39TH CONGRESS, l   HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.                    Ex. Doc,
1st Session.                                                  No. 58.
WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
LETTER
FROM TIlE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,
IN ANSWER TO
A resolution of the House qf February 16, relative to a wagon r'oad from
Niobrara to Virginia City.
MARCH 5, 1866.-Laid on the table and ordered to be ijrinted.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, D. C., M1iarch 2, 1866.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the following resolution
of the House of Representatives, dated February 16, 1866:
", Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be directed to communicate to
the House of Representatives the report of Colonel James A. Sawyer, superintendent of the wagon road from Niobrara to Virginia City,- (made in 1865;) of
his explorations, survey, and location of said road; and also the report of fW.
W. Brookings, superintendent of the wagon road from the western line of Min
nesota to Montana, showing his exploration and surveys."
In compliance with said resolution I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy of the report of Colonel James A. Sawyer on the Niobrara and Virginia
City wagon road, dated 19th January, 1866.
The report of W. W. Brookings, esq., on the wagon road from the western
boundary of Minnesota to the vicinity of the mouth of the Big Cheyenne river,
dated November 1, 1865, referred to in the above resolution,, will be found in
the printed report of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Simpson, corps of engineers,
page 124, herewith enclosed. A copy of the manuscript report of Mr. Brookings's engineer, Geo. N. Propper, dated October 31, 1865, is also enclosed.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. HARLAN,
Secretary of the Interior.
Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX,
Speaker of the -house of Representatives.
YANKTON, DAKOTA, October 31, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to present herewith my report' of the survey and
construction of the Big Cheyenne and Minnesota wagon road. with accompanying field and descriptive notes, with map of the road.
Owing to the inability, on account of lack of military protection, to proceed




AL:     WAGON ROAD  FROM  NIOBRARA TO  VIRGINIA  CITY.
with a survey, as intended, of a route from a point at or near the mouth of the
Big Cheyenne river west to Powder river, there to connect with the Niobrara
and Virginia City wagon road, and having examined the country as far west as
the forks of the Big Cheyenne river, it was deemed advisable to commence the
survey of the Minnesota road. I therefore commenced, at a point directly oppo-.aite the mouth of the Big Cheyenne, on the bank of the Missouri river, an examination of the country for a line of -road as nearly east as practicable, consistent
with the character of' the country, desiring to strike the western boundary line
of the State of Minnesota at or near the forty-fourth parallel of north latitude.
I found that a road line could not run directly east, on account of the great difficulty of making an ascent of the bluffs from the bottom lands on the Missouri
river, the bluffs having at this point an average height of two hundred and
fifty feet. For this reason, and the fact that an east line would cross the high
Missouri prairies so far above any stream of water that empties into the Missouri
river from the cast, that water would be exceedingly scarce and very poor, and
one section would be entirely destitute for forty miles, and one section of eighty
miles without wood, therefore, the object of the government being the establishment of a route of the greatest utility to the emigrant and traveller, and your
positive injunctions " to make the very best road for the purposes for which the
appropriation was made," I ran in a southeast direction, crossing the Oh-kee-bozhee eighteen miles and ten chains from the Missouri. Here is plenty of water,
grass, and timber.
The bottom land on the Missouri, amounting to probably ten thousand acres,
at the point fiom where we started, being in a big bend, is of the very best
quality, one-third of it being timber, of which cottonwood and ash predominate.
After ascending the bluffs, the character of the country is nearly alike, being
high, gently rolling prairie, covered with a growth of short, fine grass, which is
very nutritious, making it a fine grazing country, though from its being too dry,
very little rain falling, it is unfit for agriculture.
r'The bluffs on this stream are nearly as high as those on the Missouri, the
water standing nearly on a level with the river; therefore a line of road must
necessarily be crooked, accommodating itself to some of the many ravines, for
ascent or descent, to and from the high prairie.
I extended the line to a point twenty-nine miles and forty-one chains from
the mouth of the Big Cheyenne river and opposite, though one mile above old
Fort Pierre, when I ran a line to the Missouri river, finding a fine roadway
down the bluffs to the Missouri, and also a good point for making a crossing.
This I have termed Camp Johnson, and am of opinion that the Big Cheyenne
and Minnesota road should cross here, it being a better point, the roads upon both
sides being better, having more water and timber, and can be built at less cost.
I ran the road in the most direct line from this point (Camp Johnson) to the
Crow Creek agency, crossing Medicine Knoll river, two branches of the Chap-.
pelle creek, Chaine De Roche, and Deep Holes, all of which afford water in
abundance.  Medicine IKnoll river and Chappelle creek having timber.
The distance from Camp Johnson to the Crow Creek agency being over a
rolling prairie country, well adapted to stock grazing and sheep husbandry.
This region of' country will, in my opinion, be of great value in time for its
minerals, iron ore of good quality being abundant and easily obtained.
From the Crow Creek agency the road lines bear north of east, this was necessary in order to get timber and water and avoid the abrupt ridges and deep
ravines that break south into the Crow River valley, and in all cases where the
line bears north or south of the main line east it is done to improve the route
and avoid unnecessary expense, without increasing, materially, the distance.
Tr'he main streams crossed on the route are Elm creek, Sandy Hill creek,
James river, and the Vermillion and Big Sioux rivers, though there are many
other important watering places.




WAGON  ROAD  FROM  NIOBRARA  TO  VIRGINIA  CITY.                   3
The timber is at Campbell's creek, Elm  creek, Wessington springs, James
river, and the Big Sioux river, and at Lake Harlan.
The country improves as we leave the Missouri river, though good grazing is
found the entire distance. At Wessington springs there is much good agricultural land, also on James or Dakota river, and in the valley of the Vermillion;
but from Lake Harlan to the State line it is the finest agricultural and grazing
country in the west, and as soon as we shall be at peace with the Indians will
be cultivated, this road being the outlet to the Missouri river markets.
Having passed over the country, making in some instances several lines, I
was well prepared to retrace the route to the Missouri and mark and establish
the road over the very best route, which I believe has been done. The mode
of marking was to plant every half mile, where the surface of the country was
not such as to hide the monument, a stake four feet long, flattened on two sides
near the top, and the letters AI. W. R. cut in with a marking iron, then build a
monument of earth or stone around it.  Mounds of earth or stone are built
between the stations where the nature of the country requires it.  Several miles
of these stations can often be seen at a view.
The annexed table will show the camps with distances, commencing at the
eighty-eighth mile post on the western boundary line of the State of Minnesota.
The field-notes, also annexed, will give the stations, courses, and distances,
and sufficiently describe the surface of the country.
The manner of building fords across the various streams and wet places is
in all cases the same. Two rows of large boulders were placed across the stream,
twenty-four feet apart.  The space between the rows being the road-bed, was
then filled with smaller stone and well packed until the road-bed became a solid
pavement, then covered with earth and gravel to make them smooth.
These will not settle so as to do them  great injury, if any, and where the
streams are high, as is often the case, the road will be submerged by the overflow, but cannot be destroyed, as would be the case with bridges; and as timber
is not found at most of the points where fords are built, the cost of preparing
and drawing timber would be very great, while the bridges would not be as
permanent or as good.
Monuments are in all cases erected upon each side of the stream and upon
each side of the road, so as to sufficiently define the roadway, even though
covered with water,
The banks of all streams and the bluffs are ploughed,. scraped, and graded
down to good roads.
Your obedient servant,
(GEO. N. PROPPER, Surveyor and Engineer.
Camps and distances.
Camps.                  C 5                 Remarks.
State line to Big Sioux river, over a   7  57  77  Here the banks were ploughed, scraped,
gently rolling prairie.                      and graded down, and the large rock
taken out of the roadway. Plenty
of timber.
From Big Sioux to Larson's creek   19  75  67  The banks are graded down. The stone
taken from the road-bed the entire disance. Water; no wood.
Larson's creek to Lake Harlan -  12  56  75  The stone are all removed from the
road, and a stone ford paved at the
inlet. Timber plenty.
Lake Harlan to east bank of Ver-  8  20  22  The stone are removed from road-bed,
million.                                     and the banks of the stream graded.
Good water and wood..




4         WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
Camps and distances-Continued.
Camps.                  c                       Remarks.
East to west branch of Vermillion - - 16  06  50  Stone all removed from  road, banks
graded down, and stone ford built.
Good water; no wood.
West Verlmillion to James river ---- 22  45  25  Stone removed from road, bluffs and
banks of river graded down, and stone
ford. Plenty of timber.
James river to Sandy Hill creek ----  2  64  10  Stone removed from  road, and ford
made. Water and wood.
Sandy Iill creek to Wessington'21  56  77  Stone removed from road; hill graded.
springs.                                        Plenty of water and timber.
Wessington springs to Prickly Pear  16  76  60  Stone removed from road, hills graded,
creek.                                          and crossing paved. Good water;
no wood.
Prickly Pear to Sulphur springs....  5  09  82  Stone removed from  road, branches
graded, and good crossings made.
Corduroy bridge built here two hundred feet long, covered with earth and
gravel. Good water; no wood.
Sulphur springs to Elm creek -..  7  56  27  Branches all graded, stone all removed
from road, bluffs graded down, and
good ford made. Plenty of water
and timber.
Elm creek to Campbell's creek-..   11  64  13  Stone all removed from road. Water
and timber.
Campbell's creek to Crow Creek   3  40  12  Stone removed firom  road, banks of
agency                          _         -      creek graded.
Miles of road constructed. — --- 156  70  00
Surveyed but not sufticiently marked and established, and no work done on construction.
Crow Creek agency to Deep Holes.  14  20  00  Plenty of water; no wood.
Deep Holes to Chaine de Roche...  4  01  60  Plenty of water; brush for camp-fires.
Chaine de Roche to east branch of   7  60  60  Plenty of water; no wood.
Chappelle creek.
East branch to Chappelle creek      6  65  00  Plenty of water and wood.
Chappelle creek to Medicine Knoll  13  46  40  Plenty of water and wood.
river.
Medicineriver to Camp Johnson,Mis-  21  32  60
souri river.
Camp Johnson to Oh-kee-bo-zbee-  11  39  00  Plenty of water and wood.
Oh-kee-bo-zhee to mouth of Big Che-  18  02  40  Plenty of timber.
yenne, Missouri river.
Miles examined.-.. 97  27  00
Crow Creek agency to Camp Johnson  67  66  60
Minnesota boundary line to Camp
Johnson........-                224 56 60




WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.                                   5
Field and descriptive notes.
(Variation 12 degrees 30 minutes east.)
Station.         Course.                                       Remnarks.
0 c~
I-..West ----------------   65. —-.   Eighty-eight miles; level prairie.
2 -------—. —do-..-..... —... 47  -- Level prairie.
3 —. —. —-.do.-........... 70 ---- Gently rolling prairie.
4 ---—.-. —do —---- ------    53 -----             Do.
5 -------— do —-. —--------.-. 28  Level prairie
6 ---—. —-do.' —-— 7 —----.. 71           Do.
7 -.........do -... - -.. —-....   40  -— Rolling prairie.
8 —.. —-..do -...............   51. — To edge of bluffs.
9-.... North, 50 degrees west.   32    77  Descending bluffs.
10-.. -  North, 70 degrees west-   70  ---     Level bench land.
11-.........do. —--—.. ——.   45 --— Into bottom; entire timber.
12.........do -.. —-.. —--—.   44    25  To bank of Sioux river.
13 -—.-. —-do. ——.. ——.-. —---    75  Across river.
14 -.. West. -------—. —--    55    78  Levelbench land.
15...    North, 50 degrees west.   45      65  Ascending from bench land.
16- N... North, 65 degrees west    60  ---- Rolling prairie; heavy ravines southwest.
17 --—. —— do. —-.. —-----—.    60 ---- Rolling rich prairie.
18 —-. —— do. —....       66     75       D)o.
19 —-.-  North, 88 degrees west_    40 ---- Level rich prairie.
20 —--- --— do -....- 50  ------             Do.
21 --—. —— do-....         66  -----        Do.
22 —---  West --—. ——. —---    50                  Do.
23 —--- --— do —..4 -...... 40        Do.
24.-.......do. —40...... 40                        Do.
25-... —-- -do-......   40 —--  Undulating rich prairie.
26.....-.do-...... 45 -----    Do.
27.. ----—.do --. —.. 25  -— Do.
28~ —. —--— do. -. —----—... —    40  --- Level rich prairie.
29.........do --. —-—. 6 —---   60                Do.
30 -......do-......... 60 --— Hilly and stony prairie; lakes and timber
lying south.
31 ---—. —— do-. —........... 50 ----   I)o.
32-.......do —----—.. ——.    70  ---- Rolling rich prairie.
33    -........do..-......   40 --- Level rich prairie.
34.......do-....... 40 ----            Do.
35 —. —----..do  ----       40  — Do.
36 - do —-...-.do                   60 D —--           o.
37 -. —. —-do.... —-.   60 ----          Do.
38. ——. —-do-.60  -—..  ---                      Do.
39 -------— do-....    60 -----            Do.
40 ---—. —-do ---—. ----—.          60  -----     Do.
41.-. —— do —---   ----            40.. —-.Gently rolling rich priarie.
42..........do-..                  40  ----         Do.
43 ---—. —-do —--  --—. —-----    60               Do.
44 —-       do --....40 ---—.              Do.
45.....-....do-......31           50  To Larson's creek; prairie.
46-.-.. South, 68 degrees west.   40 —-- Level prairie.
47- ----    ----..         40. ——.        Do.
48 —.. —-. —do... —-—. —-—.- 40 --- Gently rolling priarie.
49 —-—. —— do-40  ---—.                            Do.
50 —--- --— do-...         40 ------        Do.
51 —-- --— do —----—.. —-.    - 40  -----           Do.
52.....-....do-.....     40. —---        Do.
53.........do-40 ---—.    Do.
54.........do-...         40. —---        Do.
55..........do-6.0. —.       ------        Do'.
56 -..... —— do. -.. —. —--—.- 60  ---- Hilly and stony prairie.
57..........do-.                  40. ——.        Do.
58..... —— do -.. —...... —-. It  40   —...Rolling prairie.




