Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-05-14
Tongue River Country.
(Cheyenne LEADER

ltanA.
The Tongue river heads in the Big Horr
lmonntaiasx AID gathers . larga number o.
small streams that 6ow down it, side
through luxuriant and inviting valleys
Into one volume and then flows northwari
toward the bad lands, and pours itself init
the Yellowstone. The mines of precious
metal that these prospectors are In search
|of may safely be conjectured to be on
some of the tributaries of this stream or
the east side of the Big Horn mountains.
Although this particular part of the coun.
try was passed over by Captain Raynolda
and Lieutenant Maynadier in 1850. and
some very enthusiastic remarks about it
beauty and fertility were dotted down,
still, there is great deal to learn yet of
the importance and value of that region,
which these hardy and adventurous pros
pectors will soon bring to peoples knowl
edge.
While Capt. Reynolds was conducting 9
Typographical expedition of the Yellow
stone country in 1859, he passed through,
or rather across the portion of this coun
try now of special interest, and jotted
down in his journal among other matters
the following observations:
'.SEPrEMBER lathe country passed
through is the best seen on our route. The
hills are high and rugged; but the soil il
good, and both hills and valleys are cover
ed with luxuriant growth of bunch grass
All that the country needs to make 1t q
desirable residence is better climate and
y larger supply of timber. The latter is,
however, more abundant than in most
localities in this region, the valleys afford
ing present supplies of fuel, and on the
neighboring mountains are an Indifferent
species of pine. A large portion Uf the
grass has just been burned over, and the
surface of the country is therefore black
and forbiddlng; but it is evident that in
the spring the prospect is most beautiful
from the cxubcrance Of verdure and foil
age. The close proximity not only adds
beauty to the landscape, but they are tht
sources of numerous brooks Of clear run.
ming water that fertilize the soil and teen
with mountain trout
"Sept. 13.-We started this morning up
the valley Of the stream, upon which We
had encamped. and after crossing it found
a good road to its source. We then cross
ed low divide, reached second branch
of the same creek, and after ascending i,
to its head. passed over rather steep hill
aud arrived at the drainage of the Tongu.
river, striking branch that heads in o
large hill to our left. The general aspec,
of the country remains unchanged. As
we gradually approach the mountains (Big
Horn) they are increasing in grandeur.
''Sept. 14-Our route today bore di-
rectly across Tongue river, beautiful
mountain torrent about forty feet wide,
and foot or more IN depth, and thence
over the hills in southeast course, keep
ing nearly parallel to the mountains, but
them gradually. We crossed
the heads of several small tributaries to
Tongue river, the undulations of the sur
face being slight A flat plateau separated
the streams, the valleys of which were
broad and beautiful One narrow brook,
flowing in cut some eight or ten feet deep,
was the only one that we experienced any
difficulty in crossing. The last descen.
into the valley in which we encamped was
long and steep, but level, and accomplish
ed without special difficulty. Our camp
is on the right bank of Goose creek, the
most southern fork of Tongue r,ver. and
the stream at this point - twenty five or
thirty feet wide. and eight or ten inches
deep. Our camp is about six miles in q
straight line from the summit of the mour.
tains, which tower sublimely above US, al
q height which I find by angular measure
ment to be over four thousand feet
''THuRsDAY, Sept. 15.-Our route TO-
day still bore to the southeast, gradually
the mountains, and crossing
the heads of several small tributaries of
Tongue river. Our proximity to the
mountains soon rendered the road some.
what brokes, all-the small courses becom-
ing rayines. The hills seemed rounded,
and were covered With grass, bat the trav-
cling became 90 bad that we determined
to leave the mountain edge, and IN about
six miles turred down small stream, run
ming nearly east, that seemed, convenient
for our purpose. The road was good, and
drove in advance, as was my custom, to
ascertain the nature ct the country. OBJ
serving that the train did not follow as I
had expected, however. l waited until
Lieut.. Smith, commanding the escort,
came up and reported that one Of his wag-
ons had broken down, and that halt was
necessary 70 repair damages. Returning
found the party in camp after ) march
Of only about seven mile& While return
ing 70 tne train my frat yisw. of the camp
struck me - one Of most singular beauty.
The dark and varied eatlines Of the noun
tains formed the background to land
,cape of wide extent and Attractive fea-
ures. In the center the circle Of white
lena and wagon covers rejected the bright
ays Of the sun, and the smoke OF camp
Tres, the groups Of men, and the grazing|
added the charm Of busy life to|
he scene; while. npon either hand, the|
,trikipg con&sasts wme melloved down by1
gently -sloptng hills clad With vsrdure Of
II the picturesque TINT, Of astpmn. The
,auvaS Of the painter has perpetnated few
liner scenesv ssal Or Nsal
s.The eountsy traversed TO-DAY y good,
,ut pot. = 1ae G thai We have found
Turing he last few dAyA a few miles toi
,ur lcft (apq,a1o0tly nos over 10 o. ~ theI
ai|le stand out iniaIl - uAlDD(f de1nsnleyl
II .washed lauds, 2 ahoving that IN hell|
4 sood loaA claea aHder. the foot Qf teeI
an1 thgpnGh Mbtca onf Foete
o, 6 ~ Msge li1A - y T. ni)es lnl
l113SS. - p F'[ffS{ 3TSW E&41H5sot4Eft ftI
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