The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-12-15

| hills.
"The trail," says McClernand, "tnrns
| off to Pumpkin Vine creek short distance
above it's junction with Tongue River
Following it six to seven miles, through a
country alternating with valley and bench
land, we cross over to
"Pouder Riyer. The divide lying west
of this river is the toughest ever saw
composed of bad-land hills, separated by
yawning ravines hundreds Of feet deep
Descending this divide, we reach small
bottom on
Turtle or MgpaA Greek. From hero to
the Powder the distance is small, the latter
stream proving one hundred yards wide
and two feet deep the water running over
sandy bottom. "The valley of the
Powder rlver," he continues, "ls generally
misrepresentation is not all hideous
waste. We passed through several large
and fertile valleys growing fine buffalo
grass. The bluffs upon each side are very
precipitous, often presenting bad-land
face yet upon top they are generally
covered with good grass, while large cotton
woods grow almost everywhere along the
banks"
Two and a half miles below it's mouth on
the Yellowstone are the
Wolf Rapids, which offer considerable
opposition to steamer navigation. But"
adds our authority, the expense OF rem
dering them navlgable Cat all seasons when
the river itself is) would be small, either
by removing the obstructing rock, or by
building a wing dam
The valley of the Yellowstone, at this
point, is described as large and fertile, and
hemmed in by rolling and grassy hills.
The command moved from the Powder
obliquely to the Yellowstone over high,
country, reaching it just above
O'FalZsD's Greek, distance of 2244 miles,
This is fine grass country and specially
suited to pasturage. O'Fallon's presented
to the command stream so feet wide and
feet deep. Crossing the Yellowstone,
six miles below, march of 27.2O miles
brings us to
Bad Route Greek 1876 miles farther
and Rush Greek is crossed 1850 miles
farther and we camp on Deer Greek; 1926
miles farther and the Yellowstone is reach
ed near the mouth of the Deer.
II have always heard, " says McClernand,
"the country passed over during these
marches described as a bad-land waste
but such an idea is a very great mistake.
It is one of the finest grazing districts in
the world In all the distance travelled
(about 70 miles) not more than ten took us
through poor country, and that is upon
the lower end Of Deer Creek. Our course
was first northwest to the head OF Bad
Route creek then north east to Deer Creek
and thence down that creek running south
east to the Yellowstone. The country is a
series of long, waving hills, thickly carpeted
with magnificent grass, and separated by
valleys which descend from them in gentle
declivities. We had some difficulty in
finding water. yet we always had enough !;
and I doubt not our ignorance OF the
country caused this trouble. AS compared
with a granite mountain country it may
not be called a well watered section, yet
1900 men (utterly ignorant of the ground)
with 1900 animals, marched through it and
never were without water. 1t is destined
yet to prove favorite stock country, for
certainly it is capable of pasturing immense
herds of cattle"
Through all the country latterly described
game was plentiful-buffalo signs constant
ly appeared, and elk, deer and antelope
were evidently the oldest, as well as the
present inhabitants of the vast prairies and
plateaus.
The cavalry being sent from the point
last mentioned across the divide in the
direction of the Dry Fork with orders to
then travel east, returned after the scout
with favorable accounts of the country
| inspected-the report asserts it "is good
country"
GEendtue Greek has high, rolling country
opposite it across the Yellowstone-upon
each side of the creek runs small bottom.
| This section presents but little timber,
| which product is somewhat scarce below
Tongue river. A few miles back of the
| Yellowstone small, but straight, cotton
| wood and ash are found, but not in great
quantities.
On the 9th. of September the Montana
column, ordered to return, the homeward
march was commenced and the remainder
| of these notes will be devoted to the country
passed over ON the way to Fort Ellis.
Uusrer's Fight is thus referred to by Nc
Clernand "The field and its incidents
| have been too often described to bear repe-
| tition, but upon arrival upon the scene OF
| the disaster / was reminded of taunt left
| by one of our Crow scouts, not more than
three or four miles up the valley during
| our scout over this same ground on the
| Goth of last April. Taking an abandoned
| hard-bread box and piece of charcoal, he
! covered it with drawings, which he said
| would tell the Sioux that we meant to
clean them out Then sticking a handful
of green grass in the seams of the box, he
added, sand this will tell them we are going
| to do it this summer 1t is little strange,
considering the hundreds of miles we have
marched over, that this taunt should have
| been left almost upon the very spot where
the one desperate fight of the campaign
took place.
J. V. BoGERT.
| BOHEMIAN, Nov. 26, 1876.
The Author Of When This Cruel War d
Over"