6         WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
Field and descripti'e notes —Continued.
Station.        Course.                  -                   Remarks.
I
59-     South, 68 degrees west    40.   Rolling prairie.
60........do -.. —---—.. 40 -—.  Level prairie.
61     --— do................   40  -----        Do.
62.. do. —----. —---   40                 Do.
63-         do.- ----------    60                 Do.
64-        do..-.-.. clo.  ------- ---  60 -—.   Rolling.  See Lake Harlan.
65..  do -     -....-.-. ——..  50 ---   Rolling prairie.
66.-... do.....-    -. -—.    40  -----      Do.
67-....... do................   40 ---   Level prairie.
68.........do -- - -------- —.   46    75  Prairie on bank of lake.
69-... South, 85 degrees west.   20 ---    Hilly and stony prairie.
70-......do —-.. —----- -.   25 ------           Do.
71......... do. —...............   30  -----  Do.
72.-.... do..- - - ---- -—.   45 ---    Rolling prairie.
73 -------— do -..    ------------    40 ------    Do.
74-. —-.do.- -.. —.. —--- -    40                Do,
75.-...... do     - -.- - - - - - 40          Do.
76  —.. do       ---------   60 ---    Gently rolling prairie.
77. —-— do.-  -. —--. ——.   60                Do.
78.do..        60               Do.
78 -----—. — do................   60 ------      Do.
79-         do - -...             60               Do.
80.-. —-- — do..... —----- ---- -   40       Do.
81-..do.. —------   40   -- Rolling prairie.
82   --     do -.....- -          40  ----  Rolling stony prairie.
83-. —1..-.   do...... —--—....   40  D —---   Do.
84. —--- -— do.-. —-- ----—.   20    20  Valley land to Vermillion.
85-     North, 87 degrees west    40 --- Rolling prairie.
86. —---— do.     ----------   40                Do.
87         do. do...           40               Do.
88-         do.....              40  ----          o.
89-...d. do...-....-......   60 -— Level prairie.
90.-..-... do................   60            Do.
91.....    do-       -60  ------ Undulating prairie.
92 -..I"". do -         ----—.. -   60. —---     Do.
(93-.- -— do -----  ---- *        60 —.-.   Gently rolling prairie.
94. —--    do................   60  -----       Do.
95     - d.o..-...     60              Do.
967.....I'   do.-..........-..   60..     Do.
97    -     do-. -------- 60.                      Do.
98....I —-  do ------ -. ——.    60        Do.
99.....-. do................   17    75  Water-course runs south.
100.-.... do     - --------  -   22    25  Gently rolling prairie.
101. —--— do................   60                Do.
102........ do. —.. —---—.      660..        Do.
103.-. do   -.   ------- -   60.           Do.
104..- do  6.......    60 ---   Level prairie.
105..... do. -- ------- -    60.Do.
106 -.do.. —.                      60                Do.
107 ----- ---- do. —--- -- -. ----   40           Do.
108...... —. do.. —----------    40 ---   Rolling prairie.
109 -----— do. --- ---------  46    50 6 West branch of Vermillion.
110.-.... do..-. -----------   40.-         Rolling prairie.
Ill..-.....do -. —-.. —- --   40           Do.
112 —. —-— do -............. 40 --- Level prairie.
113         do................   40              Do.
114    --— do.........      40.... Rolling prairie.
115        -do.....              40. —-    Rolling stony prairie.
116.... do................   40.              Do.
117.       do....-..-.   40 —-    Levelpraiie.
118.... doI                   40.          Do.
119    -      o...0..... do..........      I 40  Do.




WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
Field and descriptive notes-Continued.
Station.         Course.                                           Remarks.
0 W
120-.. North, 87 degrees west    40. —-.  Rolling prairie.
121.-..- do  -------------          40.             o.
122 -. —--— do -------------    40.           Do.
123 -...-. --— do  -----------    40                Do.
124 -.... —— do -. —----------    40...    Do.
125  --- ---- do ---------—.          40 ----    Hilly stony prairie.
126. —--  -do -       —. —-----   24 -. —--  Hilly and stony prairie.
127-.... West.-....... 4. 40  ----- Rolling prairie.
128 —- —... do -------—. —---    40  -           Level prairie.
129. —     -do. —-----     -----    40 -----           Do.
130....do................ —--   40.          Do.
131........ do................   40   --    Rolling prairie.
132 ----— do................        40                 Do.
133....-...do --.. —-.. —.    50 —.             Hilly. (See Wessington springs.)
134-.. South, 85 degrees west    40.    Rolling prairie.
135-......do        -----------    40.          Do.
136......do...............-.     40  ---           Do.
137......... do -----—.. —-.         50  -----  Level prairie.
138....- do.        -...............   40  D..   I)o.
139....-.. do. —--—. —-.  46  -----  Rolling stony prairie.
140.-     North, 70 degrees west    40  --—.           Do.
141 -.... —— do   - - 40.                              Do.
142... —-- do.. —---------    40                Do.
143.........do ------- --—.    40.        Do.
144 -    --- -.do -------    -—.    40  -----           Do.
145 -.....do    ---—..-.. — —.    40  -          Level prairie.
146 --—. —— do ----------. —-.    40......            Do.
147........do. —-----—....    40  --    Rolling prairie.
148 -..... do..- d  --------  40  -----         )o.
149.- -do................           ------ 40  Gently rolling prairie.
150 -.... —— do................   40 -----        Do.
151 —.  --— do. —-... —--—.    40.-. Rolling prairie.
152. —--. —do -------- ---—.        40  — Do.
153-.....do —-- -.. ----—. 440 ---—.  Go into bottom land.
154. —- --- do................    34        85  Dakota river.
155 ---—. —-do. ——.-         --—.-        40   Across river.
1.56.... South, 80 degrees west-    27. — -.  Up bluffs.
157....   North, 87 degrees west.   40...  Gently rolling prairie.
158.......do................   40..       Do.
159......do —-—.............   40  -----           Do.
160.. —do ----—..  ---—.   40  -----          Do.
161 --- --—.do -------—. —----    37        10   Sandy Hill creek.
162       North, 85 degrees west.   40  - --  Rolling prairie; red sand.
163.......do - - - - - - - - -     40.       Do.
164 —... —.do      --—.. —-—.   40  ----   Level, good prairie.
165...do.. —..    40                 Do.
166-        -—..do ---------------    40 ------         Do.
167 -....do -----------—.       40  -----         Do.
168 -.....do ---------------    40                     Do.
169.-...do.. —---         -----   40 D —--— o.
170 -... —    --— do ---------—. 40. —---         Do.
171.... —-do.. ——.. —- ----    40             Do,
172 -... ---- do.- --            40    ---         Do.
173-,.... —— do ------------—.   40 ------            Do.
174 -...-. —.do ------—. —--—.    40  -----       Do
175.........do                      40  ------        Do.
176.....-....do ---------------    40 I                 Do.
177.... —-do. —---------    40  -----          Do.
178. — --— do. ——.. —-—.   40  -----              Do.
179.. —- — do.. —-..... 40 -----                       Do.
180 ------— do...       40 ----           Do.
181........do....                 40                Do.




8         NWAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
Field and descriptive notes-Continued.
Station.        Course.                                      Remarks.
182. North, 85 degrees west-   40.. Gently rolling prairie.
183.. —.do     ----------    40 ---—.          Do.
184.... —.... do. —--- -—. -    40    -          Do.
185. —-. — -do.-.-....... 40          Do.
186 ---—....do.-...... 40 ----  Level prairie.
187 ---—. -— do.-.. —-—.. —   40               Do.
188 --—...  do -- -.-.. —-—. —-  40               Do.
189 —.. —- -.do..............   -     -.   Rolling stony prairie.
190.... South, 87 degrees west    40  — o.
191... -- d........        40.  --     Level prairie.
192. —-. — — do..........        40 --—.          Do.
193 ------ - do................   40            Do.
194 --—.-.-..do.-.... 40 ------    Do.
195 ---—. —.. do -......40 -- Rolling prairie.
196........do                    40 --       Bed of stream, course south.
197 ---—..do................ 40              Level prairie.
198.....do. —-.-.-.-. —--   40  -            Do.
199 ---—.-.do -.- -. —. —-- - *   40              Do.
200. —....... do. —-------    40.           Do.
201 ------  do --        -. —-    40  -----        Do.
202. —..... do. —----     -    40 -----         Do.
203........do..-.-..   40. —--  Gently rolling prairie.
204  —...  do.-........ 56    77  Gently rolling; Wessington springs.
205-.. South, 65 degrees west-   32 —        Ascending bluffs.
206-... South, 85 degrees west    40 —. Rolling and stony prairie.
207 —.........do................ 40 ------          o.
208.........do......   40      D. o.
209. —   --— do.-....   40 —.         Rolling and stony prairie; lake lying south.
210.. —. -do.-.. —-----   43. ——.  Rolling and stony prairie.
211       North, 60 decrees west.   10.       Do.
212 —... West -----—. —-,,       40               Do.
213 -------— do. —.. —-.-. — -..40 -----         Do.
214........ do...............  40. —---         Do.
215 ---—.do................   40 --—.            Do.
216....... —..do. —---     -    40  -----        Do.
217. —....... do............. 40.. —    Rolling prairie.
218 ----     do................   40  -----        Do.
219. —. -- do........-.   37    52  Streamruns south; tributary of Crow creek.
220........do..............      40.. —     Rolling prairie.
221.........do................  50   ---— o.
222 ---—.-. do.-.-..... 30. —      Do.
223 —.. do            - -- ----- --    40. —---  Do.
224 ---—.   do -------—... —   55                Do.
225 ---—. do-. -. —-—.-  25  -----           Do.
226 ---—.do.-..-. — --   40 ------       Do.
227. —-—...  do -. —- -- -    40.       Do.
228 --. ——.do -......- 38 --—. Stream runs south; tributary of Crow creek.
229 ----  South, 85 degrees west.   40 --    Rolling prairie.
230-..- -do...............       40 -.            o.
231 --—.-.. do................-  40 -----  Do.
232 ---—..do................   40. —---          Do.
233... —.... do. —---------   40. —---        Do.
234..... —-.... do-.............   40            Do.
235.. —... do...............-. 40  -----       Do.
236......... do. —...............   40 -----  Do.
237.........do — ---—.. —-----  26    83  Hilly and stony.
238.... North, 73 degrees west.   62    25         Do.
239... North, 55 degrees west.   27 --        Prickly Creek stream; course south; tributary of Crow creek.
240. - West...............   40 —. Rolling prairie.
241.........do-.                 40 ---           Do.
242.....    do.........       44    50  Branch stream runs southeast to Crow creek.




WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.                                         9
Field and descriptive notes-Continued.
Station.          Course.                                           Remarks.
243 ——. South, 85 degrees west.    35 ---- Rolling prairie.
244.....-....do —-.. —.. ——.    37           6-2  Branch stream runs south to Crow creek.
245-...-.....do.. ——...- ---—.     49       35  Rolling prairie.
246 —--- --— do. -. ——.. —----    40.....Do.
247.....-....do................   40 ---—.             Do.
248 —-—... do.... —-.-...... 40  -— Do.
249.-.-  -... do-.-. — -....... 43  35   Sulphur Spring creek, south to Crow creek.
250 —-.....-.... do ------ --------. 40  ---- Rolling prairie.
251 --—. —..do-................   40                    Do.
252 ---—.-... do -................ 38         27   Branch stream, southeast to Crow creek.
253 -—.. —-- do................ —.. 40 —-..    Rolling prairie.
254 —......-.. do. —... —...40. —.  Level prairie.
255. ---- ---...do ------ ------—..40                   Do.
256 ----- -.do-.............-.        40. —---          Do.
257 -—......do....- -.......40. ——.           Do.
258 -.-.-. — —.- do ------ --     - 40  -----  Rolling stony prairie.
259 —. ——..do —. —- -------- 40 -----                  Do.
260 -—.-  South, 78 degrees west.    40  ----            Do.
261 ——..-...-..do ------ -40 —.  -Do.
262 —. —- —..do-................-25  D —— o.
263- - -- - South, 65 degrees west.    40  ----           Do.
264 ----- ---- do-................     40 --- Hilly and stony.
265.- - - -.........do -.... —------- 33 ----- Down bluffs to Elm creek.
266 -. —..-..do..............-40. —-   Across high bench land,
267.. — ---.do -—. —-----—.        50  ---— To top of bluffs.
268. —--  West..............-40  --—.  Rolling prairie.
269.. —...do ---- -- -               40-               Do.
270..-......do...........-.      40-               Do.
271. —--...do      -           -      0...........    40  --— Do.
272 ---... —-do................-     - 40               Do.
273. —--.. —do -.. —------—.- 40  ----                 Do.
274. —-—. —. do............... —.   40 --— Do.
275. —-- —.. —.do —---—. ——.40                         Do.
276.. —.....do..............     40...       Do.
277. —-. -. — do................    15       83   Creek courses south to Elm creek.
278... —-—.. —-..do-................   40  ---  Rolling prairie.
279 ---- -...do  -................   43 --— Creek courses southeast to Elm creek.
280 -—.  South, 70 degrees west.    40  ---- Rolling prairie.
281.. —-. —— do-..............-..    40.Do.
282 —..... -.do................    25     80           Do.
283. —-..- -- do................   40...... Level prairie.
284 ---—. —.do................    40  D...                o.
2855.........do................   40  ---              Do.
286.. —.. — -.- do-................    40 ---    Rolling prairie.
287.-. - _....do     -...40.. Do.
288 —... —-.- do................   40   -—. Hilly and stony prairie.
289........  do......-..........    49:  50(  Hilly to Campbell's creek.
290 -—.-  South, 70 degrees west.   40...... Rolling prairie.
291......do................   40......            Do.
292...-.....do...... —--    - -.. 40    Do.
293 ——.. —-do................    40         Level prairie.
294 —--- — do................   40. —---                ) Do.
295 --......do-................     40. -.-.-  Rolling prairie.
296 -......do. —                       40.-..... Crow Creek agency.




