New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-11-29
From the Yellowstone River.

From the st. Joseph Gazette we extract the fol
lowing interesting intelligence:
We had the pleasure yesterday Of call from
Major Schoonoyer, agent of the Upper Missouri
Sioux, comprising six nations of that tribe. The
number Of Indians under charge Of Maj. S. is not
less than $1,000. Maj. Schoonover is one Of the
most intelligent and enterprising gentlemen whose
services the Government has called into requisition
in this far-off region. He passed this city on his
way to his labors on the 4th Of last june and has
undergone vast amount of hardships in the past
six months, in reaching and communicating with
the wild and hostile tribes Of his agency.
The nations composing the northern portion Of
the powerful Sioux tribe are deeply imbued with
spirit of hostility to the whites and that portion
Of the tribe further south, whom they regard as
having compounded with the pale faces to rob them
of their lands, and hasten the extinction of the
Indian race. They recognise the fact that the
whole race is doomed but succumb to their fate
with the illest possible grace. They have sworn
vengeance dire against any white man who may
be found within their territory and it is not unlikely
this threat will be carried into strict execution.
The movements Of the different exploring parties
who have been through that region have the deep
est significance in the eyes of the Indians. Many
of them were disposed to refuse the presents and
annuities which were offered to them, regarding
them as sort of nominal payment for the country
which they fear they may be called upon to leave
at any time.
| Major Schoonover and party conveyed the goods
| they had in charge up the Yellowstone near si1
| hundred miles. lie assures us that this river il
| navigabe for steamers to distance of nine hun
dred miles above its confluence with the Missouri
1t s much the larger river Of the two and Is the
real Missouri having all its characteristics such
alluvial bottom, cottonwood timber, etc., which
distinguish this stream throughout its course Fol-
the first four five hundred miles above the juno
ton the Yellowstone country is sterile and utterly
unprOductive, Astounding, however, in the most in.
exhaustible beds of coal. But further up the char
acter of the country changes, presenting fertile
districts, well wooded and adapted to settlement.
If Major Schoonover's opinion of the navigability
of the Yellowstone be well founded, and we see
no reason to doubt it, the Introduction Of steam.
boats into it would prove of great moment to the
Government and the whole Northern portion Of
the Rocky Mountain country. By means Of the
navigation of this river Government stores and
every character of goods might be landed within
four hundred miles Of Great Salt Lake City and at
point very near several of the forts of that region
We are assured that there would be no difficulty
in finding wagon routes across the country from
the banks of the Yellowstone. We need scarcely
suggest then that this river offers the Government
the means of saving millions in the transportation
Of supplies Westward.
Major s. left Captain Reynolds, of the Topo.
graphical Engineers, at Fort Sarpy, on the Yellow
stone. This officer is engaged in exploring and
examining this country, and is making excellent
progress in the work. He will winter at Platte
Bridge.
Major Schoonover left Fort Union on the 2lst Of
September, and reached here on the steamer
Florence yesterday, and took the GAO train on the
Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad, for ST. Louis
and the East.