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Chapter 17. Downriver By Steamer
- University of North Texas Press
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344 July23d.WeembarkedonthesteamerSilverCity,anewboat,which hadjustcompleteditsmaidentrip.Beforecastingloose,theofficers ofthepost,thoseofourBattalion,Mr.MooreandMr.Mears,Frank GruardandBaptist[e]PourierandourIndianguides,cameaboard toshakehandsandsaygoodbye:thenthegangwayplankswere runaboard,thehawsersundoneand,withthecustomaryamount ofbackingandfilling,bell-ringingandpuffingofsmokeandsteam, weswungintothenarrowchannel. While running down the river, noticed its general dimensions andcharacteristics.Atthepost,itisperhaps,onehundredyards wideandhasadepthinthemainlineofitscurrent,ofatleast sixfeet. Theforceofthewaterisverygreat,notlessthansixmilesan hourwhichforsonarrowandcrookedastream,onetoohaving suchanumberofsmallislandstodivideitswaters,makesnavigation verytediousanddifficult. Severaltimes,thesteamerbuttedagainstthepointsoflandrunning outintothechannelandeachtimeourCaptainswungtheboat aroundandletherdriftdownwiththecurrent,untilagood,wide reachwasfoundwhereshecouldbeturned. Chapter17 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ DownriverBySteamer DOWNRIVERBYSTEAMER 345 Agreatabundanceoftimber,mostly,asitlookedtoone,cottonwood withalittleash,istobefoundinthisvalley:oneachhandrunsaline oflowbluffsofclayandmarlandconcretionarysandstone,curtailing theviewverymuch,butnotenoughtopreventmyformingthe opinionthatthereisplentyofgoodgrazingclosetotheriver. Mosquitoesbotheredusverymuchandmustbeextremelytormenting topersonstravellingalongtheriverbottom. Threemilesdown,passedtheGeneralSherman,(whichhadblown outacylinderheadlastnightandwasnowtieduptothebankof thestream[)];andeightmilesdown,theRankin,bothboundupstream . Tenmilesfromthepost,weboardedtheRosebud,CaptainGrant Marsh,wholastyearcommandedtheFarWestandacquiredgreat distinction,notaloneasbeingthepioneerofnavigationontheBig Horn,butforthepromptnesswithwhichhebroughtReno’swounded fromtheCusterbattle-fielddowntheBigHorn,YellowstoneandMissouri riverstoBismarck,Dakota.Ihadthepleasureoffirstmeeting himlastFallatthemouthofthePowderRiver. On the Rosebud, we met Generals Sherman and Terry, Colonels [JohnMosby]Baconand[OrlandoMetcalfe]PoeofGeneral Sherman’sstaff,GeneralB.C.Card,ChiefQr.MasterandCaptain [EdwardWorthington]Smith,A.D.C.,ofGeneralTerry’sstaff,Mr. TomSherman,sonoftheGeneral,Major[CharlesGratiot]Bartlett andanumberofofficersofthe11th and6th Infantry(whosenames Icannotrecall.)withtwocompaniesofthe11th Infantry,enroute tothenewpost. Wewereverykindlytreatedandofferedtheluxuryoficedwater andicedlager-beer.(atpostno2therewasnoiceandthewater, especiallyaboutthemiddleoftheday,wasratherdisagreeably warm.)GeneralShermanwasonhiswaytotheYellowstonePostand GeneralTerrytoinspectPostNo.2:theirboathadmetwithsome littletroubleinworkingupstream,havingleftBismarck,Dakota, onthe9th ofJuly.Oneoftheboatspassedyesterday,theRankin, wassixtydaysindeliveringpassengersfromBismarcktoPostNo 2.Imayremarkhereparentheticallythatitisincontemplationto callpostNo2CampCusterandthepostatthemouthofTongue River,CampKeogh.AfterleavingGeneralShermanandpartywe gotintoaworldofdifficulty:betweensnubbingagainstpoints,rasping overgravelbanks,stickingonsand-barsandrunningthrough [54.89.70.161] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 10:45 GMT) 346 STAFFOFFICER narrowsloughs,ouradvancewasnoadvanceatallandpractically terminatedbyourstickingonareefaboutsun-down.Therewestaid untilaboutthreeo’clockinthemorning.Duringtheafternoon,the sun’srayshadbeenextremelytorrid,butaseveningapproacheda heavymantleofcloudsscreenedtheearthandarefreshingbreeze arosewhichlastedthroughthenight. July24th .Didnotawakeuntilthesoundingofthebreakfastbell. Our...