New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-22

| well known in the States by this time, so
there is no need for me to enter into details.
| The course of the Yellowstone from the
| Powder river to this turbid Missouri forms
| a kind of irregular bow. The course is
nearly northwesterly. The supplies have
| been furnished under escort from all the
| forts round here. and from Fort AbercrOm.
bic. near the northern frontier by way of
the Yellowstone. to its junction with tho
Powder river.
The column. starting from a point be.
tween here aud Fort Lincoln, will move
along the string OF the bow, in straight
line almost westerly, as nearly as possible.
The distance between the starting point on
the objective may be estimated at about 600
miles, which, counting both ways, means u
1900 mile tramp for the boys this summer.
When the junction of the rivers already
mentioned is reached. the infantry and ar.
tillery will halt and 20 into camp, and Gus.
ter will cross to the north side of the Pow.
der river, accompanying the surveyors.
Should the Indians show themselves in any
considerable force, the artillery and pOr.
ton of the infantry will support the horse.
Everything will be conducted on strict
military principle. aud noughs will be left
to chance.
1t NAV be OF interest to your readers to
know that the leader of the civil engineers
employed by the Northern Pacific railroad
is no other than General Thomas d. Rosser.
late of the rebel army. He is man of
much skill, and, like many of his recent
comrades. is West Pointer. He is said to
be very good soldier and socially is one
OF the best fellows Imaginable. Our officers
aud the eX-rebel are on excellent terms, for
soldiers never cherish hard feelings after
the hostile swords are sheathed. It must.
however, feel rather queer for the late
enemy of the Union to be marching under
protection of the noble tag against which
he fred in a season of insensate passion. 1t
must recall to him memories OF his earlier
days, ere the secession poison entered the
veins of the South and rendered her stark,
staring mad Perhaps he may feel inward.
ly thankful that the old flag remains unin.
jured, and that 1.-The constellation which
has announced and typifed its progress
shines with uuclOuded and everincreasing
lustre. Any way. General Rosser is per.
fectly satisfied that United States forces
will help to keep such hair as Le has left
upon his head.
The country through which the expedi.
ton will march is, for the most part. utter.
ly unexplored except by the scouts. many
OF whom will accompany the expedition.
After leaving this place the column will see
only virgin plain and forest until the west.
ern settlements of Montana, some of tho
finest lands in America, are reached. Your
has some opportunity of be-
around. and has heard much about the in.
terror from the bold men that, from time to
tme unheeding the warnings of prudence,
penetrated into the savage wilds. Tho
scenery in many places was magnificent.
but there is q vast deal that is parched and
barren about this same wilderness. Here
it has lain. since the earth was last turned
inside out, untrOdden by the foot of civil.
zatiOn. until the pores Of fertility. from
want of exercise, have become almost
choked up. The surface has grown torpid
from the accumulation Of vegetable decay,
and. after all the 5000 years or more. which
have rolled above the Reconstructed planet.
the plOwshare has never rutfied the brow
Of this tibrous soil.
The old giants Of the forest have sprung
mp, and in the fulness of years. have
passed into nothingness, leaving sturdy
successors who will follow in the same road
The wild, war shout Of the aboriginal, or
th9 hideous how li1gs of the wolf are about
The only sounds that have here, 80 far,
the unused ear of nature, but
soon wilder yell than that of the Indian
,r the gray wolf will startle these splendid
wilds, and the scream of the locomotive will
to the savage that his great
white enemy has made still further prepa.
'atiOns to send him to the jumping off place.
The Indians that find their way to the
post are rather diversified in appearance,
extensive and bloody family of the Sioux.
-FOUR city has often been visited by speci-
mems of these savage tribes. Many of the
hiefs are, physically, glorious specimens
# strength and symmetry. but the lower
trades are often squat, undignited and
llthv. The sqnaws are mostly browbeaten
ooking devils having not the remotest ap-
roach to the beauty and intelligence
which Fennimore Cooper used to depict 80
lovingly.
The Nortbe Pacific has not commenced
unnng passenger trains from Duluth to
he Missouri just yet. Only freight trains
ave reached this point on the great river
o far. The company has plenty of pluck,
nd viii. undoubtedly succeed in carrying
ut the present grand scheme.
The column will. it is expected. move on
he fifteenth. and as these military men are
Ike clOckwOrk. there is no reason to sup.
Ose that the movement will be DELAYED.
tanley viii! take care tina. no grass is per.
lifted to grow under anybody's feet while
g is around. He is the very devil in tho
ray OF hurrylng things up.