10        WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
To Camp Johnson and mouth of Big Cheyenne river.
C.
c'  Courses.                               Remarks.
to 2. North, 40 degrees west   6  60.   Missouri river bench land.
2 to 3. North, 15 degrees west   7  40..  Top of bluffs near Missouri river to Deep
Holes. Water; no wood.
3 to 4. North, 70 degrees west.  4  01  60  Chaine de Roche creek. Water; no wood;
rolling.
4 to 5.- North, 70 degrees west.  6  60  60  Back Chappelle creek. No wood; rolling
prairie.
5 to 6- North, 55 degrees west.  6  60.... Chappelle creek. Water and timber; rolling prairie.
6 to 7.- North, 80 degrees west. 13  46  40  Medicine Knoll river. Timber, good ford,
and rolling prairie.
7 to 8. North, 80 degrees west   4  59  86  Gently rolling prairie.
8 to 9. North, 74 degrees west.  2  47  50       Do.
9 to 10. North, 80 degrees west.  4  31  75  From Sulphur springs rolling prairie.
10 to 11. North, 80 degrees west.   22.... Gently rolling prairie.
11 to 12  South, 80 degrees west.  4  36  89  Camp Johnson, Missouri river; good point
for crossing.
12 to 13. North, 22 degrees west  12  20 -    Oh-kee-bo-zhee. Water and timber; rolling
prairie, high bluffs on stream, and stony.
13 to 14. North, 55 degrees west  10.       Rolling prairie country.
14 to 15- West -------------   1  40 ----         Do.
15 to 16. North, 85 degrees west   1  20...-  Going down Missouri bluffs about two hundred and fifty feet high, timber in ravines.
16 to 17. West ---—. ----- ----  4  41  40  Mouth of Big Cheyenne river, on opposite
side of Missouri river, travelled over bottom land; partly timbered; mostly cottonwood; bottom subject to overflow.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obed'ient servant,
GEO. N. PROPPER,
Surveyor and Civil Engineer.
Hon. WIL.MOT W. BROOKINGS,
Sup't, Disbursing Agent, Mlinn. Wagon Road.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 19, 1866.
SIR: Under instructions from your department dated MIarch 14, 1865, I was
appointed superintendent and disbursing officer of the wagon road to be surveyed and made under act of Congress approved March 3, 1865, fiom  the
mouth of the Niobrara river, in Nebraska Territory, to Virginia City, in Montana Territory, a branch from Omaha to intersect the main line at some point
on the Niobrara river.
These instructions reached me on the last of Malrch, and having filed my
official bond and oatli of office, I proceeded to organize aid equip an outfit for the
accomplishment of the object.
As the route I was ordered to examine and open up was to a great extent entirely unexplored, I deemed it proper to make ample preparations for going and
returning, and decided to purchase supplies for six months with teams and transportation for the same, and all tools necessary for the construction of the road
and the making of all bridges and fords over the streams that might have to be
crossed on our route.




WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA  CITY.                11
By arrangement, Hon. A. W. Hubbard exerted himself to procure from Major
General Pope, commanding the department of the northwest, suitable escort for
the expedition, to consist of at least 200 cavalry and two howitzers, and at the
suggestion of Judge Hubbard, to hasten our preparations, N. C. Hudson, esq.,
was sent to Washington to arrange for remittance of funds to me at Chicago.
On the 10th of April I received a telegram from Judge Hubbard that the escort
was all right, and to meet him in Chicago to make final arrangements. On my
arrival there I found no money to my credit, and was forced to proceed to Washington myself to examine the cause of the delay. After considerable delay in
the Treasury Department, on the 27th of April funds were placed to my credit
in Chicago, and I immediately commenced the purchase of the outfit.
After purchasing such supplies as I thought proper in Chicago I proceeded
to Sioux City, and found to my surprise that, instead of any cavalry escort, two
companies of the 5th United States volunteer infantry, consisting of only about
118 men in all, had been sent to the mouth of the Niobrara, with rations for only
three months (includcing Miay,) and with scanty transportation.
I immediately telegraphed to General Pope, stating the facts as above set
forth, and, in reply, he telegraphed to Brigadier General Sully, commanding that
sub-district to furnish what he could. General Sully detailed for additional
escort 25 men from company B, 1st battalion Dakota cavalry, and ordered his
commissary to furnish rations sufficient to last the whole escort for six months,
but he could furnish no transportation, which Captain Williford, the escort commander, finally was obliged to obtain by contract with Messrs. C. E. Hedges
& Company, private fieighters.
General Sully, at my solicitation, kindly furnished me with forty Springfield
rifles, with equipments and ammunition for the same, which were distributed to
the employds, and were of great service in guarding stock, &c.
I may here state that on my arrival at Virginia City I turned over these guns,
equipments, and remaining ammunition, to General Meagher, the secretary and
acting governor of Montana Territory, as I did not think it would pay the
government to have them transported back again, and they were needed there.
Unavoidable delays in the transportation of subsistence and fitting out of
teams, wagons, tents, camp equipage, &c., consumed much time; but after great
exertions I finally completed all my arrangements and made ready for starting
from Niobrara City, at the mouth of the Niobrara river, on the 13th of June.
The expedition proper consisted of 53 men, including my engineer and clerk,
physician, guides, scouts, pioneers, herders, and drivers, 45 yokes of oxen, 5
saddle-horses, 5 mules, 15 wagons, with chains, tools, tents, camp equipage, and
subsistence for six months. Our escort train numbered 25 wagons, drawn by six
mules each. These teams were small and thin at starting, and very young, but
few of them being over three years old, and, as a whole, a very inferior lot of animals, wholly inadequate for the expedition, and should never have been sent
upon it.
Accompanying the expedition were five emigrant teams and a private freight
train of thirty-six wagons, coupled together so as to be drawn by eighteen
teams of six yoke of oxen each, and heavily loaded, some teams being loaded
with 6,400 lbs,; and here permit me say that the entire practicability of the
route travelled over may be seen when I state that not one of these wagons were
uncoupled during the journey for the passage of any obstacle in the road.
It will be seen at a glance that the escort detailed for the expedition was
wholly inadequate to protect a train of over eighty wagons passing through the
heart of the most hostile Indian country in the Territories. It consisted of only
143 men; and as the train was marched mostly in one column, to form a permanent well-marked road, it could not protect the whole lengthl; from Indian assaults,
and small parties of Indians could make dashes and be away before infantry
could get within shooting distance of them. Some emigrants and some men,




12'WAGON ROAD  FROM NIOBRARA TO' VIRGINIA  CITY,
whom I had hired, turned back and would not make the trip on account of the
insufficiency of the escort.
The loading of wagons and arrangement of teams being, concluded at noon on
the 13th, we broke camp and started on our way at two p. m. A platoon of infantry with a howitzer marched in advance, then came the wagons belonging to
the escort, then a platoon of infantry, then the wagons belonging to the expedition, then a platoon of infantry, then the emigrants and freight train, and finally
a platoon of infantry with a howitzer brought up the rear; while the guides and
pioneers kept in advance of the whole column, so as to have as little delay as
possiLle at bad places, and scouts moved whenever it was proper and necessary.
At places where much work was required and the train obliged to stop, all
hands took hold with a will, and the work finished up with despatch and in
good manner.
Marched this day four miles, and camped on the south bank of the Niobrara,
in the bottom. The grass, water, and wood at this camp were very good.
14th.-Paul Dorien, our Indian guide, who had left camp at Niobrara on the
11th instant, not making his appearance, I went to the Yankton agency in
search of him, and found that he had deserted us and gone upon a hunt, notwithstanding his agreement to go with me, at a compensation of $150 per month.
I was sorry to lose his services, as he was called the best Indian guide in the
country, though subject to sulky fits at times. I engaged in his place Baptiste
Defond, a Yankton half-breed, who was recommended to me as a very good
guide, and who served very faithfully as such till his discharge on the Big Horn
river. My chief guide, Ben. F. Estes, went through with me to Virginia City
and back, as I had agreed with him. He was il Lieutenant (now General)
Warren's party in 1856, and with us proved himself to combine all the qualities
that go to make up a first-rate guide, combining great personal bravery with the
most untiring energy, and withal very quiet and Unassuming in his manners,
speaking the Sioux language fluently, and having intimate knowledge of their
manners and customs. He was of great assistance in making treaties whereby
we were fully enabled to pass through the hostile Indians' country.
While I was gone to the agency the train travelled up the Niobrara to the
Verdigris creek, up which they proceeded about a mile to obtain a suitable
crossing. A good ford was made, and the train crossed and encamped on the
west bank of the creek, which is here about twenty feet wide by two and a half
feet deep, with quicksand bed and very rapid current.
I would suggest the importance of building a good bridge over this creek,
which could be done without great expense.
15Sth. —The command broke corrall at 6~ a. m., and, ascending the bluffs
of Verdigris creek, travelled over the high prairie, at some distance from the
river, to avoid the short ravines leading into it. In the afternoon descended
into the Niobrara bottom, and crossing Cedar creek, camped, at 4 p. m., on
the east bank of a small creek called Swamp creek, which certainly was a misnomer, as it was a fine little stream. The train moved six miles this day, and
I joined it, with Baptiste, in the afternoon. The grass, wood, and water at this
camp were first-rate.
16th.-A, very severe shower of rain fell last night. We broke camp and
started at 6 a. m., and, travelling about four miles, (after crossing Swamp creek,
over which we made a good ford,) ascended again the bluffs, at a gentle slope,
and travelled over the high prairie in a westerly direction. The river valley at
this point is very beautifil, and covered with a luxuriant growth of vegetation.
At noon came to the Mauvaises Terre creek, which we bridged at about two miles
from its mouth. This stream is about fifteen feet wide by eighteen inches deep,
with quite rapid current. Grass, wood, and water good at camp; timber chiefly
burr-oak and cottonwood.
Two of the escort deserted us at noon, and were not recaptured.




WAGON  ROAD  FROM  NIOBRARA  TO  VIRGINIA  CITY.              13
17t/h.-We had a very severe thunder-shower last night, and in the darkness
many of the cattle escaped the herders, and much delay was occasioned in
starting on that account. Having risen at 31 a. m., we made ready and started
at 7 a. m., and travelled over good fair country for thirteen miles, crossing
WToozinga creek, and camping on the west bank of the Big Coulter, which is
about twelve feet wide by eighteen inches deep, with rapid current over gravel
bed. Good fords were made over both these creeks; but I would suggest the
necessity of having them bridged for future travel, as the expense would not be
very great, and crossing would be greatly facilitated thereby.  Our course during
the day was a little south of west, to head out the short ravines leading into
the Niobrara. The face of the country is gently undulating, and covered with
tall grass and flowers.  Wondl, water, and grass at camp first-rate.
18th.-Fine day. It being Sabbath, we remained in camp, as I had determined not to travel or work on the Sabbath, except in case of necessity. This
day I distributed the arms received from  General Sully to the men, as far as
they would go.
19th.-W- eather quite pleasant.  Starting in good season, we travelled about
thirteen miles over gently undulating prairie, crossing Cottonwood creek at
noon, and camping, at 3 p. m., on a small creek called Alule creek; Cottonwood
creek is about fifteen feet in width by one and a half feet deep, with rapid current
over gravelly bed. A good ford was made over this creek, which, however,
should be bridged.  Grass and water on the route first-rate. The timber on the
Cottonwood is principally cottonwood of a good quality, and burr-oak of a poor
quality.
20th.-Day fine, but quite warm. Made fords over and crossed three small
prairie streams during the day; all these streams were of very pure cold water.
Surface of the country gently undulating and fine to travel over. The Forked
Buttes, on the Keya Paha river, were visible to the northward all day. Our
guides, in advance, shot two antelopes, great numbers of which were seen
running about the prairie.  Travelled thirteen and a half miles; and camped on
the Little Platte, at 3~ p. m. This stream is about fifteen feet wide and clear,
with a rapid current. Grass and wood good at camp.
21st.-Good travelling over high prairie.  Crossed in the forenoon a creek
about twelve feet wide; the channel of which being too deeply cut to admit of good
ford for the double wagons, we bridged it. Considerable timber grows along this
stream, chiefly burr-oak and cedar, of rather better quality than we had seen on
most of the streams we had crossed. Fragments of limestone were found by
Dr. Tingley, but he could find no out-cropping strata. To the southwest sandhills were seen, which our guides believed to extend to the river, and we therefore directed our course more northerly; but in the afternoon found that we
could have travelled in a direct line, as the elevations were not as sandy as they
seemed at a distance, and we turned southward till in a direct line with our road
at noon. This bend in the road can be cut off without trouble, and considerable
distance saved thereby. Camped at 4 p. m. on Small creek; grass and water
good at camp, but wood scarce.
22d.-Weather cool and cloudy in the morning. Crossed the northern extremity of' the sand-hills without difficulty, and entered upon a level prairie,
stretching as far to the westward as the eye could reach, bounded on the south
by the sand-hills.  These are oblong elevations, running parallel, or nearly so,
with the river, and increasing in elevation to the southward. Between these
are small valleys, covered with tall grass, and the surface of the ground is hard
but somewhat moist, and good to travel over. The hills are covered scantily
with the usual prairie vegetation. Encamped on a small prairie creek at 5
p. m., having made about seventeen miles. Good grass and water on the creek.
23d. —Made a good ford over the stream, where we camped, and started on
at 7 a. m. At about three miles out, came to a small stream of very fine water,




