The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-06
SKETCHES OF THE GREAT WEST.

;..sKRCcHEs OF THE GREAT WEST.
The following communication will prove very ac-
cepable to all lovers of picturesque landscape, and
curious natural history. The scenes which are de-
scribed are siugulary striking, and the description
itself is expressed with great beauty and force.
We would advise our female readers, especially, to
peruse it, because they will admire and enjoy il.
$40 NATIONAL INSTITUTE.
Letter from Captain Phil ST. George Cooke, Of the Isl
regiment United States Dragons, describing the re-
cent expeditions 10 the Rocky mountains, Of The dro-
goons, under command Of Col s. w k@ntyi ana
the various objects Of Natural history collected, during
Il, for he National Institute at Washington
FoRr LEAvESwoRrH, Sept. 8, 1645.
DrAR SIN: have lately returned from the cxpe-
/. diion 10 the Rocky mountains, conducted by Col.
S. w. Kcarney, lst Dragons. It may be expected
of the officers who have thus passed over thousands
Of miles Of our remote territory, some of which has
been but little explored by men OF science, that they
would contribute somewhat TO the stores Of knowl-
edge which il the object Of the National Institute
I to accumulate. Certainly there was manifested by
almost every individual jealous disposition to ac-
!, qure and preserve specimens in many departments
Of natural history; but, in truth, great difficulty
with all has been the extraordinary speed with
which we have passed over the whole ground. This
will be realized, when mention that we marched
twenty-one hundred miles in ninety-nine days, or
about twenty-one miles day for the whole period.
The horses, carrying the burden of the dragoon and
his heavy equipment, and subsisting exclusively upon
a very scaniy and precarious grazing, is ITSELF per-
haps the most extraordinary fact in natural history
which will be established by our labors.
The geography of those regions is very little
known A man of science, after making hurried
tour through an nhosptable wilderness, will be af-
forward strongly tempted, if he make map, to give
il an air of inish and il he guess not take
reports for sufficient data, will probably copy
some old authority. A young officer of Topographic
cal engineers accompanied the expedition; and hav-
ing passed through districts, unexpored by even
the interchangeable Fremont, il is believed his report
will shed important light upon that terra ncognia.
We were agreeably surprised to find beautiful and
varied scenery upon the Platte river bu, particularly
resembling rather in extent the flats bordering an
ocean, without mountain grove, promises little;
but in the river are islands beautifully wooded, and
its shallow bed is 30 vast and straight, frequently
TO bound the horizon with water, on which the sun
isseen 10 rise and set just as at sea; and the bluffs,
though not lofty, are often Of white marl or sand
90 soft to be moulded, at the sport Of the ele-
ments, into fantastic shapes, which are dotted and
relieved by cedars and pines. Over these features
a prevailing mirage--arising, probably from great
heat and rapid evaporatiOn--like a gauze mantle,
throws additional charm; and often, by optical
illusion, disposes them in shapes of startling and
exquisite beauty.
Not far below Fort Laramie we encamped on the
river bank opposite the picturesque white lodges of
. n hand Of Sioux. With the easv fenrleasness Of
good faith, they soon crossed over to our camp.
They are fine-looking. and well-dressed Indians
q numerous ana nomadic TRIBE, who are formidable
enemies. lhey despatched runners to several other
bands, who met as IN council at Fort Laramie
Here, too, we passed the foremost Of the many
companies of emigmn,s. Like the Arabs, with
families ana Hooks, they seem quite at home, and
fearless or careless OF any danger IN fact the In
dams must have viewed their countless numbers
; with apprehension ana gloomy iorebodlngs.
beyond Fort Laramie, hundred and nifty miles,
" over the sandy desert bordering the North fork,
brought US into the remarkable valley of It's tribu-
3 tary, the Sweetwater-not through the devils
= Gate, but much less lofty portaI--a gap in a
pralrie halls but the river, as usual seeks the rocky
passage. Whether thus placed in the original
world, or whether the chasm Is left deeper and
clearer by some throe of nature, or whether the
water more readily wears away some vein, as of
aprock softer than the hill OF stubborn gravel and
argyll; 20 It y, the river here passes through vast
chasm Of vertical granite. hit perhaps, happily,
ON point Of view, shoulder of rock about one
I hundred feet nigh, almost overriding by wall three
hundred feet higher and will now only add, that il
pleased me more than Hsrper's Ferry, or Marshall's
Pillar, on New river, in Virginia.
.gl The most angular formation OF this valley is a
range Of mountain masses OF gray granite, which
skirts the Sweetwater in great part of its course
Of about l2O miles; bare Of soil or vegetation,
nothing relieves them from monumental solemnity
but the presence OF the chamos; these we saw scale
the steep rocks, and, when hired on, skim along the
rugged surface with swiftness that was truly won.
Of on the level prairie. This animal re;o;ces - ssv.
eral aliases; among which. the most nnnronr;o,e
tributary Of the Yellow s,on. Thus anJ - o,h..
instances science hn. M, ever ns,red ~. n., -
Ynarkabe objects n o,,r terr;torv Ths has",;s,N
Swcctwater nure \. ,he ;cs sro,,, ,.h;.l I. an,ua
over golden }mical sonda seems carefalIv n avoid
hlpe rsrvs ~ SrycIsd r',,,O,.S 20 avo,o
49, -. - N 'o~','"ns, ~"oh rVu"us Us