, 1865-10-20
Ql)ira9o Qribn1se.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1866.
AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY,
NctcH from the Engineer Party In the
Grtzt American DeAteG,

[Ct4cspondcnce Of the Chicago Tnbune.]
1 August 1st. 18G5, :.
Hn.ing been assigned as Engineer to the
Eastern Indian expedition, and It being mart
ofmy duty TO note the geographical features
Of The country passed through; perhaps a
sketch Of my observations may not be ,tuiu-
tcrest1ng to some Of the readers of the TK,-
ursE* The expedition consists Of the I'd Ms
sou'i light artillery, armed and mounted az
cavalry, and the 1etl Missouri caralry; num-
bering altogether about 1000 men, command.
ed by Col. n. Cole, I'd Missouri artf]Icry.
We left Omaha July LIT, marching acrosz
The country to Platte River. and m that
stream to lhe Loup, near Columbus, a small
town eighty miles west of Omaha. From
thence We marched directly up Loup Fork,
Soo miles 10 its source. At Pawnee Mission.
tTentJ-one miles from Columbus, we left the
Last traces Of civilization, seyering our COM
mnnications and launching out upon a wild
and almost unknown region. Lieut.. Warren
had indeed explored the Lonp, but beyond
that We followed no track of white men,
There Is large brick academy, at Pawnee
Mission, for the education Of the Psyuee
Indians, whose villages are In The immediate
neighborhood. Government has expended
large sums In the erection Of the academy,
mills and other works for this tribe of Indians.
Their reservation extends thirty miles along
the Loup, including some Of the best lands
west Of the Missouri river. Cotton wood
Erows along the Loup and its tributaries, and
In some OF the cannons among the bluffs arc
groves of dwarf1sh oak, but the greater DOR
uon ofth country Is an undulatine plain.
destitute Of any other vegetation than crass.
But little occurred to vary the moaotony of
the march up the Loup except bridging
streams, and excaEatingg roads up The precip-
itous sides Of water-worn raylnes. Enoueh
of this work occurred 10 Keep the pioneers
in pretty constant exercise.
On the night Of the 14th Of july occurred a
storm Of rain, accompanied by considerable
thunder and lightning, which frightened some
OF the stock in the upper part Of the camp,
ana .as , Icy broke loose, md came teasing down
the camp had become quiet, and tic mcn
were Just going of into drcamland, when tbs
commotion among the frightened herd
aroused them, and peerins oui into the dark
ness, dim shadowy mass Of rearins and
piunging horses and mules, were observed
dashing along, breaking picket lines, oye.-
turning wagons, smashing tents, and tramn,
nng upon tue men, who were scattering In.
every direction to escape being killed Rein
1oreenents were added to the frightened herd
until two-thirds the stock In cauap we're loose
and on the back trnck for the States. The
some foolishly fired their carblnes, which brt
added TO their fright and speed. An but
about nfty were recovered the next aay
Seme went fifty miles before being causht.
6nt little idca Of stampede can be formed
~ t4ose WHO lave never Witnessed one. I |
f7rsr hic yr$1A
The vivid flashing Of lightning, and the tiisht !
o1 frightened animals, sounded like the deep |
roar OF passing tornado, making too deep |
memory.
,,,3s From q The @ head Of the Loup, the proposed
Line Of march was unexplorcd. o. tho map /
was written impossible sand.hills.n FL
plo11ng parties were sent out in advance to |
ascertaln the practicability Of q road through
10 the ktobsara- The one under nv CHARGE
found succession Of high sand-1iises md |
narrow valleys between, running ncarly east
and s west, and parallel to each other. LII the
valleys were marshes, shallow ponds Of wa.
ter, and fine grass for stock, but no wood,
Near the divide between the rivers We found
q number Of beautiful lakes, from two to
three miles long, sna one or two miles wide,
One wos called lake Raymond, from the guide
honor Of our commander. The sand-ridces
were at times difficult to cross, bnt BIZ care
iul selection Of roads, VIC managed to ret
through with but little delay.
Capt Bortlman, in his exploration, discoy-
cred small stream, branch OF Snake river. |
which VIC named Bordman's creek. Captain
discovered smother, the water Of
hich vas cold and clear as crystal, which
@as nnmod McAlurray's creek. We also
:Iossed Snake river, small, rapfd stream,
Rlich the maps do not represent as running
ialf 50 far up. Our march OF fifty miles oyer
he sand hills has added materially to tue re-
ographlcal knowledge Of this region, Us 10.
nng Was before known Of the existence OF
axes and streams here
We reached and crossed the Nlobrara river
o-day. This is large, clear, rapid river.
dere occurs the first rock that has been found
IN the march, kind Of chalky limestone,
'csemblfng mari, and which sotlens IN being
brought In contact with water. On the mar
'ow bottom land bordering the river, OBJ
err ed considerable wild fruit, such as plnus
nd cherries also, currants, both blscE and
GLOW, altn ripe. The country, however, Is
lry and sterile, with but little grass OF tim
er, and no Inducements for settlement, !
liong the Loup It Is barely susceptible of
ulti' alton to iiiuited extent. But I would |
dstse no one to leave farm iu Illinois for ,
ne on the touT. Here, among The sand
Ills, 1t is only tit Tor Wild beasts and Wild IN
sans- l.. G, BENNETT.