New-York tribune., 1873-07-03
WESTERN EXPLORATIONS.
THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION.


GENERAL ORDERS.
,rpoy THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRTnUSE.l
FoRT RICE, Dakota, June 1S.-" This looks
like old times said cavalry officer 10 me as we stoou
on high hill above his camp and cast eyes over tue
tented field before us This reminds me Of Washing
,on and 'elD The scene indeed suggestive OF tue
scenes and experiences Of ten years ago Immediately
before u.s. on lower shelf of the buh stood Fort loce
with It's high stOckade and ITS garrison bndngs the
only intrusion of medern architecture on the vast eA
tent of rolling plain sayo the suffers store and few
houses built outside OF its walls On the right OF
the fort near the river another swell in the pain
hundred pretty white tents dotted the green. The wei
come dinner proclamation, the smoke OF the campfire
curled into air Two or three hundred blue-coa'S
Law scattered up and down through the avenues OF wte
Further TO the left the buH near the river, perhaps
90 more tents stood in array. Midway between the TWO
ON another piece of high ground the commandants
tent with the flag flying from its top aud the tents o MS
staff clustering around i'll Two miles away from headquar
ters on hill stretching mile to the left from the base
Of the fort the cavalry camp like city OF We set
on a hill In a long line 200 horses we're trotting down
10 the river 10 drink -Four hundred more we're pcketeu
around the camp Down the plain drove OF several
hundred cattle were grazing With the field glass might
be the train OF $50 wagons on the Oppose huo Vi
the river. awaiting ferrage across.
outside of the camp line another hll, two held
pieces were playing ball with target at mile Distant
now and then sending shot across the yer to tear up
the dust on the eastern hills. There was no sign OF c'
life IN the picture The cOoring was altogether mar'
have only ~ look from my tent to revive the picture
presume the Yellowstone Expedition though protect
i've and peaceful rather than aggressive In Its chaface
ia the largest military expedition since the war; ana
the war had not changed ideas OF marital
would have been regarded as tOrmidaOle lhuoeu fo.
the purpose for which IL is intended t is formidable IL
will be pity IL the Indana cannot be convinced oi tnis
except by the voice of musketry and cannon
ALANDscAPE on THE UPPER MISSOURI.
Apart from the display OF camp equipage. the flying
horsemeu the Of the sentres the call OF the ou
ges and the sound of the artillery the scene Is as peace
fl and quiet as could be desired. From the hight at
which our camp stands, green alienation OF hill ana
plain rolls clear to the circle Of the sky For miles IN
every direction the eye may wander over the waving
green carpet without restraint Yet the picture has no
monotony The blue horizon IA scaoped by the impng-
ing outline OF hills The whole surface OF the landscape
is erooved and wavy IL mighty pow or harrow
had furrowed the prairie into vale and intergae only
on the east is the picture interrupted by the winding
waters of the Missouri swiftly moving TO the south
There is fringe of timber along the soed skirts OF the
turbid river Here there arm is stretched out to
claim It's earthly tribute from the hills. EN
cept this tall edge Of timber by the river, there
is no sign OF tree or shrub. Sage and snake-root
and short stunted grass are the principal feeders on
this dusty aka soil, If except the CATTLE forwhose
benefit alone they seem to grow From 80 TO 75 miles Or
more back to the east along the Northern Pacific road
the land is nearly all OF this character In month or
two It will be dry and under the scorching suh
may grow and live here but farmers VIII not ma
If inviting. Irrigation might do for this section what'
through the labors the Mormons II has done In utah.
bn the soil does not take kindly to growth It's not OF
the parent kind which was considered good IN the
Garden of Eden Adam and Eve would not have fallen
fIta all fruit IA
bdden The beasts OF the field may thrive and prosper,
nbbng the dwarfed grass, for II It does not grow high
il grows very widely. There Is no lack OF room Ale"
early vegetables and q variety OF Indian maize ara
capable of being these dry praires but
wheat and other grains are not successful.
Preparations for the departure OF the expedition are
nearly completed. The wagon trains are crossing the
river to-day. and will Immediately be loaded In two
,lays the line will he formed and the march begun
Officers and men are getting inpatient Of delay THIS
has been occasoned By the late arrival OF the wagon
traip A. III civil military life one delay brings on
another The delay here however does not at al retard
the expedition as whole for the detachment sent IN
advance Friday, enables the survey 10 begin imme-
diateiy.
TRANSPORTATION AND SUBSISTENCE FOR An ARMY.
Few except those who have been IN army life know
what extensive preparations must be madcfor the trans
portaton and subsistence OF 1000 troops in new coun-
gated by boats transportation and supply are easier
matters EQuipage and provisions and even troops
themselves can be readily concentrated when desired.
But in march OF 400 500 miles through new ana
hostile region from any base OF supplies De-
comes more serious The troop must carry its
own tmpedimeHta Its own subsistence This requires
large number OF wagons ana with not less than four or
SIX mules to "a wagon this in turn needs large number
of teams addition the rations and supplies Tor
soldiers forage be carried for horses and mules
Where there is large body OF cavalry as on this eXpedi
ton the forage-train must be increased. To insure
supply fresh beef large drove of cattle on the hoof
must be taken along. II viii be that it is no small
matter to provide for such force This large train OF
men and auimas must be absolutely selfsupporting.
There are no cities the way where provisions
and horses be levied. There are no telegraphs TO
convey wants OF railroads TO supply them. The army
must be complete and independent in itself able to 20
oil on four egs without impng in any Of them. An
army Of this kind may back with cruches but 1t
Will never serve any good purpose to send it of in that
condition.
To give some idea OF the preparation required for
such an expedition let me give few figures
Number OF men, including teamsters, herders, and
civilians OF all sorts, 1900 Rltons for GO days 1900
Bacon, lbs........ 2342s Sugar, .lDs-..... T,lt0
Beef, lbs ......... 17S7 Vinegar, gals. %. so
Flour. lbs. ........ 1850 Candies, lbs..... ~