New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-24
grave, but in few year. from now win not

grave, but in few years from now viii no
Our march through the morning va
k1a4eWith0ut difficulty until We came to ,
which gave us little trouble
Beyond this short distance We reached
the foot Of . very high axdzssep rfdeg
Old Clemms insisted that if we did no,
| I-tAO it We should reach the Yellowstone
thet night; but the valley to the rigk,
2oeaoa~Nqees ~inSi1iAGszz AAsraHpeeen0o
man would have refused the hill and &C
copied The valey. 0enerals StSnley knesl
better. he sided with Clemme; it was bet
ter to spend four hours in getting the train
up to thstop thsa - ttuake6 Ahespecioui
valleys, which would sO0n inextricably in
volye ne in the Bed Lenls.s The results
proved this view correct. We had TO double
But once on the top Of this divide, there
was NO more trouble. After another hours
march We struck . beautiful broad platsau,
- level - floor, two or three miles in
length, as many broad, and stretching
nearly to the river As We entered on this
broad plateau, our eyes were gladdened by
beautiful view of the Yellowstone, glist.
ening in The sunshine, with it's green relief
Of cottonwood thickly shading its nut1ef'
GUS ieles. IL vas the most gladdening
sight since nc left the Missouri We hsd
treme that several men had given out.
The sum of all human wants seemed COM
prised in water and shade. About mile
from the river. the plateau shelved of into
Bad Land, and, finding no way down to the
river, We camped on this table and sent our
animals to water.
The cavalry meanwhile had had very
hard march. Striking across country they
became involved in the mauraises ter,'es
which in many plsces are almost impossible
for horse, compelling severe climbing and
frequent detours. After marching until
late in the afternoon without anv signs of
the boat, they were seriously considering
the expediency Of bolting when the mark
Of horseshoe was discovered in the ground.
1t was clearly not the track of an Indian,
for his pony is never shOd. A close exami-
nation showed that it was the print of q
United States shoe. United States troops
were somewhere in the vicinity. General
Custer concluded that it was the mark Of
some Of the troops brought up by the boat
who had probably csmped near by
time they had the great satisfaction of find
ing the steamer Key West, Captain Grant
March, which reached Glendive creek on
the first Of July, and made q return trip to
Fort Buford for additional stores. Seeing
that it was impossible for the wagon train
to make its way from Glendive, General
Custer wisely determined to have the boat
60 up the river. He embarked his men and
horses and proceeded ten miles up the river,
where be disembarked. picketed his horses,
and biv0uacked his men. Not expecting to
be out over night, his men had NOT taken
any camp equipaee with them. 1t wos NO
new experience, however, for private or.
General. The ground furnished welcome
bed, and the clear sky Q welcome shelter.
On the following day the news of the arrival
was conveyed to General Stanley.
Tho Key West had brought up .
large quantity of stores for the expedition,
in charge Of Lieutenant X. NJ. Thorne, regi-
mental quartermaster Of the Twenty -second
Infantry. The steamers Perieaah and Far
West had also brought q cargo. and the
whole had been left at Glendive creek, un-
der guard of three companies of the Sixth
Infantry, from Fort Bedford, commanded
by Captain Hswkins. As IL was impossible
for the expedition togo down to Glendive
TO cross, lit was necessary to areship the
stores up the river. This took four Or five
days. Meanwhile, General Stanley had sue
ceeded in making road down to the river,
and camped on the fiat.
On the twentieth instant, Captain Baker,
chief quartermaster, who, on the third Of
July, had been sent to Fort Lincoln with
on the Yellowstone. He had come through
in twelve days. He had found two Of the
notes which We had placed on sticks and
left on our trail, informing him Of our rapid
advance and Of the men left behind as ad.
ditional guard. At the proper time he fell
in with Captain Pearson and his men, and
the whole party advanced rapidly to the
Yellowstone. On their way out the party
had ssen eleven Indians, who got away as
quickly as possible when. they discovered
how well the train was supported. An
their approach to Fort Lincoln. The com.
mander was not expecting them, and, on
sighting the cavalry in the distance, sup
posed they were 40 many Indians, who had
captured the train and were advancing to
attack the fort. The long roll was sounded
and the guard brought ont. The soldiers
we're all primed for fight. The mistake,
however, was soon discovered, and the
Indians were accorded warm
welcome.
As soon as the steamer Key West had
the reshipment of stores to our
camp, she was employed to ferry the COM
mand over the river with sufficient forage
and commissary stores for trip of fifty
days. The remainder of our stores, greatly
IN exceed Of our needs, were left on the
EAST side of the Yellowstone. A suitable
was erected. Captain E. P. Pear
son, Of the Seventeenth Infantry, has been
placed in command Of the depot. His
troops consist of forty infantry and Il9
cavalry, under com mand of Major Benteen,
Seventh Cavalry-in all eight officers and
l59 men. Captain Pearson will remain here
until the return Of the expedition from its
explorations in 1ontana, which. it is ex-
oected, will take fifty days.
We are now in camp on the west side of
he Yellowstoue, expecting to start in day
,wo. Meanwhile, the boat will proceed up
he river twenty-five miles with engineers,
md An escort under command Of Major
Cr0fton of the Seventeenth Infantry. This
will take about two days. The boat will
hen return to Glendive creek, take on the
sixth Infantry, and 60 down the river.
Put Flowers On YouY Table.
EAf f1nworn Nn vour <oh1o a vrhoIo >o.n