The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-07-12
Correspondence of the Republican Joarnal.
North West Journeyings, NO g
FKOM BISMAECK TO EEFOKI

| Fontanee for Fort Butord The purpose of this
commission the completion of the survey OF
the 49th parallel of north latitude, the boundary
line between the United States and British North
America its route lying from Bismarck by river
| to Fort Butord, thence overland by wagons to the
point OF intersection of the line on Big Muddy
River, Ia tributary of the Missouri) where its la
bors of the previous year had terminated.
The expedition numbered nearly one hundred
men, and with its live stock wagons, supplies and
stores comprising l25 head of mules ten head Of
horses, fourteen heavy government wagons, four
ambulances. odometer carts and water drays,
tents, Instruments arms, colnmissariat and gen
era supplies. constituted a cargo which filled the
nearly superannuatcd old vessel to her utmost ca
pacity aid sank her TO ii seemingly perous depth
| in the water.
These upper river boats curiositics in their
way to who looks upon them for the first
| time They appear To be cumbersome and I'M
Wicldly affairs, and in fact they are no more like
the elegant and graceful floating palaces of the
coast than dredging boat may be said to rescm-
bic racing yacht after the most approved model.
They are of 4 nondescrpt style of architecture.
but look something like Il stray wing of il rambling
old country tavern mounted upon a canal boat,
with an old fashioned mill wheel fixed upon one
end. Yet i'll their peculiar structure they are ad-
mirably adapted to the difficult and often danger
GUS nayi CATION of this most tickle and trcacherous
of rivers, and almost incredible feats OF running
rapids and jumping sand bars such AS could be ac-
complishcd by no other kind of craft are often
performed with them. As these boats are de
signed chiefly for the carrying of freight the ac-
|
most mcager and limited character; and the good
Fontanellc being no exception a large number Of
| the members of the commission We're tun to seek
refuge from the broiling heat Of day and the chill
ing dumps of night peculiar to the summer of these
latltudes, like stowaways, amid the intcrstces Of
the cargo while many others less fortunate
left with no other shelter than such the open
decks afforded
The long days Of the voyage were passed III living
about the decks and dreamily Watching the
notonotrs pi,lolalnu OF the banks, the iaboring
boat made her slow and tosome way by them,
sometimes varied by periods of intense anxiety,
when for many moments together hung
pended in the midst of rapids immovtble until
the muddy waters dashed into masses Of
chocolate colored foam by the furious revolutions
Of the paddles and at last by painful degrees the
doubtful point was passed i'll shooting at the
mink and beaver sporting on the shores and i'll
the water. or in patiently angling for hours with
no better result than the frequent ensnarng of
the lines in snags and drift
The scenery this part of the river is very
tame the immediate banks consisting of low,
naked clay and bad land buls-the timber
which is mostly cottonwood, generally growing
back considerable distance from the river
With the exception of two military posts, Forts
Stephenson and Bertholl. the wood yards the
only points Of interest the route there being
no settlements whatever At Stephenson our
rival at midday, and the delay occasionctl by the
discharge Of considerable quantity OF freight, al
torded rs favorable opportunity to inspect the
post 1t is a government station Of minor impor
tlncc, and consists of little cluster of buildings,
comprising officers quarters. soldiers barracks.
magazine ware houses, etc.
\ large number of Rec Indians were canpcd
here, some Of whom were to accompany in the
capacity of Interpreters and scouts and such of
our company us visited the lodges We're ccrcmon-
ously invited into huge medicine tepe to par
take Of a feast OF tat dog. prepared expressly for
Ms and smoke pipe OF friendship and good tel-
| owship with the chief; mark Of his most distin-
! guished consideration and respect One seldom
sees 1t more thoroughly social and good naturcd
Indian than this chief, and Il very pleasant
hour was passed in his society, during which lie
related To us. through the medIun of an interpret
er. many of the wild and tineitul legend, and ira
ditions of his people and gave us All interesting
account OF an interview his grandfather (whn had
of had and
Clark the occasion of their visit 10 this at that
time. uncXplored wilderness. This great sachrm
maintained high degree OF majesty and state;
and before taking our leave special honor.
we were favored hy introduction into the royal
harem which though perhaps not splendid as
that of Abdul Hanid, should Judge to be very
little inferior i'll point OF the number of its in
mates. 1t is not meant to be conveyed that the
wives of this dusky monarch are usually kept in
scclusion, those of his brother potentate of
the Ottoman Empire, but they are seldom called
together TO be inspected and interviewed by visit
ors except when tribute Of the highest honor
and regard is intended to be paid
Unfortunately we passed Fort Bcrthold during
the night, and were unable to visit it, 1t is inter
estng on account of its many historical assoca
American Fur Company. about the year 1925 as a
trading post. and afterwards purchased by the GOV
ernment and converted into military barracks,
Indian agency and depot Of army supplies, for
which purposes ii is still used
At many of the wood wards We found small en-
canpmcnts of Indians of the Rec. Gros Nentre,
| River Grow and Mandan tribes and at one of these
We met the high and mighty chief of the Gros
Nentres. He venerable savage, with long,
| flowing white hair and condeseended to come
down to the landing to us. attended by sever;
| armed warriors who were his suite or body guard
He was magnihcenty attired i'll a dilapdatcd army
blouse buttoned tightly overa cotton shirt, which,
as he wore nothing whatever on his legs. tluttered
about in the wind in highly pctu esque manner
| Upon his head Il ragged soldiers hat,
mounted by long, dropping crimson feather
while, to render his august presence Yet more
grand and imposing he wore upon his beak like
nose an immense pair of old fashioned green gog
giles, which he calmly sazed upon all around
him with air of profound superiority and i'm
poltance.
On the evening OF the llth Of June, upon sud
denly rounding an abrupt and heavily wooded
headland, the neat white buildings OF Fort Bu
| ford, bathed in the crimson glow of the summer
sunset, appeared before rs, and immediately after
wards salute of guns from the fort We're fired in
honor of our arrival. At the landing met
BY a mixed gathering of officers, soldiers civilians
and Indians the latter chiefly represented by half
clad women and children, who, during the process
of landing our stores and the subsequent pitching
of our camp, displayed much interest in the
matter it found necessary to detail guard to
keep them at respectful distance
Fort Buford is situated the Missouri, four
miles below the site of old Fort Union, and nearly
opposite the mouth Of the Yellowstone. 1t is
of the principal military points of the North west,
and has been used during the Indian the
chief base of supplies for the troops in the field;
communication having been maintained with the
FRONT in nart Al, of laris Wlrau tranS snnt