Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1867-01-05

chef Engineer, Dept. Interior,
Washington, d. G:
SHIN conp'ta nee with instructions from
your Department, dated February the Goth,
l proceeded to organize and equip an outfit
for the purpose Of again surveying, shorten
ing and otherwise improving Ate Wagon
Road from tue mouth OF tie Niobsar. river.
Nebraska Territory to Virginia City, Mon
tana Territory.
On the 9th Of May, receiving a telegram
that the boat on which ny supplies were
shipped wou'd be at Sioux Ci'y in three days.
l started twenty-five men in advance, ex-
rec'irg to follow on TIE arrival Of supplies
\ few days s'trt''c news cane Of he strand
lus OF the steamer On which my supplies
were shipped on sand bar; and, as if trou.
BILE never comes alone, came the rumor tha,
Gen. Cooke had cvuu,trmanded the order
furnishing me an escort. To ascertain the
facts. dispatched jvbu Ii. Charles, L g., IL
Omaha, who found it but toe true General
Cooke positively refusing an escort then
telegrapte1 to Hon. A. ". Hubbard, al
Washington, to procure an order from the
War Department for two If the bowitzers at
Sioux City. The cr>.e- c.me from Gen. DER
to Gen. S"''y; also letter from Gen. der
TO Hubbard ia .eter nee to the nntter.-
AImea villa these dovumea.o--G Gen. Su,ly
being absent dispatched Dr. Smith TO
Gen. Cookies head quer:ers, requesting ali
order on the ordnance officer in charge for
the howi'zers, which was refused point blank.
IT was not until the evening Of the FIRST
Vi Juuo that the steamer arrived at Sioux
City. Owing to these unavoidable bet most
vexatious delays. did not leave the mouth
Of the NobrA1a river unit. the twelfth day
Of Jane.
I"Ae i2h-Broke camp at S q. m., and
corra}'ed on the Yer di Girls at 10 a. M, M.
King - six miles, owing to the heavy rain
This creek is about 20 feet wide, with rapid
current.
l3th-Eroke camp at 5 a m. Travelled
six miles 10 crossing of Swamp creek, fine
little stream two miles to a small creek,
from whence the road, leaving the river, as
cended to the high table prairie. Corrallea
on the Mauraises TIRE creek at .. H.
Ia miles. Found the roads in good condi-
ton. Grass fine. The timber on this creek
is burr oak and cedar. Tie stream, is e..
teen feet wide and two in depth, With rapid
current, AID high, steep banks The unu-
sue' foods this spring had carried away the
covering of The bridge, which had to re-
place.
l4'h-Pr3ke camp at a. M, and doubled
teams on the heaviest wagons to pull up the
blu. Weather c|~ar and fine, and the road
in good order. Travelled = miles to Louise
creek, and nooncd on Big Coulter, which is
Il feet wide, Is inches deep, with rapid cur
rent over a graveily bed. Drove i ,..i!es
in the afternoon, and corral!si on Cotton
wood ereek-24 miles in ALL This stream
is Is feet vide, deep, with strong current
over gravel bed. Burr oak and colt onwood
timber along its banks. The prairie to-day
was .eat'J Indicating, aid covsre! with
flowers Many antelope seen.
l5'h-Brokc camp at ) a m, and Travelled
four miles to Mule creek. Fine road over a
flower clad prairie, amongst which | noticed
several beautiful varieties Of cactus Drove
IA! miles to Little Plato, and corrallei 1t
7 p. m. on Big Sandy creek, making @!
miles in all. On this stream the wood, oak
and cedar, is better than usual The water.
as in the Cher creeks, is clear and COOL
Grass ahusdant.
l6tL-Broke camp at a. m. Left the
old road and turned to The left, crossing
Spring creek, thereby saving miles. Here
We found eur advance, which left the 10Th of
May. Nooaed On Forked creek, y miles.
The Forked Bu'tss, on the kehapaha river,
we're this day in sisht-huge, towering land.
marks On the northern horizon. Antelope
quite plenty-tvo shot. Corral,ed at p. m.
Ola Chip creek. Wator aud grass good. Wood
distant p miles to the right.
11th-sanday, day of res. for the teams,
at least. Distributed arms and equipments
TO the men, who were all now armed with at
least one good rih+ and re3o,ver. Cn!oaded
tho wagons, the supplies being eomewhat
damp after the late heavy rains. and rsquir.
ing the sun.
l8th--Broke camp at ~ .. H. weather
clear ard cool. Crossed the northern ex-
tremi.y Of tho Sand Hills wishou. difficulty,
and entered upon level prairie, stretching
westward as far a, the eye could reach, and
bounded On the south by sand hills. These
elevations run nearly parallel with the river,
increasing in elevation to the south ward
The valleys between are covered with tall
grass. Ground hard, but somewhat moist
and good to travel over. Crossed d small
creek Ii miles from camp, and three miles
more brought US to Pine creek, where W.
nooaed thence ST miles of excellent road
and We corra!!ed at Harlan Springs. These
springs ale at the head Of ravises. and the
water is particularly cool and fine. The RI
vines are clad with Emo growth Of burr oak
which afforded delightful shade. No bet
ter location for station on the route. l9A
miles in all.
l9,h-Broke camp At 5a m. Weather
clear and very hot Corrallcd At p. m. on