Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1867-01-12
SIOUX CITY AND VIRGINIA CITY
WAGOM ROAD.
ENTIRE FEASIBILITY Of the ROAD.
The Shortest Route to the Mines
THE CLIMATE AND THE SCENERY
REPORT OF COL. SAWYERs
CAMP NEAR HELENA, MONTANA, J
September Sd. 1866.
LT Col. j. H. SIMPSON,


September Sd, 1866.
Lr Col. j. II. SIMPSON,
Chief Engineer, Dept Interior,
Washington, d. C.:
SIR-Tn compliance With instructions from
your Department, dated February the 2o,b,
proceeded to organize and equip an outfit
for the purpose of again surveying, shorten-
ing and otherwise improving the Wagon
Road from the mouth Of tie Niobrara river,
Nebraska Territory, to Virginia City, Mon
.ana Territory.
On the 9Th Of May, receiving a telegram
that the boat on which my supplies were
shipped would be at Sioux City in three days,
started twenty-five men in advance, ex-
pec,iug to follow on the arrival Of supplies
A few days after the news came Of the strand.
in. Of the steamer on which my supplies
were shipped On a sand bar; and, as il trou.
BILE never comes alone, came the rumor that
Gen. Cooke had c;untermarded the order
furnishing me an escort. To ascertain the
facts, dispatched John II. Charles, E~q., to
Omaha, who found it but too trur-General
Cooke positively refusing an escort. then
telegraphed to Hon. A. W. Hubbard, at
Washington, to procure an order from the
War Department for two If the howitz.rs at
Sioux City. The order came from G en- Dier
to Gen. Sully also a letter from Gen. Dcr
to Hubbard in reference to the matter.-
Armed with these documents-G Sully
being absent dispatc chcd DR.. Smith to
Gen. Cookies head quarters. requesting an
order on the ordnance officer in charge for
the howitzers, which was refused point blank.
1t was not until the evening of the first
of June that the steamer arrived ut Sioux
City. Owing to these unavoidable but most
vexstious delays, | did DO; leave the mou,!
Of the Niobrara river until the twelfth day
of June.
Ju"e l2'h-Broke camp at 5 a. NJ, and
corralled on the Yer di Girls at 10 a. m., ma.
king but six miles, owing to the heavy rain.
This creek is about 20 feet wide, with rapid
current.
l3th-Broke camp at 5 a IN. Travelled
six miles to crossing of Swamp creek, fine
little stream-two miles to small creek,
from whence the road, leaving the river, as
cended to the high table prairie. Corralled
on the Mauraises Terre creek at 5 p. H.
IA miles. Found The roads in good cond.
ton. Grass fne. The timber on this creek
is burr oak and cedar The streau, is ff-
teen feet wide aud two in depth, with rapid
current, aud high, steep banks. The unu-
sual floods this spring had carried away the
covering Of the bridge, which had to re-
place.
l4.h-Broke camp at q. M, and dou bled
teams on the heaviest wagons to pull up the
bill. Weather clear and fine, and the road
in good order. Travelled y miles to Louise
creek, and nooned on Big Coulter, which is
II feet wide, lS inches deep, with rapid cur.
rent over a graveIly bed. Drove 4 miles
in the afternoon, aud corralled on Cotton
wood creek-24 miles in ALL This stream
is Is feet wide, deep, with strong current
over gravel bed. Burr oak and cottonwood
timber along its banks. The prairie to-day
was gently unduating, and covered with
flowers Many antelope seen.
l5th-Broke camp at q. m, and travelled
four miles to Mule creek. Fine road over a
aower'clad prairie, amongst which noticed
several beautiful varieties uf cactus. Drove
l4l miles to Little Platte, aud corralled at
p. m. on Big Sandy crcex, making o2l
miles in all. On this stream the wood, oak
and cedar, is better than usual. The water,
as in the other creeks, is clear and COOL
Grass abundant.
l6th-Broke camp at 5 a. m. Left the
old road and turned to the left, crossing
Spring creek, thereby saving S miles. Here
We found our advance, which left the 10Th Of
May. Nooned on Forked creek, y miles
The Forked Buttes, on the kehapaha river,
were this day in sght-buge, towering land.
marks on the northern horizon. Antelope
quite plen.y-two shot. Corrnl.ed at p. m
on Chip creek. Water and grass good. Wood
distant q miles to the right.
| l7th-Sunday, day Of rest for the team.,
At least Distributed arms and equipments
to the men, who were all now armed with at
least one good rifle and revolver Unloaded
The wagons. tho supplies being somewhat
damp q aftsr the late heavy rains: and requir.
ing the sun.
lsth--Broke camp at Al a. M, weather
clear and cool Crossed the northern ex-
tremi.y Of the Sand Hills without difficulty,
and entered upon level prairie, stretching
westward Is far as the eye could reach, and
bounded on the south by sand bills. These
elevations run nearly parallel with the river,
increasing in elevation to the Southwark
The valleys between are covered with tall
Rrass. Ground hard, but somewhat m DIST,
and good TO travel over. Crossed small
creek II miles from camp, and three miles
more brought US to Pine creek, where We
nooned thence 81 miles Of excellent road,
and We corralled at Harlan Springs. These
springs are at the head Of ravines, and the
water Is particularly cool and 6ns. The ra-
vines are clad with fne growth Of burr oak
which afforded delightful shade. No bet.
ter location for > station on the route. l94
miles in all.