14       WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO  VIRGINIA  CITY.
growing along the banks of which was oak and cedar trees. Made a good ford
over this stream, and, crossing, ascended a gentle slope, and came on a wide,
level plain, fine to travel over, and covered with a heavy growth of bearded
grass, which, waving in the wind, had the appearance of an immense grain-field.
At ten miles out came to the head of a deep ravine, near which we passed by.
The sides of the ravine were quite steep, and composed of limestone, with white
sandstone above it, with oak, pine, and cedar trees growing on them. At fourteen and a half miles came to Pine creek, upon which we camped at 4 p. m.
This creek has much pine and cedar timber of a second-rate quality growing on
its banks.  Grass, wood, and water plenty and good. The weather was cool
in the morning, but sultry in the middle of the day.  Several mules in the
escort train gave out during the day.
24t. —A very severe thunder-shower occurred last night, and it still rained
in the morning, but it broke away early, and by 9 o'clock everything had dried
off so that we could start.  To hasten the crossing two good fords were made
over this creek, which is about forty feet wide, with rapid current and quicksand
bottom. Teams were doubled for the crossing and ascent of the bluff on the
opposite side, which was very wet and heavy from  the recent rain. After
ascending the bluff we came to a very fine table-land, over which we travelled
in a westerly direction, and camped on the plateau at the bank of the Niobrara
at about 1 p. in., between the heads of two ravines, in each of which were springs
of the purest cold water, and here was also plenty of fine grass for the animals,
and oak, pine, cedar, and cottonwood grew in abundance in the ravines and
river bottoms. On account of our late start, and the time taken in making fords,
we travelled only five miles to-day. The country over which we came was
very fine to travel over.
25th.-Sunday.  Remained in camp all day.
26th.-Weather fine and cool for travelling.  Made about seventeen and a
half miles, and corralled on a fine stream called Lone Pine creek; it is about
25 feet wide by 2 feet deep, with gravelly bottom and swift current.  The face
of the country to-day was gently rolling, and fine to travel over. During the
day's march we passed along the side of a deep cation running into the Niobrara.
The walls were from 50 to 100 feet in perpendicular height, composed of lime
and sandstone, embedded in which Dr. Tingley found many fragments of fossil
bones and petrified wood; grass, wood, and water abundant; course a little
south of west, to avoid the heads of' ravines running into the river. Near the
stream where we camped we passed the trail of two or three hundred Indians,
which had been made quite recently; a sharp, lookout was kept, but none were
seen by the scouts.
27th.-Made a ford at the stream, and cdrossed without difficulty.  Course
during the day westerly, and, by making occasionally small detours, a good
road was obtained.  Some sand-hills were located near the route, which we
avoided.  Camped at 3 p. m. on a small stream with good grass and water, and
cedar and pine sufficient for fuel. Weather hot and sultry, and three mules of
the escort train gave out during the day.
28th. —Severe thunder-shower last night, and some rain this morning.  The
first two miles of our day's travel to-day were quite rough and broken, but at
the end of that distance we entered the valley of Bear creek, which, running
from the west, enabled us to travel up it for about nine miles, where we made a
ford, crossed over, and camped on the north side at 2 p. m. The creek valley
is about three-fourths of a mile wide, level, and covered with a most luxuriant
growth of grass. It seems to be the finest place for farming that we had seen,
though for timber one would hlve to go to the river, distant about five miles.
The stream is very sluggish, being backed up by a succession of beaver dams.
No wood at this camp, but plenty of "1 buffalo chips."
29th.-Cool in the morning, but a pleasant day. Travelled fifteen and a half




WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA  CITY.                15
miles, and camped at 4} p. m. on the Niobrara bottom, at the mouth of a small
stream. This point we were obliged to make to cross this stream, the channel
being cut through a canion on the high prairie with almost perpendicular sides.
During the day we passed a very fine stream about six feet wide, running very
swiftly over a rocky bed, over which a ford was made without difficulty. Below the ford the ledges break off very fast, making a cation, through which the
stream ran. The sides were composed of lime and sandstone rock, imbedded in
which Dr. Tingley discovered the fossil remains of two huge tortoises quite perfect and entire; the transverse diameter of' each could not have been less than
three feet. Much petrified wood was also seen on the banks of the creek. The
surface of the country during the day was generally quite good to travel over.
At the point where we camped on the river the upper line of bluffs is capped
with pine, and lower down grow oak, pine, and some cottonwood. In many
places Dr. Tingley pointed out the remains of a river terrace. The river here
is about 100 yards in width, by 1~ to 2 feet deep, with quicksand bottom. Opposite camp the ground slopes very gradually from the river to the high prairie;
near camp also, on the opposite side, were several Indian graves, buried in their
usual manner, by being placed on scaffolds placed on posts set in the ground.
At this point, on account of his teams giving out, Captain Williford cached a
load of pork and fish, and abandoned his poorest wagon, by which means he
would have an occasional change, and thus better enable his teams to do their
work.
o0th.-O0ur guides informed us that the next stream to cross would be Snake
river, which ran through a cailon, and could not be crossed except at some distance from its mouth. We, therefore, after making a ford over the stream at
camp and crossing, shaped our course more to the southward, and came to the
place where we decided to cross Snake river, after about sixteen miles' travel.
This point is about ten miles from its mouth; grass fair, and wood and water
plenty at camp. About two miles below where we camped the river runs over
falls of about 6, 10, and 25 feet respectively, making a very fine appearance at
camp; it is about 100 feet wide, by a foot in depth, with sandy bottom; with
some work, a good ford was made over it. Recent Indian signs were seen quite
numerously. The scenery below camp on the river is-very grand and beautiful.
The walls of the cation are composed of rocks of a cretaceous character, lime
and sandstone, with marl, in which many fossil remains were discovered.
July 1st.-Day very warm, and road in many places very heavy, and we
doubled our teams to cross the river and ascend the bluffs on the opposite side;
at noon the mercury stood at 90~ in the shade. After crossing we travelled about
twelve miles in a northwesterly direction to strike the Niobrara again, and at 5 p  m.,
no water having been found, and men and teams suffering much from want of it,,
I decided to leave the train and drive the animals, with the cook-wagons, to the
river, distant about four miles to camp, where we arrived at sundown, much fatigued.
2d.-Weather warmer;mercu ry 103~ in the shade at noon, and 106~ at
2 p. m. The wagons taken to the river last night were sent up the river, under
command of my engineer, to await the arrival of the balance of the train. As the
road, from the train to the point I wished to make on the river, was to be very
rough and heavy with sand, and the weather was most excessively warm, I
decided to bring in only half the train this day, which was accompXished at 2
p. m. Two oxen died from heat during the day, and a soldier was  a'ndered insensible fiom sun-stroke.
3d.-Believing that a better road could be obtained by keeping near the
Niobrara, from our camp on the 30th ultimo to this point, and having decided
to remain at this camp till the 5th instant, I sent Judge Smith, my engineer, on
a reconnoissance to the mouth of Snake river, with an escort of four men of company B, Dakota cavalry; three of the men straggled and came back to camp,
being afriaid of Indians, but he made the reconnoissance accompanied by one




16  WAGON  ROAD  FROM  NIOBRARA TO  VIRGINIA  CITY.
man. He reported that the only obstacle was at the mouth of Snake river,
WVhere much heavy grading would have to be made for a short distance, and that
a bridge should then be built over Snake river; this done, a good road might be
obtained, cutting off considerable distance.  He returned at 9 p. m., having
travelled about fifty miles during the day; during the day the balance of the train
was brought into camp in good shape; mercury 1000 in the shade at 1 p, m.
Grass, wood, and water plenty at this camp.
4th.-Very warm day, mercury 1030 in the shade at noon, and breezes-from
the south blowing excessively hot. The escort were drilled, inspected, and fired
a salute at noon.
5tlh. —Started at 5~ a. m., and travelled eight miles through rolling country,
with some sand in places, and camped, at 12 m., on the south bank of a spring
ravine of pure cold water. Grass fair, and wood and water plenty. Dr. Tingley
found on the river bluffs, on this day's travel, the head of the femur, or thighbone of a mastodon, with many other fossil bones, teeth, and much petrified
wood, and arrived at camp, as usual, laden down with fossil remains.  Course,
during the day, somewhat south of west.
GthZ.-Rain fell during the night, and the weather was cool in the morning.
Graded down the banks of the ravine, and crossed at about a mile above our
camp; travelled then about thirteen miles, and camped on the high prairie near
the bank of the Niobrara.  Surface of the country to-day was mostly high, level
table-land, easy to travel over.  Course, during the day, westerly.  Numerous
springs of pure, cold, soft water gushed out of the river-bed near our camp, and
wood and grass were abundant.
7th.-Weather very fine; travelled about four miles over rolling country,
where occasionally grading had to be done, but at the end of that distance we
emerged again upon a high table-land, over which we travelled for the balance
of the day; plenty of wood, grass, and water along the route; arrived at camp
at 3 p. m., and at 5- p. m. a very severe thunder-shower occurred, but it cleared
away before dark, leaving the air pure and refreshing; travelled fifteen miles
that day.
8th/.-Very fine day; the road to-day was laid over a broad valley, which
here extends for some distance on both sides of the river; made twelve miles,
and at 21 p. m. arrived at a fine spring-stream, over which we made a ford, and
camped on the west side in a very fine site; plenty of grass at camp, and wood
on the river, half a mile below the camp. The surface of the country here is
very fine to travel over; the river at this point flows in a single channel, over
a rocky bed, and through a caTion eighty to one hundred feet in depth, though
in some places the ground slopes gradually from the plateau to the river-bed,
alternating on either side. Very recent Indian signs were seen, and one of the
scouts saw where an antelope had been killed by them on yesterday.
9th.-Some slight showers fell last night, but the day was very pleasant. It
being Sunday, we remained in camp. Fossil remains were found in abundance
by the men on the banks of the creek between camp and the river. The surface of the country about is level or gently undulating, and very fine to travel
over, and we have made good progress during the last few days, but little work
having beenl required to make a first-rate road-bed.  Scouts report seeing Indians to-day, who refused to communicate with them.
10th. —Weather cool this morning, and a dense fog obscured all objects at a
short distance, on account of which we had some difficulty in collecting the herd
together; but we got a fair start, and, travelling over a fine level or gently undulating table-land, came to the place where the guides had decided to cross the
Niobrara to the north side, which was just above the mouth of Antelope creek;
the river at this point is about two hundred feet wide by one and a half foot
deep, and runs swiftly over a rocky bed. All hands were set at work making
a ford, which was thus soon accomplished, and the teams crossed without diffi



WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.                17
cultyr; travelled about twelve miles, and camped on a bluff near the river. The
grass, wood, and water were good on the route to-day. -On the north side of
the river we saw, in many places, the wagon-track which Estes, our chief guide,
recognized as that made by Lieutenant (now General) Warren, in 1856.
1 lth.-Very fine, cool day. Travelled about sixteda miles over a level or
gently rolling country, and camped on the bluff, near a small creek, which.we
called Rush creek, from the quantity of rushes there abounding. Grass and
water were plenty at camp, but for wood we had to goabout a mile. The escort
mules, as usual, gave out occasionally during the day. The guides having
decided to leave this river and strike for White river to-morrow, a squad of the
cavalry were detailed to accompany Baptiste on a reconnoissance towards that
river. All of them, however, straggled back to camp, leaving him alone; he
arrived, however; safely in camp at 11 p. m., having ridden.hard all day.
12t.'-A supply of wood was procured on the creek above camp, and we
travelled eight miles up the creek, in 1he direction of White river, and camped
on the last water on the creek, at 12 m. Surface of the country good to travel
over, but soil rather poor; grass at camp good. Our chief guide in advance
reported a fight with two Indians, from whom he captured two ponies.
13th.-Made an early start, and travelled in a northwesterly direction about
fifteen miles, over a rolling' country, but good to travel over, camping, at 4 p.
m., on the head of a ravine leading into White -river. Grass, wood, and water
fair at camp; good springs of pure water were obtained by digging; the soil on
the high lands is rather poor. Elk and antelope were seen during the day in
great numbers. The Black'Hills were -seen, for the first time, from a bluff on
the west side of the camp.
l4th. —This day we came into the country on the south side of the White
river, known as the Bad Sands; travelled fourteen miles nearly north over a
circuitous route and camped at 3 p. m. on a spring ravine leading into White
river; in several places we were obliged to cut down the trees, clear out the
road, and grade down some short pitches, but the day's travel, taken as a whole,
was quite easy on the cattle, though very warm, the mercury standing at 950
at 2 p. m.; some mules, as usual, gave out during th`e day; water, grass, and
wood, good at camp; the scouts report seeing Indians at night, but none came
near camp.
15th.-Very warm day, mercury standing at 94~ at 2 p. m.; travelled fifteen
miles over a very circuitous route to avoid the ravines in the Bad Sands, and
much time was consumed in grading down some steep cuts, so that the train
could pass, but this was finally accomplished with ease to the teams. Baptiste,
in advance, discovered an Indian scout, and hailed him, but he ran away and
could not be overtaken in the rough country. Camped.at 4. p. m., on White
river. Grass and wood in fair quantity at camp. A more thorough reconnoissauce than we had time to make should be made at this place, by which, I am
of the opinion, with a reasonable amount of work, at least eight or ten miles
could be saved from the distance travelled during the last three days.
16th.-To-day being the Sabbath, we remained in camp; heavy rains fell
last night,.and the ground- is very muddy to-day;. weather cool and cloudy;
the river rose about four feet last night from the rain that fell. The surface of
the country away from the river bottoms is barren, and very rough and rocky,
and cut up by numerous ravines. Many kinds of rocks are exposed to view
with white and variegated clays; ochre beds, of various colors, shales, veins of
selenite, and fibrous and stalactatite forms'of gypsum. The veins of selenite
were from two to six inches in thickness, descending perpendicularly through
the shales and crossing each other at right angles..17th.-Weather cool, cloudy, and windy; the river at this point was forty or
fifty feet wide, with high banks and gravelly bottom, with the water of a whitish
H. Ex. Doc. 58-2




