Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-11-26

riser; plenty Of good grass and water,
but timber scarce the country filled with
extensive beds Of coal, in some places
veins ten feet thick. From what have
seen, coal, l feel sure, can be found in
all this country from the Missouri west
to the Yellowstone. On the 5th day Of
August We came in sight Of the bad
Lands, which extends along the Little
Missouri, the valley being about 20 miles
across through the middle Of this valley
runs the river When I came in sight Of
this country from the top Of the table
land We we're marching on l became
alarmed and almost despaired in ever
being able to cross it, and should have
been very much tempted, had rat,ons
enough, to have turned back. But on
close examination Of my rations found l
only had rations for six days longer, by
some mistake Of my commissary, sup
pose, for he is not with me to explain, as
| left him back at Fort Rice. therefore
bad to reduce the bread rations one third;
all other stores, except meat, one half, 80
as to make it last me to the river. We
camped that night with little or no grass,
and but few holes CT muddy rain water.
l have not sufficient power Of language to
describe the country in front Of US. 1t was
grand, dismal, and majestic. You can
imagine deep basin, six hundred feet
deep and twenty miles in diameter,
filled with number Of cones and oven,
shaped knolls Of all sizes, from twenty
feet to several hundred feet high, some.
times by themselves, sometimes piled up
into large heaps on top Of one another in
all conceivable shapes and confusion.-
Most of these hills were Of a gray clay,
but many Of light brick color Of burnt
clay little or no vegetation. Some of the
sides Of the hills, however, were covered
with few scrub cedars. Viewed in the
distance at sunset it looked exactly like
the ruins Of an ancient city.
Ny Indian guide appeared to be conf.
dent Of success, and trusting to him l.
started next morning. aud by dint Of hard
digging, succeeded by night in reaching
the banks Of the Little Missouri, about IL
miles.
| 1regret very much some gentleman we'll
acquainted with geology and mneralogy
did not accompany the expedition, for we
marched through a most wonderful and
interesting country. It was covered with
pieces of petrifed wood, aud on the tops
Of some Of the hills we found petrified
stumps Of trees. the remains of a grea.
forest; in some cases these trees are six.
teen to eighteen feet in diameter; large
quantities Of iron ore, lava, aud impres.
sions in the rocks Of leaves Of a size and
shape not known to any of US.
The banks Of the Little Missouri are
thickly timbered with cotton wood, and
the river resembles very much the Nilsson.
n on a small scale. We had now reached
the river and the middle Of the Bad Lands
Having dug our way down to this point,
it was now necessary to dig our way out
l therefore ordered out a strong working
party, with four companies of cavalry. un.
der charge of Lieutenant Colonel Pattee,
7th Iowa Cavalry. remained in camp
to allow the animals to rest and pick up
what grass could be found around, there
being very little to be found. Some few
of the men, however, without orders, took
their horses into the timber beyond the
pickets, leaving their saddles and arms in
camp. 4 small party Of Indians crawled
up to them, fred on them. creating o
stampede. Most Of the men ran away,
leaving their horses, and the Indians sue.
ceeded in getting few away; but three
or four men, having some courage, mount
ed their horses bare back and gave chase,
causing the Indians to drop oil the horses.
which we're retaken. save one or two. A
company VAS soon in pursuit, bu: the In
dians escaped through some Of the numer.
Gus ravines aid forests. As we had sad
died and hi,ched up everything At the first
alarm, broke camp and moved up the
river three miles in the direction of our
route, where the grass was said 10 be bet.
ter. By evening the working party under
Colonel Pattee returned, having cut three
miles Of the road; part Of company,
however, BY accident, had been left DO.
hind; they were surrounded by Indians,
and were near being cut of, but by has
y retreat they succeeded in getting .hro'
the deep gorge where the road was cut.
the indians firing At them from the top Of
tho bills. They pursued them to the river,
and showed themselves On the top of high
bluos opposite my camp, firing into my