, 1865-10-20
From Powder EiEer-The Abomfna.
uon Of DeAofatton - Grizzly Hears
The Little Missouri Riycr-RuHaIo
.shoottnG-The Powder River VALLEY.
PowuEa R1vkR, Montans Territory .
Eantn-N.v tcr-Ae4S" !


POWDER RtvEn, Montana Territory, (,
.... September !, 1865. {
At our camp on the 10Th of August ther
was but little grass and still less water of
poor quality. was sent With small part,
10 explore IN advance, q route, and see
grass could be found for the substance O.
the stock It's scarcity at the camp rendered
further progress impossible without some as
susance of grass ahead Ascending the blufla
a scene OF desolation was spread before nc.
exceeding The Bud Lands or anything we had
yet found. No vegetation was visible, and
uofhing but cEags and gulches, aud acres Of
marine fossils, piled up and scattered for
miles. The country was cut up By water
rnvincs, twenty, thirty and forty feet deep,
and much less across. 0ycr this track It was
Impossible for the command to march, but n
rough pass was found few degrees to the
LETT leading into valley in which was water
and g1ass, and an opening to the Little MIS-
souri, River.
On turning The point Of hill, u grizzly bear
was observed leisurely stalking over the plsin
at no great distance away. Dis spositions were
made to catch bTuin, By dividing the party
and nanktng him on all sides. A shot stEik,
Ing him in the flank was the first 1atimation
ne had Of the presence Of human enemies,
The bear turned on his assa1lant, when
another shot penetrated his heart, and killed
him Instantly Cutting him mp and fastening
The pieces to our saddles, we started for ca1np,
and bad gone six or seven miles when We
came across two more grizzlies, and gnre
chase nnd, although passing them closely
and cxpending several shots, they both made
tLeir escape to the bills, where It rEas impos-
t1ble to follow: This was the first bear Killed
on the expedition, and the first qame Of anv
kind hare been able to shoot.
The Little Missouri River We found uear1v
DRY, only smau riyu1ct flowing over deep
wide bed, with here and there deep hole Of
ihuaay Mater- From water marks on the
oanks, this stream is sometimes twenty feet
deep a heavy growth Of feottonwoodi Is found
along this river. Grass however Is poor.
Inc valley and hills are covered with cactus
and sage brush. 4 number Of deer, elk, an
teiope, snEe hens, and one bear, were killed
~olt was caught nliye, while running
through camp. We marched three days down
this tlycr, and then struck across the country
t"o day's march to the Box Elder, q dry
stream. With water only in pudd1es, and Of 1
Along our line Of march from Boz Elder tn
Powder River, and five OF six miles distant On
either EIDE, was range of hills with weather.
Worn peaks cut by the winds into fnntastic
shapes resembling some old weird ruin, more |
tlan . mountain 7ag. Except narrow
thread along the streams, the country was
uIy ana detolate. suppose this Is caused By |
the absence Of rain and dew, except at LONG
when 1t Is poured down in such
quantities as to wash away the sides OF thc
mountains, and to spread mass OF disinte-
[s1ntcd soil over the valleys, and before yere-
aallon has Time to take root, this is parched
n m ~ +1nt+ \ I.
what little vegetation there Is, is eftectualy'
Killed. This Is not confined 10 narrow sec.
lions, but the great mass Of the county is OF
this description, rendering It impossible for
even buffalo to exist, except in small NUM-
bers.
The third day from Boz Elder, a party of
rs assembled high peak near the line Of
march, from where much Of the surrounding
country lay mapped before US, Away in the
distance was Powder River, down In wide,
md what appeared an. inaccessible valley.
) lille here, We witnessed an exciting chase
lfter buffalo, which, think, was the first
me seen on tho march. DR.. Cory and m OF;
ter, and started after him. The buffalo
bowed fleet pair OF heels, hat good horses,
nder whip and spur, were too fast for the
utialo, md he was orertaken and killed. We
aarched along the border Of The Powder
liver Valley many miles, but could find no
4AIC ~ AEetCuA &4c A4U1C3l E1G{pEuuEulAE !
aDks, several hundred feet in Height, which
kirted it.. Night came On, and We had march
d thiny-one miles, but neither grass nor water
onld be found, or ! way to gel down into the
alley, which was as securely guarded by pre-
pitous bluffs, as Eden's garden by the arch
nsele flaming sword. Tired and hungry, we
'ueht Iepose upon the bare earth, and IN the
orniDg resumed our search for passage to
le liver below. We at last found way,
OWN which horses could be led, and the train j,
t down with ropes. As We slowly made our I
ay amoug the gorgea and rough valley, a
lilalo ~otld start up from some rayine, and
ounting high ridge, stare down at the
owing column. Seven were Killed In the
,nrse Of The day At II g. m. we reached
ow der River, and calnped In grove Of cot /,
nwood. Our gaunt horses and wearied men
ndcred It necessary to remain here few
zys, TO rccupcfa3e, during which time m ex- l
,dition WAS sent to Tongue River and Pan
Ter Mountain. Nothing could be heard Of
m. Connor and the supplies he has for us.
llc country frnrn here to Tongue River is I'M
ssschle, and It has been decided TO march
,wn this river 10 the Ycilowstone, wbcre Il
quite possible the: General may be found.
o-morrow the march will be resumed, after
manning In camp four days. ii
L. @. BENNETT. Ii