18      WAGON ROAD  FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
color like that in the Missouri river, which circumstance probably gave the river
its name; the waters having fallen to about their common level, all hands were
set at work digging down the banks, cutting brush and putting it in at the
water's edge to prevent the wagons cutting into the banks, and the teams were
all crossed and on their way westward at 9~ a. m.; crossed two small creeks
and camped on the west bank of one, at nine miles distance from last night's
camp; over the last creek we put a bridge, and at the former made a ford;
crossed General Harney's old trail from Laramie to Pierre on the north side of
the river in the valley. The surface of the country to-day was rolling, but easy
to travel over, except that it was somewhat heavy from the recent rains; grass
fair at camp, but wood scarce; many high rocky buttes were seen to the north
and northeast of us, and many strata of loose shales were exposed along the
route, dipping in various directions, mostly southeast; through these were veins
of selenite, and large concretions contained within cavities lined with beautiful
crystals of carbonate of lime. There was also in many places exposed a lightcolored stratum strongly impregnated with an acid thought to be sulphuric.
18th.-Got an early start and travelled fifteen miles in a northwesterly direction, over a ridge between two creeks running into White river, and passing the
divide between the White and Cheyenne rivers; camped at 5 p. m. on the west
side of Dry-wood- creek, which we bridged. The country to the southward is
gently rolling, but that north and northeastward is very rough,.and of the nature
of the Bad Sands; grass good at camp; water fair, and a fair supply of.timber
for camping purposes. The soil hereabouts is thin and rather poor. The valley
of the creek is nearly level, and lays very fine. Passed during the day a very
symmetrical butte, about two hundred feet in height, composed of fossiliferous
limestone; the soil during the day's march was mostly dark clay or marl;
the creek is about eighteen feet wide by one and a half foot in depth, and runs
very sluggishly.
19th. —Came fourteen miles over a fair-lying country, at a distance of about
ten miles south of and parallel to the South Cheyenne river. At about noon it
became cloudy, and a severe storm came up, the wield blowing in succession
from all points of the compass; the mud soon became so deep that it was impossible to travel, and we corralled on the banks of a ravine through which ran
a' large stream, the effects of the rain; nothing was found worthy of mention at
this camp, except the mud; the country was very fair to travel over, except
from the effects of the rain.
20th.-Rain fell last night during most of the night, but in the morning it
cleared up somewhat, and after drying off a little we yoked up and started.
The mud drying up somewhat during the forenoon, we got along without serious
trouble, and coming at noon to a small creek leading into Hat creek, we corralled, and spread out our camp equipage to dry; grass and water were abundant at this camp, and sufficient wood for camping purposes. Captain Williford,
commanding the escort, had announced to me that his men were likely to be
greatly in need of clothing before'the end of the expedition,' as he had drawn
only three miionths' supplies on starting from Leavenworth, and but very little
could be obtained, at Sioux City.. As Fort Laramie was the nearest post at
which it was supposed that anything of that nature could be obtained, he decided to go there for supplies, much to my regret, as we should thereby lose at
least one, and perhaps two, weeks of the best part of the season; but there
seemed to be no help for it, and accordingly I loaned him one of our wagons,
which was lighter than his army wagons, and to which he attached six of his'best mules for the journey, to be accompanied by an escort of fifteen mounted
men, commanded by Lieutenant Dana, his acting quartermaster.
It was arranged that we should proceed by short stages, and be joined again
by this party on the Dry fork of the Cheyenne, up which we had determined to
travel for some way. The result of this arrangement will be seen in the sequel.




WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.                 19
21st.-Lieutenant Dana's party left for Laramie, distant about seventy-five
miles, this morning at 8S  o'clock; weather cool aicd very fine; remained in
camp all day, having detailed a party to work digging down the banks of Hat
creek, which we decided to cross about two miles below camp. On the east
side of the place selected for crossing was a perpendicular bank, over twenty
feet high, of very hard, compact clay, through which a roadway had to be dug
from the table-land to the creek bed.
22d.-Party still at work grading down the bank of Hat creek. The creek
is about seventy-five feet wide by one foot and a half deep, running swiftly over
slate bed rock. There is considerable cottonwood growing on it, and in places
between it ahd the Cheyenne considerable pine timber is growing. Another
party was sent on a reconnoissance to the Cheyenne, which flows at the south
base'of the Black Hills, at about eight or ten miles fiom  camp. They report,
the river to be about three hundred feet wide by one and a half to two feet
deep, and running through a canon with almost perpendicular walls, two hundred to three hundred feet in height. The walls were composed mostly of
reddish sandstone. Very recent Indian signs were seen by this party, but no
Indians were discovered. Recent trails were also discovered by guides and
scouts who were out to the westward on reconnoissance, and from indications
they believed we had been seen by one party, who had retreated.
23d. —Sunday, remained in camp all day; forenoon very pleasant, but at
about 4 p. m. occurred the worst hail-storm I had ever seen; every tent but one
was blown down in an instant, and that kept erect only by the united efforts of
three men. Cattle, horses, and mules, all stampeded before the storm in one confused mass. At least three inches of hail fell in a few minutes, and everything was
completely soaked through, heavy duck wagon covers seeming to offer but little
resistance to the penetrating rain; but the storm was too violent to be of long
duration, and subsided in the course of half an hour, when the rest of the day
was spent in hunting up the scattered herd and putting things together as
snugly as possible. Our large Sibley tents were much torn in being blown
down, and much camp equipage was blown away, and could not be found after
the storm. The backs of many cattle were pelted with hail till they bled.
24tA. —The day broke fine; spread out our bedding and other articles to dry,
and at 1-1 a. m. broke camp, and crossing Hat creek, camped on the west side,
near the creek; grass, water, and wood plenty at camp. Most of the grass
found in this region is the gramma grass, which is very sweet and nutritious,
and appears to have great fattening properties for stock. As we did not expect
to make very long journeys till joined again by Lieutenant Dana's party, we
camped after making two miles to-day.
25th.-Day fine, but quite warm at noon, mercury standing at 85~ at 1 p. m;
travelled fifteen miles over a fair-lying country, with clayey soil, rather heavy
from recent rains; saw one buffalo that had been killed by Indians within two
days, only a part of which had been taken by them; camped at 2~ p. m. on
Horse-head creek, which leads into the Cheyenne; grass rather scarce at camp.
During the day we passed through a gap in a ridge of limestone that extended
from north to south across our paths; it was about fifty feet in height, with
strata dipping to the west at an angle of about 35~. We got rained upon again
on our arrival at-camp. The pioneers, immediately on our arrival at camp, made
a good ford over the creek to facilitate and hasten our crossing to-morrow.
26th.-Got a good start and crossed the creek without difficulty. At the
ford we came to Sage creek, distant five and a half miles, at 10 a. m. The
channel of this creek being cut too deep to admit of making a good ford for the
double wagons of the fieight train, we bridged it, and, crossing, camped on the
west side. Greasewood, sage, and cactus are abundant on the high land, but
grass in the low valleys and ravines is plenty and of good quality. Wood is
scarce, but plenty can be obtained for camping purposes. Large concretions,




20      WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
containing within most beautiful crystals of calcareous spar, were very
numerous on this creek, and many beautiful specimens were obtained, but discarded for want of transportation.
27th. —Travelled seven miles westward over a sterile country, but easy to
travel upon. TMany patches of the wild cherry were seen loaded with fruiit.
Bear tracks, made on yesterday, were seen by scouts, but no bear came in sight.
Weather cool and fine for travelling; grass and water good at camp; got into
camp at 12 m.
28th.-Starting at 51 a. m, and travelling in a westerly direction twelve
miles, we came to the South Cheyenne at about 12 m. The high ground travelled over is quite barren, and covered with broad-leafed cactus; but grass is
abundant in all the ravines and low-lands, and on the bottoms at the river is the
best gramma grass we have Been, much of it standing one and a half foot in
height. The guides in advance saw buffalo cross the river, and Baptiste creeping upon them laid one of them low with one well-directed shot from his sure
rifle; this gave us plenty of fresh meat for a change in camp. All hands
were set at work digging down the banks, and cutting and hauling logs
and brush to put in at the water's edge to prevent the wagons cutting in
too deeply at the ford. A good ford was made in the afternoon ready for crossing
on the morrow. On this river is a belt of cottonwood timber about eighty rods
in width, but of a rather stunted growth. The stream is about one hundred
and twenty-five feet wide by one foot deep, with sandy bed and much quicksand in many places, but- the bed at crossing was quite firm*and hard.
29th.. —Crossed the river and moved camp one mile to the north side. Day
verywarm, mercury standing at 990 in the shade at 2 p. m. At 3~ a. m. a
party was sent on a reconnoissance to the Black Hills, distant about eight or ten
miles.
30th. —Avery warm day; remained in camp all day; mercury indicating 960 in
the shade at noon. The party returned from the Black Hills in the afternoon, and
reported that they crossed Beaver creek a few miles aboveits junction with the Cheyenne, and ascended the mountain ridge on the west side of the hill, when a vast plain
twenty miles in width spread out to their view. The soil was apparently composed of red clay, which being cut up by numerous ravines, presented, when
reviewed from the mountain top, a very grand and beautiful appearance. The
descent into this valley being very difficult, the party returned back and came to
camp. Pine and cedar timber -of a second-rate quality grows in abundance
on these mountains. No recent Indian signs were seen by the party.
31st.-Very high wind, which made travelling very uncomfortable; came
twenty miles over a rough stony country, cut up considerably by ravines, the
grading of which kept the pioneers quite busy all day; our course was nearly
northwest during the day, -and we kept the ridge away from the stream to avoid
the ravines putting into it. Soil varying, but mostly poor, producing nothing
except sage, brush, greasewood and cactus, with a fair supply of gramma grass
in the low places. The most remarkable feature of the country is the appearance of the stone which abounded along the route, and was mostly sandstone;
from some cause, probably concretionary structure, the strata varied in hardness, and in many places the lower strata appeared to have been washed or
blown away in whole or part, leaving the upper stratum lying as if on pillars,
or loosely on the ground where its support had failed. Columns of this sandstone capped with rocks so wide as to afford shelter from the sun were numerous among these stones. Among the rocks in the latter part of the day's travel were
found beds.of clay, apparently local, containing bones of extinct animals of a very
large size in one place Dr. Tingley observed these bones to completely cover the
ground for a considerable space around. Encamped on the creek, near which we




WAGON ROAD. FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.               21
discovered a trail supposed to have been made by Lieutenant (now General)
Reynolds on his reconnoissance through that country.
Auggust lst.-Weather pleasant, but windy; travelled eleven miles up Dry
fork of the Cheyenne over a hard, solid road-bed, and camped on the creek at
1 p. m. The high prairie on the route is barren of everything except cactus,
sage brush, and greasewood, but a fair supply of grass grows in the ravines
and low places.'There appeared to be much more water in the stream as we
ascended it, but the current was very.sluggish, being backed up by a succession
of beaver dams. A party of Indians with about twenty ponies and one shod
horse, with two footmen, had passed up this stream about two weeks before
apparently in great haste, as the ponies were kept at a gallop all the time. At
about 10 p. m. Lieutenant Dana arrived with his command from Laramie with
no supplies,-having foolishly left their wagon to come up with a detachment,
which they said was ordered to come from Laramie to the Black Hills, pass
around and join General Conner, supposed to be on the Powder river.
2d. -The cavalry were to-day ordered back to ascend the old Nomerus fork, in
the direction of Laramie, to see if tidings could be obtained of the wagon.sent
for clothing and left by Lieutenant Dana, and we engaged to proceed by short
journeys until they should overtake us. Travelled up the creek about fourteen
miles and camped; grass poor but wood and water plenty; rocks were seen on
the two previous days of almost every imaginable form; country good to travel
over, being tolerably level and with compact soil.
3d. —The main branch of the creek being thought to run too. much south of
our course we left it, and travelling four miles camped on a dry creek, but where
there was good grass with water in the creek at a mile distant; after camping
the guides went ahead on a reconnoissance.
-4th. —Cloudy in the mol ning and some rain in the forenoon; travelled seventeen
miles northwestwardly, and leaving the tributaries of the South Cheyenne came
over to a branch of the North Cheyenne. Passed a vein of lignite on the summit
between these streams, which, however, was but of limited extent. A fire was
built at the edge of it by some of the men, and it burned quite freely. We
also saw here large concretionary structures, some of them seven or eight feet
in diameter, of circular shape, and fractured and divided by both radiating
and concentric lines so as to separate the blocks into segments of a circle resembling well-bricks. Crossed during the day several dry ravines, which we graded
down and made good crossings over; camped at 1 p. m. Grass and water fair,
but wood scarce at camp.
5th.-Travelled five and a half miles, crossing a divide where the bluffs were
stratified with lignite and sandstone, and camped on a branch of the North
Cheyenne at 10 a. m; grass and cottonwood plenty; water like that in the Missouri river, but good to the taste and clears off by standing a short time; back
from the stream, on the southeast, were many high bluffs capped with pine and
cedar trees.
6th.-Sunday, remained in camp; the guides went on a reconnoissance, and
while out shot some buffalo and packed a quantity of the meat on their ponies
to camop; weather fine, but rather too warm for comfort.
7th.-Came northwest eight -and a half miles, and at noon camped on another
branch of the North Cheyenne; during the forenoon we passed several small
ravines, which we graded down-and made good crossings over. The guides and
scouts went ahead on a reconnoissance, on our arrival at camp, and reported on
their return that to the west of us the buffalo were travelling northwestward in
great numbers; weather very warm; grass, water, and wood plenty-at camp.
8th. Travelled up the stream to the west about six miles, crossing it several
times; at each crossing we were obliged to dig down the banks and make fords;
this day's work was very fatiguing to all; camped on the same stream at night




