The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-04-11

l9itIfiA 50 -
tcoNTINuED.l
Thursday, March 0.-This morning
broke with snow failing fast over our
little camp In the willows, and under
ihe banks looked ahything hut cheer
full. The sky was so dark and the
air so full of snow that the high ridges
were shut ont, aud nothing could be
seen n hundred yards distant. The
work Of loading the paclk-mules was
not completed until 10 O'Clock, and
50 severe MA the cold and storm that
il was a work difficult to accomplish
at all. At 10 a. m. the command
moved out, aud again faced the storm.
Crossed the Piney Fork River four
miles from camp, and then bore north
over a high and terribly rough coun-
Try for IS miles, bringing US to n
small stream called by the Indians
Prairie Dog Creek, where we found
wood and water enough for camp,
which was accordingly pitched at 4
p. m. The snow ceased falling about
noon, but the air remained bitterly
cold. The snow was "A foot deep in
many places, and travelling was very
exhausting TO the animals, the crust
on the old snow being too thin to
bear them up, and making the jour
ney exceedingly tiresome work.
About onr camp, on the side of the
mountain, the tall of snow was much
lighter. and the grass was of excellent
quality. Instead of half rations Of
forage, | find we only have about
one-sixth full forage, aud we shall in
a few days be entirely dependent
upon grass for the sustenancc of the
animals. .aHmp&el
Friday, March l0.-Daylight found
snow still falling and the air very
sharp, the thermometer marking &C.
below zero. Moved out AT $50 IA. M,
and followed the creek % miles TO
near its junction with Tongue River,
and went into campa 8 p. M, though
the pack train did not come In until
an holr later. The north hill-sides
and banks were covered with ice
under the snow, so that horses and
mules frequently fell, and sometimes
slipped from the top of a hill to the
bottom-We have lost only n
animal as yet, however, that being IA
mule, which fell down a steep hill
side and was found ut the foot literally.
smashed to pieces. About moan the
SUI came out, and we could see the
Big Horn range on our left some 20
or 30 miles distant. Our march is
nearly parallel with that range so far,
and usually in a northerly direction.
Td-day's march makes so miles from
oiu camp on Crazy Woman River.
Scouts sent out yesterday to 90 to the
forks of the Tongue River, 10 miles
xtrn-t IF xrIapNZ t.n y t,nn. ttIlnfI IN
sblack-tailed deer about dark, and
hsmediately went into camp 10 have
a feast, displaying the true Indian
character. We passed their camp this
morning, about 10 miles from our
own, and found a hind-quarter await
ing the General. 1t was frozen hard,
but We found that, cut in thin slices
and broiled on the Goals, 1t was very
delicious. The party came in this
evening, and reported finding n re-
Gently abandoned camp of about 60
lodges Mt the forks of the Tongue
River. The snow was 80 deep that
they could not tell which way the
Indians had gone. Wood is plenty
at our camp here, but the water is
alkaline, and the grass poor. The
country, SO far, Gems absolutely
worthless for the use of civilized
men.
Saturday, March 11.-At I o'clock
this morning the thermometer mark
cd % degrees below zero, and as that
was the full capacity Of the instru-
ment, we had no means of telling how
much colder it was. Notwithstand-
ing the severity Of the weather, the
animals fed all night on such grass
rs they could get from under the
snow, which was thin and poor ut
best. They remained free until s
O'Clock, and then the packers began
loading the mules. BY 10 o'clock,
the hour Of starting, the weather had
moderated several degrees, and the
march was down Prairie7Dag River
To Tongue River, four miles, and
down this latter streani four miles
further, where good grass and plenty
OF wood were found, and Gen. Crook
decided to go %iuto.camp and give the
ANIMALS n chance to graze the re-
mainder Of the day.
Sunday, March l2.-This morning
was the coolest we have yet expert
enced, the mercury in the thermome-
ter dropping into the bnlb-the same
experience as yesterday-but the air
was much sharper, and DIR. Mum
decided that the degree of cold would
be properly expressed by-30. The
command marched at 9:30 n. M, and
proceeded down Tongue River. Five
miles out Tongue River n was
entered, and we travelled in it
throughout the day. or until 8 p. M,
when camp prepare tions were order
ed. Fifteen miles Of the 20 miles
marched Is day were down the canon,
which Is narrow, irregular, full Of
sharp elbows, and has walls of rcd
sandstone and conglomerate $50 to
500 feet in height. We crossed the
i. river 10 fines on the Ice; and the
entire command marched Tor con.
siderable distances down the rive
on It's thick icy covering. Abou
midway in the canon we found
piece Of b.iffilo skin on n stick wit
q note which ran thus: ~ to RICH
bntg,.ow.n The scouts had killed a
enormous bull bison, and stripped al