Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-05-15

The Articles Of Agreement wer
then read by the Treasurer who urge(
their adoption passedj and who OF
behalf Of the Committee promised va
riOus substantial results should success
attend the Command and a courier b.
returned to the Committee announcing
the location of stockade, while ma
terial assistance was guaranteed, il
caSe'@of serious Indian danger and al
influx of men and contributions o
supplies, should discoveries warran
the same. These promises being en-
dorsed by Messrs. Clark, Bowen ant
Cooper, of the Committee, and tn
Roll, Articles of Agreement and re
serve ammunition delivered to tn
officers, the Command began it's march
The Committee having ended it's duties
and resigned the Command to its OWL
chosen officers began at once thu
promised effort to add results to thu
expected success Of the Expedition.
THE MARCH
began on the 18th of February, and in
the continued absence of Secretary
Understands official report, which
will soon follow, there produce state
ment filed by signal officer O'Donovan
which am requested as Secretary Of
the Association to produce to you:
J. Y. Bogert, Secretary Expedition Associa-
ticn:
The Expedition consisting Of officers and
l46 men. 269 head Of stock, comprising 2l3
head Of horses and mules and sc head Of
|oxen)-armed and equipped with 10000
roundso OF ammunition, TWO pieces of artillery
with $50 rounds each of grape, canister and
shell and provisions for l20 days, leaves Boze-
man on the 10Th day OF February, 1874, for the
purpose Of opening wagon road from Boze-
man to the head Of navigation ON the Yellow
stone River, and prospecting the country ly-
ing between the Big Horn and Tongue
Rivers,-trave!s down the Yellowstone in
stormy, cold weather on Col. Bakers road
as far as Gen. SANKEY'S. The country trav-
cled over iron: the Crow Agency to the
mouth Of Sweet Grass Greek is good pasture
country with considerable agricultural land,
running parallel with the Yellowstone. From
Sweet Grass down the country is conspicu-
Gus for its savage desolalion and barren hills;
with few exceptions the water is alkali.-
Leaving Bakers road, we make junction
with SANKEY'S, after VIII CHI wood and water
become $ arce. AS We advance the grass be-
comes worse; the road continues good; the
Command travels in line OF battle over this
country; the formation is most rnfavOrable
tor minerals, coal being the only mineral to
he found; sandstone .ppears everywhere
24O miles are Travelled when the Command
crosses the Yellowstone three niles above
POrcupi1e Creek. the ice on the river being
four feet thick; a dep narrow channel is to
be seen here as at the mouth Of Big Horn
,ri.A nanfl,,nnce nf the BIG Horn and Yellow
stone RlYers forms large valley making it
a desirable location for the ncad OF navioa-
ton, and good settlement. The Command'
9aAzaGSAo6 xl3 1kAvCE luAuSuAOs~~
protecton Of the men. A good large D0It0m
IS FOUND on the south side OF the river, heavi-
~ tlmbered close to the rivers edge. A
camp is established abou: one half mile from
tile river and timber, on open ground. A
party is made up to prospect the two Porch.
pines, going to the head waters, supposed to
DC twenty-five miles distant, going up Great
forcuplne to its head and crossing over 60
the head OF Little Porcupine and coming
down It II indications should warrant. The
men start at SIN down, numbering Is with
y horses and five days provisions-they re-
turn on the evening of the fourth day. giving
[ul particulars of their trip. The country
on the Porcupines is anything but good
tunted vegetation and alkali water-:le for
na'lon OF the country not having changed
my, and sandstone abound.. I'll. Command
freak camp and travel in q southerly direc.
lon' cross Swamp creek running between
smmitt's creek ana Rosebud river: three
lays travel On the north side OF this liver
'rin%s US into some bad land country. Be.
ore entering 1t our first skirmish with |
NC 1ndians begins, the advance guard
eng short distance ahead of the train
me OF tue men of the advance obtains per.
''sslon from the Captain to 20 ahead and
u"' ie" momet ts-after leaving he per-
ewes fifteen Indians riding almost toward
'ni-fhe Indians seeing him, two of them
lslnount and prepare for chase (strippino
ever ythlnz) to capture him. Pcrcciyine
us, our man deems it prudent to fall back,
~ the Indians dash after him, but on SEEING
&c advance guard quickly turn and fIe. 70
point short distance to our right. The
vance, numbering ten men under the Can
IN, charge the Indians, who retreat in dis. /,
der, leaving Buffalo robes, dried meats and :
her things in their flight. They are watch !
closely, but disappear before dark. .
IMs bad land country. above mentioned :
ounds In coal and iron of superior onali,v :.
very good road is found through it lead. :,
70 chain OF rolling hills running l.. a 4
uth-westerly direction. !.
On emerging from the bad lands We camn |,
side-hill close to small spring runninc l,
'eatn high bill. On the southeast the in
ass is good and here the herd is turned ont In
naming out about one hour when oickets st
the hill gi}e the alarm Of Indians. The herd re
iriven into the corral-Indians are seen an ri
Ferent points-onc OF them riding forward ST
the direction Of one picket, (Bostick) oi
kes peace-circle to him-thc picket be- ca
ing 1t to be a friendly demonstration W
'es his post, under protest from his COM 70
., and advances toward the Indian. When n
Mn twenty nacez 0f him foan I.xl;.. -.