22      WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
with a fair amount of wood, water, and grass at camp. To the southward of
camp, at about a mile, the scouts discovered a vein of coal on fire, which apparently had been burning for some time; the seam was at the foot of a bluff, and
the clay above was falling down upon it as it burned, and much heat and some
smoke issued through the crevices. The coal was bituminous, of a good quality,
and burned fieely in the open air with comparatively little smoke.
9th.-Fine day, but quite warm; moved up the stream eighf and a half miles
over a fair-lying open country, and camped at noon; there was but little wood
at camp, but grass and water were plenty and of first-rate quality; in many
places were here seen large circular red buttes rising abruptly from the plain,
apparently composed of stone of a volcanic origin, but each butte being regular
and symmetrical in form, presented a very fine appearance; from this point we
decided to' strike northwest to Powder river, to pass, if possible, to the north
side of Pumpkin buttes. To-day the cavalry returned from their scout and reported no tidings of the wagon left by Lieutenant Dana, so that on the whole'we had been delayed more than a week, and no good has resulted therefromn.
On the' 10th and 11th instants we marched thirty-two miles over a rolling
country with but little water or wood, though grass was abundant; a reconnoissance was then made to Powder river, and we decided that, owing to the very bad
lands on Powder river and lack of water, a road there would be impracticable
for travel. At our camp on the 11th instant we found large quantities of firstrate bituminous coal-the best I have ever seen in the west; from the amounts
seen cropping out I should think it almost inexhaustible.
13th.-Having decided to retrace our steps to our camp of the 9th instant,
and from thence make the road, and travel to Powder river on the south side of
Pumpkin buttes, we started this morning; at noon, as the heat was excessive,
we corralled near some small springs to water our stock. While here Nat. D.
Hedges, of Sioux City, who was scouting about one and a half mile from camp,
was surprised'and-killed by a party of Cheyenne Indians, who at the same time'
made a dash on our herd and stampeded and drove off eight cavalry horses.
A party immediately volunteered, and scouting. out, found the body of Mr.
Hedges scalped and mutilated. He was a young man who had charge of the
private freight train that accompanied the expedition, was about ninete'en years
of age and of much promise, being a genial and pleasant companion, and of very
correct habits; his loss cast a gloom over the camp not soon dispelled. From
this point we travelled till after dark on"our back track and at 9 p. m. corralled,
keeping a strict guard.
14th. - Travelled two and a half miles, and corralling on a good site turned
out our cattle for water and grass. A large party of Indians drove in the pickets
and made a dash at the herd, but were beaten off and got none. Having made
a rude coffin from some boards of an abandoned government wagon, we buried
young Hedges at 5 p. m. in the centre of the c6rrall, taking pains to conceal
the grave so that no one except those present should be able find it, on account
of Indians. Weather during the day fine, but rather warm.
15th. —Fine morning. The bluffs around at sunrise were covered with
Indians to the number of 500 to 600, and fighting was commenced by their
charging down over the plain and shooting into the corrall; each. charge was
repulsed, however, and at about noon they called for peace. After some parleying, I decided to treat with them, and for some bacon, sugar, coffee, flour
and tobacco, they agreed to let us go on our way. The minority, however,
were discontented with this treaty, but were restrained by the majority from
fighting. I endeavored to keep the men as much away from them as possible,
fearing trouble, but two of the escort ventured out among them, and in the
melee were shot; their names were Anthony Nelson and John Rawze, of company B, Dakota cavalry. The Indians immediately left, and a party sent out
to reconnoitre found the body of Nelson and brought it to camp. We buried




WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.    23
him at dark in a rifle-pit on the west side of the corral. The scouts reported
several ponies killed in the ravines near camp, which was probably done by
shells from our howitzers. These Indians were mostly Cheyennes and Sioux.
16th. —-Morning fine, but day very warm, yoked' up, and coming ten miles,
encamped at 11 a. m., at our camp of the 9th instant, at which place we determined to stay, and send a scouting party to Powder river, to discover, if
possible, any trail of General Connor, whom we supposed to have gone down
Powder river on an expedition. Our escort commander began to grow fainthearted, and all the officers, except Lieutenant Marshall, were clamorous for the
abandonment of the expedition and proceeding to Laramie as fast as possible.
I endeavored to get a cavalry escort to volunteer to go with our scouts to
Powder river, but the men refused to volunteer, and the commander did not
incline to detail them, so the scouts concluded to go alone on the morrow. At
6 p. m. a party of Indians drove in the pickets, and made a dash at -the herd,
but were beaten off and got nothing.
1 7th.-At 2 a. m. our scouts, Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey, late of 2d Maine cavalry, and Charles W. Lears, with Ester and Defond, our guides, started alone on a
reconnoissance to Powder river, and at daylight were far away from camp. The
cattle were herded during the day by the drivers and pioneers, there seeming
to be an indisposition on the part of the escort commander to expose his men
as pickets; he seemed, in fact, indisposed to do much of anything, except to go
to Laramie by the shortest route. A few Indians were seen during the day
lurking behinid the bluffs at a mile or so from camp.
18th.-Remained in camp; drivers and pioneers herded cattle all day; day
warm and pleasant.
19th. —The reconnoitring party arrived in camp this morning at about 6
o'clock, and, reported that a good road may be made to Powder river, distant
about 50 miles; that General Connor had passed down the Dry fork about two
days since, from appearances, with a large train. They had been almost constantly in the saddle for about 50 hours, and had ridden about 150 miles during
that time. One horse had given out, andwas left at about 16 miles from camp,
on their return; he was, however, recovered on the next day. All the Indians
on the river had apparently gone northward, as no signs were seen of late date.
Started the train at 8~ a. m., and travelled southwest to pass to the south of
Pumpkin buttes; came 16~ miles over good-lying country, and camped on
branch of the north Cheyenne; grass and water plenty, but wood scarce.
20th.-Sunday, pleasant day; remained in camp all day.
21st.-Started at 8' a. m., and at noon corralled awhile to water our stock;
then proceeding in a direction a little south of west, made about 17 miles by 8~
p. m., when a wagon tire came off a government wagon, and we were forced to
camp about 6 miles east of the buttes; good grass, but no water at camp.
22d.-Very hard day's travel; came 6 miles and passed through the gap between the two most southern buttes, and thence travelled 16 miles over rough
country in a northwest direction, and came at 4 p. m. to the Dry fork of Powder river, where we camped; the day was very warm, and one ox died, and
several mules gave out from heat and neglect of the wagon-master of the escort
train to water them when he had an opportunity; grass was scarce in the irmmediate vicinity of camp,. as General Connor's command had camped near
this spot with large trains,'which had eaten it off. There seemed to have been
but little rain here this season, everything being much parched by heat.
23d.-Captain WTilliford having refused to escort the train further, I sent Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey, with Baptiste, to discover, if possible, the whereabouts
of General Connor, who was certainly on Powder river below us. They found
Fort Connor about thirteen miles below us, but General Connor gone on an,expedition to Tongue river. Colonel Godfrey reported the facts in our case to
Colonel Kidd, commanding the post, who ordered Captain Williford to report to




24      WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
him at Fort Connor for duty, and furnished Colonel Godfrey with an escort to
proceed to General Connor.
24th.-Very warm day. Travelled down the Dry fork, and camped on the
east side of the river about one mile from Fort Connor. Plenty of water and
wood at camp, but grass poor.
25th.-Remained in camp to recruit our stock, and hear from General Connor. A party of Indians drove in the herders in the forenoon and stole one
horse and killed two oxen. Colonel Godfrey returned to-day with an order
from General Connor to Captain Williford to remain at Fort Connor with his
infantry command, and to Colonel Kidd to furnish us with a cavalry escort to
the Big Horn. Powder river is here about 150 feet wide by one foot deep,
with sandy bottom; water in the stream is first rate. Fort Connor is well
situated on a table-land on the west side of the stream.
26th.-It being twenty-six miles to Crazy Woman's fork, which was the
next water on our route, we determined to make a night drive, as we were
going over the route made by General Connor to Tongue river, and expected a
fair road to travel over. WTe started at 4 p. m and travelled till 11 p. m., when
we corralled to rest the stock, and started again at 3 a. m. of the 27th arrived at
Crazy Woman's fork at 10 a. m. and corralled. The country over which we
travelled was gently rolling, soil hard and easy to travel over, with a fair
amount of gramma and bunch grass. The water in the creek is very fine and
cool, coming directly from the mountains, and wood is plenty, but grass on the
creek is poor this year. The creek is about sixty feet wide by one foot deep,
with swift-running current over a rocky bed.
27th.-Started again at 3 p. m. and travelled twenty-three miles over a rolling
country, and arrived at 9 a. m. of the 28th at the Clear fork of the Powder
river, where we remained during the balance of the day. During the night we
corralled about six hours for resting the teams. Grass, wood, and the purest
water abundant; course during the last two days mostly northwest. General
Connor having recently travelled over the country thus far, less work was required than would otherwise have been, but in many places grading was required
at ravines, to enable the double wagons of the freight train to cross without uncoupling. Day pleasant, but quite warm.
29th.-Fine weather in the forenoon, but severe rain fell, and it was quite
cold at night. Travelled sixteen miles and camped on a branch of Powder
river leading into Piney fork. Road rolling, but good to travel over most of the
way. At noon we passed about one-half mile to the west of Father DeSmule's
lake, a fine sheet of water, about one mile long by half a mile wide. Our
course during the day was parallel with the Big Horn mountains, at a distance
6f from five to eight miles of their base.
30th.-Crossed Piney fork and came over to a branch of Tongue river;
country somewhat rolling,but good to travel over. The soil in the valleys is
very good, with plenty of grass and wood. Scouts reported Indians ahead of
us. This day we travelled about fifteen miles in a northwest course.
31st.-Travelled twenty-two miles in a course a little west of north,
and -camped at 5 p. m. on the middle branch of Tongue river; crossed two small
streams and the south branch of Tongue river by good fords, which we made.
The south branch is about one hundred feet wide by two feet deep, with very
fine, clear, cold water, running swiftly over a gravelly bed. An abundance of
fine grass grows in the bottoms of the streams. At night Captain Cole, of the
6th Michigan cavalry, a volunteer in the escort, was surrounded and killed by
Indians while scouting in advance of the train. He was a young man of fine
talents, brave; and genialin his manners, and was much lamented by the command; he had before lost an arm in the service of his country.
September lst.-Fine day; travelled two and a half miles and crossed the
north branch of Tongue river, wvhen our rear guard was attacked by Indians




WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA_ TO VIRGINIA CITY.               25
after the train had crossed, and the loose cattle in the rear of the train stampeded,
and over thirty were driven off by the enemy. The train attempted to proceed
after crossing, but the surrounding bluffs soon became literally alive with Indians, well armed, and our escort of thirty-five men were insufficient to protect
the train, and we were obliged to corral in the bottom. I endeavored to select
a spot about equidistant from the river and the bluff to avoid shots from either
side. While corralling, James Dillelend, one of my best drivers, was shot and
mortally wounded; also a driver of one of the emigrant teams, by name of Merrill, was mortally wounded, and died at night; several horses and cattle were
wounded, some of them mortally. Firing was kept up on both sides throughout
the day.
2d.-Some rain fell during the night, but the weather was fine and cool in
the morning. Indians to the number of 250 to 300 came about, but keeping
well out of range. The chiefs in the forenoon signified their wish for a treaty,
by which means, I suppose, they wished to get something to eat and smoke.
They said they were Arrapahoes, and that four days before General Connor had
surprised them in camp and captured from themn a large number of their ponies,
burned their camp, and killed many of them. They wished to make peace to
obtain, if possible, their ponies from General Connor, thinking, perhaps, that we
might aid them. To peace, of course, we were agreed, as they greatly outnumbered us, and were well armed and mounted, and our cattle began to need
water and grass. They agreed to send three of their number with three of our
men to General Connor-they wishing for their ponies and we for more men;
some of them meanwhile agreed to stay with us as hostages. This being agreed
upon, we turned out our stock to graze.
3d.-Cold, windy morning; remained in camp. More Indians came to camp
at night, bit left soon after. They are the same party that were fed at Fort
Halleck during last winter, but as soon as spring opened theby stole all the
horses and mules they could lay their hands upon, and left fr this locality,
supposing themselves entirely out of the reach of white men. Dillelend died
to-day.
4th -Cloudy and windy; some Indians came to camp and left again; they
now seemed friendly, but a sharp lookout was kept up to prevent a surprise.
Towards night the three Indians who started for General Connor's command
returned, and said that many white men were coming to us, and declined to stay
at camp. They seemed quite suspicious of more trouble.
5th.-Captain Kellogg, of the 6th Michigan cavalry, with twenty-seven men,
came into camp at sunrise. This was the party the Indians had seen; they
had been with mail to General Connor's command, and having been attacked
came to our camp, not daring to go in so few numbers to F'ort Connor. They
reported that the men sent by us had gone to General Connor, who had gone
far-down on Tongue river.
6.th —Day fine. On the 3d we had buried Captain Cole on the north side of
the corral, in a rifle-pit, and this day we buried Dillelend and Merrill in a riflepit on the south side of camp. Large numbers of buffaloes were seen during
the day, and large wolves were very numerous, making the night hideous with
their howlings.
7th, 8th, and 9th. —Remained in camp waiting for re-enforcements. Rain
commenced to fall on the afternoon of the 7th, aud fell without intermission till
the night of the 9th. The mountains on the west of us were covered with
snow, which came nearly down to the valley.
10th -The mud got so deep in the corral that we could not move about, and
we moved it to a new spot.' Weather fine, and mud drying'fast to-day.
11th. —Fine day; no news yet came from General Connor.
12th.-Fine day; some Indians came in sight towards night. As our present
escort could not in any event go further than the Big Horn by their orders, a




