The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-09
Experience Of the Engineers
and the Troops.
FRED. GRANT TURNS BACK.
A Brave Catholic Missionary Joins
the Command.
ON BOARD THE KEY WEST.
HEADQUARTERS YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION,
VEIL Iulx 1919 [

contend with, we are at length encamped on the
right bank of this beautiful river, under the
shadow OF long line Of high, gray bluffs, which
have the appearance of solid masonry, SO squarely
and exactly are they cut. A brief resume
Of the march from the Little Muddy will
perhaps be interesting to your readers
After the departure Of Colonel Bakers train on the
Sd inst. for Fort Lincoln, where it was sent to
obtain further supplies OF forage, and the junction
OF Colonel Townsends detachment Of infantry who
had thus for escorted the engineer corps of the
Northern Pacific, the command moved forward
more rapidly than 1t had hitherto done. The
course taken was about west, or little north
OF west, and for the first twenty miles was over
rolling prairie with few high bluffs and buttes in
terspersed.
On reaching the "Bad Lands,n squadron Of
cavalry under command of Colonel Bartine,
together with the engineering party, made de-
tour Of some twenty miles north Of the command
in order to find more practicable line. They
'SOmphshed their object and rejoined the command
two days afterward at the Little Missouri River.
From TINS point to the Yellowstone the engineers
did little no work, General ROsser
declaring that they satisfied that the
line OF 1871, by way Of Glendives Creek, could not
be improved upon. Therefore, instead Of sending
forward o detachment to the Yellowstone to erect
n stockade and relieve the steamboats,, as was at
first intended, GeneS2l Stanley pushed on with the
greatest rapidity, making some long marches over
very bad roads, and reached the Yellowstone
River on the 15th ten days before he was
expected there. Two days previous to reach
ing the river he sent General Custer, with his
detachment OF the Seventh cavalry north to
Glendives Greek to find the boats and obtain
supplies. General Custer. on arriving at the river,
found there the steamer Key West together with
two companies OF the Sixth infantry, from Fort
Inf IN chs ofG Ha WI
had been awaiting tue expedition some fifteen
days. They had also in their charge the cargoes OF
the Peniuah and Far West, who had returned be-
low 1t had been supposed that General
Stanley would come out at The Yellow
stone, the trail near the mouth of
6lendiyes Creek, for the establishment OF the
base OF supplies at that point; but an easier
road was found some fifteen miles south, near the
point where the proposed railroad will cross the
river, and when there 1t decided to remain
and bring up the supplies TO that point build
another stockade and make that the base. Thus
Tar have We come and now for
THE PARTICULARS OF OUR TRIP.
The country for the first forty miles from Fort Rice
Is very similar to that east OF the Missouri consist
ing OF high buttes and hills OF peculiar and fantastic
construction-some formed OF stones and huge
rOcSs entirely, others OF a reddish appearance, de-
EOung the presence OF iron, while others seemed
formed eEtlrely Oh u DTOWnlsn klnu Ol nOulu OF
clay togeth with large pateaus and much rolling
prairie Beyond, and almost Tor the entire distance
10 the Yellowstone we are in the ''bad lands" which
appear as might imagine the entrance TO Hades
to be- Looking from the distance they seem be
succession OF ridges and sharp, high peaks, white
with alkaii and barren as desert, but after en-
erhg them ue scene rs d. once REaha
and almost appalling IN the utter dearth Of
anything in the way OF vegetation. On the few
small pIains a tnln grass Is found but in The
raviBes and on the hills there is absolutely nothing
the pools OF akall water How any sane person
can imagine shat a railroad can be maintained IN
such a country, where 1t Is dlfiicut to procure
wood and water for even camp purposes, is beyond
Dy comprehension. on reaching
THE LITTLE MISSOURI
the scenery becomes much more grand, Tor on
either side are great buns, several hundred feet IN
height, rising almost perpendicuarly IRON the
water and looking like solid walls OF granite.
think Inat the view ron the crossing OF this river,
locking up and down the channel is by FAR the
hnest seen on the trip. From tue left bank
Of the Little Missouri the trail reaches
up an ascending ravine about two
wagons TO pass abreast; from thence for ten
fifteen miles the road makes gradual ascent,
crossing occasional gullies and ravlnes, some OF
which are the worst met with on the whole route.
AT one place within tins bad piece OF road the com
msnd was Obliged to lower the wagons win ropes
apd maui them out again on the other side IN the
between the Little Missouri and the Yellowstone
rivers there Is little water, and the expedition was
Obliged TO make long marches and at times dry
camps, using the water always carried In the
driving the stock a distance to water, which
do them little good so Unpregnated Is IL
Win aika' these Aaa ay;n Terres' or
or seventy miles VIDE by $50 miles long, and is To
TINS part OF our country what I'll, the Great Desert
entirely destitute o anything to make 1t nabltabie.
THE SCIENTIFIC C0RPS
have thus far had little opportunity 10 do much,
owing TO the rapid marcnes and the scarcely
OF material on winch to work In many
places they have found abundance OF coal
IIgDIte, gypsum, iron and other minerals
Near The bank u creek, snort distance from the
LittJe Missouri, a vein OF piumbago was iound the
quality OF which has not yet been ascertalned. In
ornifnology they have been more successful
having duplicated several species of rare BIRDS
among others the Missouri skylark, which they
nest--tne frst Known. The photographer
VINO accompanied tue expedition has been un-
able 10 take any views until now, from the TACT
that the wagon provided by the government, and
DID not arrive al Fort Rice IN time TO he brought
along but was. sent up on the Far West to tnis
trust that next Winter your readers will better
realize rom the result OF his labors what ms
country ~ ike than nom any poor pen and lux
description than can now be given.
THE FIRST INDIANS SEEN.
command since the expedition left Fort Rice,
though one or two reports OF small parties having
been seen have been brought in ny the scouts Colo
mel Baker, the Chef Quartermaster, however, VINO
came in TINS morning from Fort Lincoln with
forage. having made the trip In twelve days, re-
pG'' Inc nay Ba s Keie % small party Of war
, 10rs, numbering eleven, who had, beside
fsge PONIES ridden by them. three pack PONIES.
A. soon AZ they discovered the advance cavalry
guard OF the tram they ned over the NILS as u tse
EyA One was after them. they were, without
Doubt a msraudIng party from one Of the lower
sgescies, bound up the country for the purpose o.
PICKING ~ Zee pony or scalp, rs the case mgut
BE.
colonel Baker also reported that he had
VISITED and carefully examined all oi
general Stanleys camps, ana Dad Iounu
b,O iDdicAuons OF their having been visited ny
f'0iaDs nne their evacuation by the troops. IDS