Sharp County record., 1877-11-09

Creek to the canyon of the Big Horn,
and then across the Big Horn Valley to
the five mountain ranges around the
National Park to the north and the
Wind River ranges on the west and
southwest, can not probably be exceed
ed on the globe. The bunch, game and
other nutritious grasses, supplemented
bv innumerable wild flowers, added
much 10 the wonderful beauty Of the
region. On July 10 we crossed from
Tongue River to the Little Horn, and
down the valley of that river to post
No. at its mouth, arriving there July
%. The country lying east Of the Big
Horn range from the heights near the
canyon Of Tongue River is very fine.
Looking to the south along the base OF
the mountains, as far as the old post OF
Fort Phil Kearney, then east across to
the Wolf or Rosebud Mountains, then
north to the Big Horn Valley, gives a
scenery of undulating valleys, watered
bv mountain streams fringed with tim
Der, the soil being excellent; hillsides
and valleys covered with bunch, buffalo,
game, blue and other grasses, intermiX-
ed with wild flowers.
THE VALLEY OF THE LITTLE HORN
at this season was almost continuous
meadow, with grass almost high enough
to tie the tops from each side across a
horses back. This was the country Of
the buffalo and hostile Sioux only last
year. There are no signs Of either now,
but in their places we found prospectors,
emigrants and tramps. The country
east of the Big Horn range is much bet
ter and less broken than that on the
west side. The cattle range here for
hundreds of miles is superb. The grass
is much better than in Colorado, Kansas
or Texas, for in the latter part of the
summer and fall the climate is so dry
that the grass makes good hay without
being cut, while in the southern lati-
tudes the alternate thawing and freez-
inc is injurious to the cattle, and therain
rots the grass. We found Post No. 2
delightfully."- located by Lieut.. Col. Buell.,
who was working as busy as beaver in
its erection. Five steamers, coming up
the Big Horn, were in sight, and were
soon at the landing. After one days
rest at the post, we embarked on one OF
the steamers, and proceeded down the
Big Horn and Yellowstone to Post No
/, at the mouth of Tongue River, arriv-
ing the next day.
THE BIG HORN RIVER
is large, swift stream, and very crook
ed; the distance of the post from its
mouth is 45 miles by water and 30 by
land. The Big Horn Valley is very
large and fertile, and about $50 miles
long. The Yellowstone, from the mouth
of the Big Horn, is fine broad river
dotted with beautiful islands, while its
valley is broad expanse of cultivated
land. Some of these open expanses
were 20 miles in length by 10 in width.
Post No. is an open prairie near the
mouth of Tongue River, fine location
well selected. This post is being built
under the direction of Col. H. Miles,
9TH Infantry, commanding the district
which embraces both posts, with head
quarters at Tongue River. On July
"a we continued our journey down the
Yellowstone and Missouri to Bismarck,
arriving there July p and at Chicago
by rail July 80.
The report is limited, and chiefly for
the purpose of submitting to the Gener-
al of the Army the very excellent
itineracy and typographical sketch of
the trail and country adjacent to it made
by Col. D. B. Sacket, the Inspector
General of the Division. Most of the
higher peaks of the Big Horn Noun
tains were accurately located by Lieuts,
Carpenter and Schuyler, and named by
Col. Sacket, and profile sketches Of
them made by Col. Sacket and Lieut..
Schuyler. l also inclose and highly
commend the report of Lieut.. W. l..
Carpenter, 9th Infantry, of the geology
and natural history of the section passed
over, as we'll as the botanical reports of
DR.. julius H. Patzki, United States
Army. | am, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
TSigned T. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieut.. Gen. L. S. A.