26      WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
large majority of the men refused to proceed beyond that point without escort;
(only twenty men of the command being willing so to do.) No re-enforcements
appearing, I was constrained, to my great regret, to announce that on the morrow
we would retreat to Fort Connor.
13th. —With heavy heart I moved the train back towards Fort Connor, supposing that the object of the expedition had failed to be reached; but just before
our arrival at night to camp, the scouts in the rear announced the approach of
horsemen, which, to my great joy, proved to be re-enforcements from General
Connor, which had been prevented from before reaching us by the severe rains
and swollen streams. They were company L, 2d California cavalry, and a company of Indian scouts, all commanded by Captain A. E. Brown, of 2d California
cavalry.
14th.-NAs the time of service of our Michigan troops had nearly expired,
General Connor had ordered them back to be mustered out, and to-day they
started for Fort Laramie. We remained in camp all day awaiting the arrival of
Captain Brown's baggage train. Day very fine for the season. The grass, wood,
and water in all this country is very good.
15th.- Fine day. Marched to the north branch of Tongue river, and corralled near the river at 4 p. m. A few Indians were discovered by our scouts
on this river.
16th. —Travelled nineteen miles and pamped on the Little Horn; crossed two
small streams during the'day, at which we made good fords. The country is very
rolling, but hard and good to travel over; and the creek valleys are very fine land,
with plenty of timber and grass and the purest water. Our course during the
day was about northwest, and many buffaloes were seen.
17th.-Came thirteen miles on a northwest course and camped on a small
creek leading into the Little Horn. Country very rolling, but the creek valleys
are very fine; crossed during the day two small creeks, over which we made
good fords.
18th.-Camped on a small creek at 3 p. m., after travelling sixteen miles over
rolling country; day very warm. Much heavy grading was required to descend
the bluff into the valley, but a further reconnoissance made, after arriving in the
valley, showed a better place to descend the bluffs, which, however, will have to
have considerable work done upon it before it can be travelled. The valley is
about two to three miles wide, and has much fine grass in it, and considerable
timber grows in the bends of the stream; immense herds of buffalo and large
numbers of antelope range in every direction; white elk, deer, and bears abound
and serve to render this country emphatically a hunter's paradise. The hunters,
during this day's march, killed three bears and a large quantity of other game.
No signs of hostile Indians were seen to day.
19th.-Canme six miles over good road-bed in the valley, and grading down
the banks, forded the Big Horn river. This stream is about 400 feet wide, and
in most places, at the time we were there, would swim a horse; but after repeated trials we found a place with only about 3~ feet of water. All hands
went at work with a will, and at 1 1 a. m. the teams were all crossed and corralled
on the north side of the river. The current runs with great rapidity, and many
men were carried some ways down the river by it, but all finally crossed safely.
Captain Brown's orders not permitting him to go further than this* place with
us, as at this place we were considered nearly out of danger, he detailed Sergeant James Youcham, with seven men, to proceed with us to Virginia City, and
afterwards to report to him at Salt Lake city, while the balance of his command
returned with him to General Connor. Sergeant Youchamn performed his duty
in a very prompt and energetic manner during the balance of the expedition.
To Captain Brown I wish to express my heartfelt thanks, and those also of
the rest of the members of the expedition, for the safe and expeditious manner
in which he escorted us through the Indian country. A better officer than him



WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA  CITY.                  27
self, or better troops than those under his command, are not to be found in the
service.
20th.-Fine day; many buffaloes in sight;'crossed one creek by bridging and
another by fording; travelled eighteen miles over a country requiring considerable grading in places to make it passable, and camped on a creek leading into
the Big Horn. Grass, water, and wood poor at this camp.
21st. —Cool, cloudy day; came nineteen and a half miles over a fair-lying
country, and camped on Pryor's fork at 6 p. m.; in two or three places much
grading had to be done to render a passage safe for the double wagons of the
freight train. Pryor's fork is about thirty feet wide by two feet deep, with
good wood and grass upon its banks, and a swiftly-running current of pure
water. Thousands of buffalo, elk, deer, and antelope were seen during the day.
22d.,-Fine day; came eleven miles in a northerly direction, and camped on
the Yellowstone river at 12 m. The last five miles of the road was very rough,
and much grading was done to enable us to descend tile bluff of the Yellowstone
bottom, where we found, on arriving, plenty of wood, water, and grass.
23d. —Travelled up the Yellowstone eighteen miles, to the mouth of Clark's
fork, where we corralled; grass, wood, and water good on the route. Fords
were made across two small streams, and ravines were graded down in several
places; plenty of game in sight all day; weather very fine.
24th.-Sunday; fine day; remained in camp all day.
25th.-Came southwest nineteen and a half miles, crossing Clark's ford, and
camped on Rocky fork.  Clark's ford is about one hundred and. fifty feet wide
at the crossing, by'one and a half foot deep, with very swift current, and the
water, at the time of our crbssing, was quite muddy, probably from snow melting on the mountains, or from the immense herds of buffalo that were crossing
above. From the point where we encamped, a reconnoissance made decided that
we should have struck Pryor's fqrk more to the west, and thence west across
the country, as water could be found on Clark's fork at convenient places for
camping.. My guide, whom I had hired on the Big Horn, was an old mountaineer, and pretended to know all about the country when I hired him, yet he
could not tell, when at Pryor's. fork, if water could be got on this cut-off or not,
and I feared to try it so late in the season without being sure. Had I knoivn at
Pryor's fork what I learned at this camp, I should have come direct, and the
road should be thus made, and thus avoid the Yellowstone bluffs to this place.
I am satisfied that a saving of over twenty miles can be made by this cut-off.
26th.-Fine day; crossed Rocky fork to the south side, and travelled about
four miles up the valley, over a beautiful level country, thence recrossed the
stream and struck off westerly up Berdan's fork, and camped on that stream,
after travelling thirteen miles. Rocky fork is a beautiful stream, with considerable timber in the bends, and is about seventy-five feet wide by one and a half
foot deep, with very swift-running current over rocky bed, and runs into Clark's
fork below our camp of last night. Berdan's fork is smaller, and runs into Rocky
fork from the west; we made good fords over these streams at the crossings.
27th. —Cool day, and windy; came fifteen miles westerly, and crossing several small streams, and the east fork of Rosebud river, camped at 4 p. m. on the
middle branch of the Rosebud; grass, water, and wood in abundance.
2Sth.-.Cool, windy day, and frosty last night; travelled seventeen miles,
crossing the middle and west forks of the Rosebud, and camped at night on the
high prairie at 5.30 p. m.; country high, rolling, and good to travel over. The
Rosebuds are fine streams, fifty and one hundred feet wide, respectively, by
about two feet deep, running swiftly over rocky beds. These streams, as do
all we have crossed since leaving Powder river, abound in trout and other fish
of the finest quality. We appeared now to have left the buffalo range, though
elk, deer, antelope, and bears are very numerous.




28      WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA  CITY.
29thi.-Travelled eighteen miles, and descending into the Yellowstone bottom
camped at night on that stream; good country to travel over all day, and grass
and wood abundant at camp. We met, to day, a fleet of Mackinaw boats, descending the Yellowstone, loaded with persons coming from the Territory to the
States, to the number of four or five hundred.
30th.-Day very pleasant; travelled seventeen miles up the Yellowstone
bottom, and crossing Little Rocky, or Cross creek, camped at night half a mile
from where we had decided to cross the Yellowstone. Cross creek flows in two
channels, each about fifty feet wide by one and a half foot deep, running very
swiftly over a rocky bottom; dug down the banks and made a good ford at the
creek.
October 1st. —To-day being Sabbath, we remained in camp all day.
2d.-Came nineteen and a half miles up the Yellowstone; after crossing it
and leaving the bottom, came over to "Twenty-five Yard" creek, where we
camped at 5 p. m. Only one place could be found where the river is fordable,
and that in an oblique direction up stream, making a ford at least fifty rods
long. The water is about two and a half feet deep in the channel, and runs
with great swiftness. The banks were dug down and well prepared for crossing, and the whole train crossed safely over in an hour without serious trouble.
3d. —Pleasant day. Ruleaw, our guide, whom we hired on the Bior Horn, who
pretended to know all about the country, got lost, and we were oblige(d to retrace our steps for three miles in one place; but notwithstanding this delay we
made eleven miles in a southerly direction, and camped on a small creek leading
-into the Yellowstone just below the Canion, distance from the camp to the river
about two miles. Grass, wood, and water abundant.
4th.-Cloudy day, with a little rain. Came up the creek in a westerly direction, over the summit between the Yellowstone and Gallatin rivers, and camped
in a beautiful park on the west side of the summit; grass and water abundant,
and the mountains above us clothed with groves of pine, hemlock, and poplar
timber. From our camp this morning a road had been travelled to Virginia
City, which, however, needed much repairing to enable the double teams to cross
~in safety. Distance made this day thirteen miles.
5th. —Train came down to the Gallatin valley, and passing Boseman City,
camped on a tributary of the Gallatin river, having travelled sixteen and a half
miles. The Gallatin valley is broad, level, and presents a fine appearance, and
when irrigated produces abundant crops, the yield of grain on the numerous
farms in the valley being very large this season.
6th.-Crossed the stream where we had camped, and also the Gallatin river,
and coming fifteen miles, over the divide between the Gallatin and the Madison,
camped at 3.30 p. m., on a, tributary of the Madison. The Gallatin is a beautiful stream, one hundred feet wide by two and a half feet deep, with very swift
current. Country during the day somewhat rolling, but easy to travel over.
7th.-Came to the Madison river, which we crossed by fording; the stream
is one hundred and fifty feet wide by two feet deep, and runs very swiftly.
After crossing, we travelled up the stream, and camped on a stream running
into the Madison; grass, wood, and water good.
8th. —Sunday; remained in camp.
9th.-It rained hard all day, and we remained in corral. We were now in a
section said to be one of the best in the Territory for quartz. Many very rich
lodes have been discovered hereabouts.
10th. —Cloudy in the morning, but we yoked up and crossed the range between the Madison and Meadow creek, and camped on Meadow creek, having
travelled ten miles through a severe rain-storm. In several places much grading
had to be done to make the road passable for the double teams.
11th.-Came twelve miles up the Madison, in a southwesterly direction, and




WAGON ROAD FROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA  CITY.                29
camped at the foot of the range on a small creek; passed several very good farms
in the valley, and the mountain tops on either side were covered with snow.
12th.-Came over the range between the Madison and Jefferson rivers, and
travelling eight miles came to Virginia City at 10 a. m. One of the very worst
hills on the whole route is that leading to Virginia City.
It being too late in the season to return over and straighten up the road and
complete the Omaha branch, as I had intended doing this season, I unloaded the
supplies, stores and camp equipage, and drove the teams into camp on Stinkwater creek, about eight miles from Virginia City, it being the nearest point that
good water and pasturage could be obtained. From this time till the 24th I
was engaged in paying off the men and putting the outfit in good repair, recruiting the cattle, &c, preparatory to selling them. I finally placed the whole outfit in the hands of a commission merchant, who, being better posted than I could
possibly be, was enabled to sell to better advantage fur the government.  Leaving my wagon-master in charge to assist in selling and to receive the funds, I
started for Sioux City, in company with my engineer and clerk, to report as soon
as possible. After many vexatious delays I arrived at Sioux City on the 3d of
December, thence came, by order, directly to Washington to report in person.
Appendix A, attached to this report, will show an itinerary of the route as prepared by Judge Smith, my engineer.
Appendix B will show the physician's report, made by Doctor Tingley.
I regret exceedingly that owing to the lateness of the season when we arrived,
having been much detained by Indians and our first escort, we were unable to
go back over the road and finish up the branch to Omaha City. In many places
I now know that the road can be shortened and made much better by making
cut-offs and different locations, and I think that the interests of the travelling
public, and of the people of Montana, require that it should be thus worked and
corrected up. I would recommend that an additional appropriation, of, say, twenty;
thousand dollars ($20,000) be made for that purpose; this, in addition to what is
now on hand of the former appropriation, would be of great advantage in rendering the route a great thoroughfare, and the investment would be amply repaid by
a route complete, by which much time and distance can be saved in transportation of freight and the travelling public between the States and the great goldproducing Territories of Montana and Idaho. The importance of having this
route more fully developed, and kept open for travel by protection against Indians,
can hardly be overestimated.  It is at least six hundred miles nearer than
the route which has hitherto been travelled by many-of Salt Lake-with
wood, water, and grass in abundance, and no mountain ranges of importance to
cross, and upon the whole a first-rate route to travel over. If the route is protected against Indians, and some places on it relocated and marked in a more
thorough manner, all travel to Montana and Idaho must necessarily pass over
it, as by it much time and travel can be saved, and the route is much better
than an equal number of miles on the west end of any of the routes hitherto
travelled, and no alkaline water worth noticing was seen, on the whole route,
which fact is of great importance to persons engaged in freighting. By this
route a stage may be run from the Missouri river to Virginia City in eight (8)
days, whereas it now takes sixteen (16) days by the present stage route, when
they run upon time.
In conclusion of this report, I desire- to render my sincere thanks to my engineer and clerk, my wagon-master, my chief guide, Estes, and my scouts, Lieutenant Colonel J. F. Godfrey and Charles W. Sears. Without the hearty cooperation of these men, which I am proud to say I had at all times, the objects
of the expedition could never have been accomplished; also I desire to thank
B]rigadier General P. E. Connor for the prompt manner in which he furnished us
with re-enforcements, when in great peril, weakening his own force for that purpose.




