Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-09

nelght Win sunlnlts, winch vert
scattered few pines AT the foot OF the rocks the usual
detus, formed Of fallen from above. Among the
that grew here, and the occasional banks the
cherry, (erass vnginia,) curran and grains de beuf
>stepherda Ggenfea Viewed in the sunshine Of plea
SAINT morning, the scenery Of most striking and Ioman
beauty which from the picturesque disposition Of the
objects and the vivid contrast of colos thought with much
pleasure Of approaching descent the through such
interesting places and, in the expectation OF being able al
hat time to give to them full examination, did not now dwell
much might have been desirable upon the geological for
nations along the line of the river where they developed
with great cearness The upper portion Of the red strata
s of very compact clay in which occasionally seenimbed
ded large pebbles Below stratum Of compact red sand
stone, changing little above the into very hard sill
limestone. There small but handsome open prairie
Immediately below this place, the left bank OF the river
which would be good locality for military post There
some open groves OF cottonwood on the Platte The small
stream which in at this place well mbeed with pine
and good building rock is abundant
" III is in contemplation to keep open the communications
with Oregon territory, show ofmiay force in this country Is
absolutely necessary and combination OF advantages renders
the neghborhood Of Fort Laramie the most suitable place. nthe
line of the Platte for the establishment of military post 1t is
connected with the mouth Of the Platte and the Upper Mis-
souri, by excellent roads, which in frequent and would
not in any way interfere with the range OF the buffalo, on
which the neehbong Indians mainly depend for support II
would render any posts the Lower Platte unnecessary the
ordinary communication between and the Missouri being
sufficient control the intermediate Indians. II would ope
rate eectuay prevent such coalitions orm
ed among the Gros Ventres Sioux Cheyennes, and other
Indians nd would keep the Oregon road through the valley
Of the Sweet Water and the South Pass Of the mountains
sany open glance at the map which accompanies this
report will show that ii lies at the foot Of broken and
famous region along which, by the establishment Of small
posts in the neghborhood of ST. Vrans fort the south fork
of the Platte and Bents fort the Arkansas line Of com
muncaton would be formed by good Wagon roads, with
southern military posts which would entirely command the
mountain passes hold of the troublesome tribes
check and protect and facilitate intercourse with the neigh
boring Spanish settlements. The valleys of the rivers
which they would be situated fertile the country which
supports immense herds of buffalo, is admirably adapted to
grazing and herds Of cattle might be maintained by the posts
obtained from the Spanish country which already supplies
portion of their provisions to the trading posts mentioned
above"
with the change in the geological formation on leaving
Fort Laramie the whole face Of the country has entirely al
tered its appearance Eastward of that meridian the pnci
pal objects which strike the eye Of traveller the absence
Of TIMBER and the immense expanse Of prare covered with
The verdue of rich grasses and highly adapted for pasturage
Wherever they disturbed by the vicinity Of man, large
herds buffalo give animation this country Westward Of La
ame river the region sandy and apparently ster and the
place Of the grass usuped by the tensa and other odor
ferrous plants whose growth the sandy soil and dry air Of
This elevated region seem highly favorable.
some Of the prominent characteristics in the face of the
country is the extraordinary abundance Of the fensias
They glow every wherein the hills and the river bot
toms in tough, twisted, wiry cunps and wherever the
beaten track left they rendered the progress Of the carts
rough and slow As the country increased in elevation
advance to the west they increased in sizes and the whole
strongly mpegnated and saturated with the odor OF
camphor and spirits Of tupenne which belongs to this plant
This climate has found very favorable to the restoration
Of health, particularly of consumption and possibly
the respiration Of air mPregnated by aromatic plants
may have some influence"
The prospects of the party were gloomy enough
on the 28th July, when very discouraging picture
Of the country they about TO explore was given
them by party Of Indians of the Oglallah band Of
Sioux:
The great drought and the plague of grashoppers had
swept that blade of grass to be and
there buffalo be found in the whole region Their
people, they further sad had been nearly starved to DEATH
and would find their road marked by lodges which they
had thrown away in order rapidly, and by the
of the horses which they had eaten which had
persisted by starvation Such the prospect before us
81 called up my men, and communicated TO them fully the
had Just received then expressed to them my
fixed determination proceed the end Of the enterprise
which had been sent but, the situation of the country
to apprehend that might be attended
with unfortunate result to OF us, would leave OPP
iona with them to continue with me or to return.
"Among them five six who knew would
emain We had still ten days provisions; and should no
ame be found, when this stock expended we had
and mules, which could eat when other means OF
ubsstence failed But linched from the under
aking. wen the mules said Basil Laeunesse and
hereupon shook hands with interpreter and his In
ans and parted"
On the Goth, the narrative states
"We here numerous herds of mountain sheep, and
frequently heard the voley Of rafting stones which accompa
,ied their rapid descent down the steep hills This the
irst place at which had killed any ofhese animals and in
consequence of this circumstance and Of the abundance OF
hese sheep goats, (or they called by each name
gave to cncampment the Of Goat Island Their flesh
much esteemed by the hunters and has very much the fla
Of the Allegheny mountain sheep. have frequently
he horns Of this animal three feet long and inches
he base Gle Ru
Two three Of these killed by party at this place.
and Of these the horns small The of hese horns
TO be to protect the animals head in pitching down pre-
cpces to avoid pursuing wovesher only safety being in
places where they be followed The bones very
strong and sod the occupying but very small por
ton of the bone the leg, about the thickness Of rye straw
The hair is Short resembling the winter color of
deer, which nearly approaches in size and appearance
Except IN the horns has resemblance whatever to the
goat" The latitude this day 42o 80 2T longitude
1919 l3 29".
august 1.-The hunters went ahead this morning,
buffalo appeared oeraby abundant and was DESTROYS to
small stock OF provisions and we moved about seven
miles up the valley and encamped mile below Rock indie
pendence This isolated granite rock, about six hun
ded and fifty yards long, and forty in height Except in
depression OF the summit where little soil supports scanty
growth Of shrubs with solitary dwarf pine, It Is entirely bare
Every where within eight Of the ground, where the
surface is sufficiently smooth and in places sixty
eighty feet above the rock inscribed with the names OF ira
veers Many famous in the history OF this country
and well known SCIENCE TO be found mixed among
those of the traders and Of travellers for pleasure and curiosity
and Of missionaries among the savages Some Of these have
been washed away by the an but the greater number
still very egbe The position Of this rock is in longitude
] 07o 56' latitude o42 2y &c.,
We had tonight shelter from the rain, which commenc
ed with squalls Of wind about The couRy here is
exceedingly picturesque On either side Of the valley, which
four five miles broad the mountains rise to the height Of
twelve and fifteen hundred thousand feet. On the
south side the range appears to he umbered and tonight Is
s r.