightly cloudy; the thermometer at 9 p. m. being 28°. 
December 20, 1853.—Commences clear and cool; thermometer at sunrise 22°. We had a 
slight fall of snow during the night; it being quite cold, with wind Horn west-southwest. Jour¬ 
neying a distance of six miles along the left bank of the Snake river, we reached the crossing; 
finding the river partly frozen over, and the rapid current of the channel carrying down much 
floating ice, which was from two to three inches thick. Journeying along the right bank of the 
Snake river through the sage desert, though by a very good trail for the distance of fifteen miles, 
we encamped, it being our camp of the 12th; about sunset we were joined by two Snake Indians, 
who were on their way up the Snake River valley to join their main camp. 
At sunset the thermometer stood at 21° ; at 9 p. m. 24°. 
December 21, 1853.—Commences cold and snowing; the snow at sunrise being an inch deep, 
with the thermometer at 22°. We were delayed till 10 a. m. this morning, searching for our 
animals that had strayed some miles from camp, when we resumed our march through the sage 
desert along the right bank of the Snake river. Travelling a distance of twenty-six miles, we 
encamped on the right bank of the Snake river, finding good grass, wood, and water; the river 
being frozen over from bank to bank sufficiently hard to bear our animals. 
December 22, 1553.—Commences cold and misty; thermometer at sunrise 6° below zero; it was 
very cold during the night. 1 had intended to remain in camp to-day, to send back to our camp 
of the night previous for an instrument left there; but finding the weather now very cold, and 
in front of us a range of snow-covered mountains to cross, every day became precious, and I con¬ 
cluded to suffer the loss rather than risk being overtaken by severe cold or deep snow in the 
mountains. Our course continued across the sage desert, passing during the morning the Market 
lake, which was now frozen over. Our road, instead of following the course travelled on the 
10th, led farther to the east, thus shortening our route by several miles. About noon it cleared 
off, and became an exceedingly beautiful day. Marching a distance of twenty-five miles, we 
encamped on the Kamas Prairie creek of the 10th. This creek was now frozen over, which was 
lined with willow and quaking asp. At sunset the thermometer was at 10°, at 9 p. m. 20°, 
below zero. 
December 23, 1853.—Commences clear, but cold, the thermometer at sunrise being 6° below 
zero. We resumed our march at 9 a. m., our course tending for a distance of five miles along 
the Kamas Prairie creek, which at ffiis point had a course of north 40° east. Here our course 
lay through the sage desert, crossing at a distance of ten miles a small stream called the “High 
Bank creek,” a name given it from the fact that near its head branch, or source, it flows through 
high vertical walls of black volcanic rock—in many places columns. This creek, like the Kamas 
Prairie creek, we found frozen over sufficiently hard to bear our animals. Many places through 
the sage desert to-day we found covered with large areas of honey-combed volcanic rock, the 
same as has been already referred to as occurring abundantly in the Snake River valley. We 
found the valley perfectly free from snow till arriving near the base of the mountains, where we 