30           WAGON ROAD FROM NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.
Knowing the great national importance of the successful opening of this route,
he, when  surrounded  by hostile  Indians, generously and  promptly  sent to  our
aid more than  one-third  of his available  force, and  thus successfully passed us
through the most hostile Indian country on the continent.
JAMES A. SAWYER,
Superintendent and Disblursing  Agent.
Hon. JAMES HARLAN,
Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
APPENDIX A.
Itinerary of the Niobrara and Virginia City wagon road, prepared by Lewis
H. Smith, engineer of the expedition commanded by Colonel J. A. Sawyer,
being the actual odometer measurement.
Odometer
measurement.
~.
Points on the road.                                                    Remarks.
o                                  Remarks.
o               o
7       -
From Niobrara to camp on the Niobrara..... SW-.         4.. 5. —-.. — Camp.
To crossing of Verdigris creek..-5....... S. W..  2. 4          6. 9    Do.
To crossing of Swamp creek - -—.. —-—. - S. NW. -  6. 1    1.3         Do.
To crossing of creek-. —-.M..T...........-IW......  1.9    14. 9
To crossing of Mauvaises Terre creek. —. — W. NW —  6. 5    21.4    Do.
To crossing of Louse creek.................    W......  7. 6    29
To crossing of Big Coulter creek..          MT...... W -  6. 6    35. 6    Do.
To crossing of Cottonwood creek.......-    W......  9. 7    45. 3
To crossing of Mule creek-   --      -         MT.      4      49. 3    Do.
To crossing of Little Platte creek.. —       W-         14.5    63.8  Camp; crossed 3 small creeks during
the day.
To crossing of Big Sandy creek.....W. SW. -  4           67. 5
To crossing of Spring creek................ W...-..   7    74. 5  Camp.
To crossing of Forked creek.. —----------- S. SW —.  7. 6    82. 4
To crossing of Chip creek.M --------         W. SW..  9. 2    91.6    Do.
To crossing of Pine creek.................. SW.-.    14. 2   105.8    Do.
To the bank of Niobrara river..............NW-..5. 4   111.2    D o.
To crossing of Lone Pine creek --. ——.-..  W. SW. - 17. 6   128. 8    Do.
To crossing of Prairie creek................ W. NW — 11.7   140. 5    Do.
To Bear creek....... —-—.-... ---—. -..... NW...1.3   141. 8
Crossing of Bear creek —------- - W.                  5.6   147. 4    Do.
To crossing of Fossil creek........  SW.        13     160. 4
To crossing of Bogus Snake creek —.-.-..-. W...6. 5   166. 9  Camp ou Niobrara, at mouth of creek.
To crossing of Snake river........ S. SW..   16. 7   183. 6  Camp.
To the bank of the Niobrara river........I N. NW  -   8. 7   192. 3    Do.
Up the Niobrara river. —-------- W. —.. 7. 6   199. 9    Do.
To cro~sing of Deep creek.................  W. SW.. 16. 5   216.4    Do.
To the Niobrara river. —------- - W. NW. - 12.    228. 5    Do.
On camp between, on river.
Up the Niobrara river. —------- - SW-                   25      2.53. 5  Camp.
Up the Niobiarato crossing..................'SW..  8        261.5
Up the Niobrara on north side.SW........  W.W-.4          265. 5    Do.
To Rush creek............................ SW..  15. 7   281.2    Do.
Up Rush creek.... —....-.-.. — -    -...... W  -. —-.  8  289. 2,  Do.
To creek leading to White river........I W. NW-.- 14.1   303. 3    Do.
To Spring ravine.... —-,. ——. ——...I- N. NE..  14.4   317.7    Do.
To White river crossing-..6.......            S. SW    15.7   333. 4    Do.
Cross one small creek between.
To crossing of Wet creek........W. NW..  9             342.4  Camp.
To crossing of Dry Wood creek......... W. NWV-. 15. 7   358. 1    Do.
To branch of  olt creek'..........MT..... 20. 2   378. 3    Do.
To crossing of bolt creek.........   N. NW              2.2   380.5    Do.
Cross one small creek between.
To crossing of Horsehead creek... W....W... SW.- 15       395. 5  Camp.
To crossing of Sage creek..........    WV. NW-.  5. 7   401 2    Do.
To crossing of Rainy creek.................[NW....  9. 4   410. 6    Do.
To crossing of South. Cheyenne creek-       MT..W. NW-  12. 4   423      Do.
To Small creek......................... N -—. —  1  424             D o.
Up the Dry Fork of the Cheyenne........ Westerly. 20          444       Do.
Do.............do.                    NW......... NW.... 11.8   455.8    Do.
Do.............do............... W. NW~.. 14.4   470.2    Do.




WAGON ROAD FROMI NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.    31
APPENDIX A-Continued.
Odometer
measurement.
a
Points on the road.                  Id ~2                              Remarks.
0~~~~
Up- the Dry Fork of the Cheyenne.......-. NW..-.    3. 8   474    Camp.'To'branch of the North Cheyenne.........-   NW...17.2   491.2    Do.
To crossing of 2d of North Cheyenne....... W-..        5. 4   496. 6    Do.
To crossing of 3d of North Cheyenne....... N. NW  -   9         505. 6    Do.
Up the 3d of the North Cheyenne......... W —....  6.1   511. 7    Do.
Do —-----  do..        -............. W. SW.-  8.5   520. 2    Do.
To the 4th of the North Cheyenne.......... South  -- 11. 7   531.9
Up the.4th of the North Cheyenne......... W    - -—.  5. 7   737. 6    Do.
Do.-.....       do.................  SW-...10           547.6
To gap in Pumpkin buttes.............. SW. 12       559. 6  Camp 6 miles east of the buttes.
To Dry Fork of Powder river............ W.NW-T.- 15.2   574.8  Camp.
Down the Dry Fork to Fort Connor.-..... NW-..  14.1   588. 9  Camp opposite Connor.
To Crazy Woman's Fork of Powder river....  N. NW.- 26. 3   615. 3  Camp.
To Clear Fork of Powder river.. N....... N. NW  -_ 23.1   638. 3    Do.
To branch of Clear Fork of Powder river..  W. NW..  1.8   640. 1    Do.
Cross 3 small creeks between.
To branch of Piney Fork of Powder river..N. NW.. 14.1   654.2  Camp.
To crossing of Piney Forkof Powder river. N. NW..  1.1   655. 3
Cross 4 small creeks between.
To creek leading to Tongue river..            N....... N. NW  -. 15.2   670. 5  Camp.
To crossing of south branch of Tongue river.- W. NW.. 10. 4   680.9  Cross 2 creeks between.
To crossing of middle branch of Tongue river. W. NW.  12. 4   693. 3  Camp.
To crossing of north branch of Tongue river.- W. NW..  2. 2   695. 5    Do
To crossing of branch of Little Horn river.-. NW..... 15. 6   711.1  Cross 2 small streams between.
To crossing of Little Horn river -.-.......... W. NW- -  4. 8   715. 9  Cross small stream between; camp.
To crossing of branch of Little Horn river..   NW         8..   8.2   724.1
Cross 3 small streams between.
To crossing of branch of Big Horn river..... NW.. 11. 3   735. 4  Camp.
Cross 2 small streams between.
o................ do................ N. NW           6. 9   743.2  Camp.
To crossing of Big Horn river —..-......... N. NE-.  6. 8   749.1    Do.
To crossing of branch of Big Horn river....   NW.. 19.1   768. 2    Do.
To crossing of Pryor's Fork of Yellowstone.  N. NW.. 19. 5   787. 7    Do.
To Yellowstone river......!...  W. SW. -10. 9   798. 6    Do.
Up the Yellowstone river -.. —...-... —--- W. SW — 17. 6   816. 2    Do.
To crossing of Clark's Fork of Yellowstone. S. W...  3. 5   819. 7'To crossing of Rocky Fork of Yellowstone.. S. SW._-  17. 9   837. 6    Do.
To 2d crossing of Rocky Fork of Yellowstone  SW..        5. 2   842.8
To crossing of Berdan's Fork of Yellowstone.    W         6....  6. 3   849.1    Do.
To crossing of East Fork of Rosebud river - W. SW.. 14.1   863. 2
To crossing of Middle Fork of Rosebud river W.....  1. 3   864. 5    Do.
To crossing of West Fork of Rosebud river.. W.......    8.1   872.6  Cross 2 creeks between.
To camp on prairie........................ NW-.    11.1   883. 7  Camp.
To Yellowstone river...................... NW...   17. 6   901. 3    Do.
To crossing of Little Rocky creek.......... SW...  5.4   906. 7
Up the Yellowstone river.SW......  W.                   11.5   918. 2    Do.
To Yellowstone crossing.................. SW...           9   919. 1
To Hot creek..-..... —-----—.. —-..-...... SW...    2. 4   921. 5
To crossing of "25-yard" creek.............   W. SW-.  16. 3   937. 8    Do.
To crossing of Canyon creek..-    -........ S. -..... 10. 8   948. 6    Do.
To crossing of summit of range............. W. SW — 10. 2   958. 8
To crossing of'Summit creek.............. SW.. —.  2. 9   961. 7    Do.
To crossing of East Gallatin creek.......... W.. ——.   7.1   968. 8
To crossing of Boseman creek........... W. SW —..  3.1   971. 9
To crossing of branch of Gallatin river..... W. SW.   6. 4   978. 3    Do.
To crossing of Gallatin river..-.............. SW.....  2        980. 3
To crossing of branch of Madison river..-. WV...... 12. 3   992. 6    Do.
To crossing of IMadlison river.-..-........... W  -.-... 5. 8   998, 4
5i ) crossing of branch of Madison river.- -.. S. SW —- 10. 2 1, 008. 6    Do.
T ) crossing summit of range —.S......... SW.-.  5   1, 013. 6'i ) crossing of Meadow creek.S.......      S... —--  5. 4 1,019. 0    Do.
~  crossing of Small creek.............. S... S......  8. 7 1,027. 7'I, camp at foot of range.      I            S.... S...  3. 7 1, 031.4    Do.
~irgini$ City........................ WSW.... 31, 039[ 7    Do.'1  Virgini~~~s City.W. SW..  8. 3 1, 039. 7    D~o.?otal distance to Virginia City, odometer measurement, is 1,039 and 7-10 miles.
LEWIS H. SMITH.




: W32  W O   ROADFROM  NIOBRARA TO VIRGINIA CITY.::
APPENDIX B.
Dr. Tingley's report.
-  SIR: In compliance with your request, that a report be made of the casesi'..
quiring medical treatment that came under my care in your wagon road ex-ptdition, I submit' the following: The expedition which left the Niobrara on,!
13th of June consisted of about sixty-five workmen and emigrants, escorted:
two companies of the 5thi hited States vQliinteer infantry, the latter be'
under charge of Assistant Surgeon Smith, of that regiment.  At about the ti~
the expedition started one of the men was takehi sick of measles, and notw
standing the unfhvorable condition in which he was placed, the:disease ran its
usual course and terminated in a complete recovery. Onthefirst of September,
in a fight with Indians on, the north branch of Tongue river, James::DI)illelend
was mortally wounded; the ball entered from behind, about two inches to the
left of the last lumbar vertebrae, and came out in front about two inches below
the umbilicus; he died on the following day, having survived the wound about
twenty-four hours.
About tile same time E. G. Merrill, who formerly resided near Cedar Falls,
Iowa, was shot. The ball entered the left side, near the anterior extremity of
the eighth rib, and lodged beneath the skin at a point nearly opposite, on the
right side. rT'he ball passed through sufficiently deep to wound both the stomach
and liver, and the patient died in a few hours from internal hemorrhage; while
lying at this camp, a soldier, by the name of Hayes, belonging to the 6th
Michigan cavalry, was:taken sick of typhoid pneumonia, and- died on the 13f,
of September. This was the only death from disease that occurred among a
those connected with the expedition.
Threre were among the escort some old and very obstinate cases of chroi
diarrhcea, which were under my charge while they remained with us.
The escort that reached us on the 13th of September brought to me two cat
of chronic pulmonary disease, and one of intermittent fever, which had be!
much aggravated by their exposure to the cold rain a few days preceding.
There was also among them an Indian, whose forearm had been badly lacerat:
in a combat with a bear. All of these cases were doing well when the escort left
us, a few days afterward, on the Big Horn. The following list will include all
the more important cases:
-Measles, 1; syphilis, 2; bilious fever, 1; intermittent fever, 1; typhoid pneumonia, 1; chronic bronchitis, 2; ophthalmia,Y3;3 tonsillitis, 3; diarrhoea, 2.
lDiarrhcea, was very common during the whole trip, but in only two or three
cases did it amount to anything serious.
There was also in many cases a tendency to scorbutic disease, shown chiefly
by soreness of the mouth, with bleeding and spongy gums. All of these cases,
however, yielded readily to treatment, and no well-developed case of scurvy
occurred.
Cases of poisoning from wild ivy were common during the early part.of tl
trip.
Yours, respectfully,:D. W. TINGLEY, M. D.
Colonel J. A. SAWYERS.