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WITH ILLUSTRATIONS By I. P. PRANISHNIKOFF, CIVIL ENGHNEER. I OUR SPECIAL ARTIST ON THE SPOT. » QUEBEC: PRINTED BY A. COTli: A G» ib73 (Ion) s'd'f'^^o ! CONTENTS. II. I. — Explanatory of certain circumstances and events, antece- dent to the Expedition — Its safe arrival upon the banks of Crow Creek — Meeting with General Augur — Brief mention of the celebration of our Glorious Independence. -Antecedent events explanatory of the objects of the Sub- Expedition — Escort provided— Order of march from camp — Report of action with the Sioux — Explanatory Remarks. ni. — Reply of the Commanding General to the foregoing report, giving notice of promotions, &c., together with some severe strictures thereon. IV.— A promise to go forward with the Great Expedition in search of the Eastern Base, after making certain neces- sary explanations of different theories, in order to elucidate in a satisfactory manner, the great Blickensderfian theory as to the natural laws which govern the universe. * V. — Further advance of the Great Expedition — Fort Sanders — North Platte — Rawlins Springs— It reaches its destina- tion — The Summit of the Continent. VI.— Camp Separation — The name perpetuated— Tribute to General Rawlins— Allusion to his early death. ^ CONTENTS. VII.— The Great Expedition moves Eastward— Engagement with an old IkimUo Bull— Mr. Blickensderfer's atiack upon a herd of Elk— Safe arrival at Fort Sanders. VIII.— The Great Expedition advances upon the Siim'-it of the Black Hills— Mr. Blickensderfer's test level from summit to base— Parting at Cheyenne. IX.-Events succeeding Mr. Blickensderfer's departure-Failure to discover error in Levels-Final establishment of the Eastern Base-Confirmation of the Great Blickensderfian Theory— Remarkable Coincidences. ;ement with ck upon a iivit of the om summit ire — Failure ncnt of the :kcnsderfian os- eible facility in the performance of this arduous and very responsible undertaking. Mr. Blickensderfer was authorized by the Grovern- ment to apply to Greneral Sherman, then in command of the Western District of the United States, with his head quarters at St. Louis, for an armed escort to accom- pany the Expedition and protect it from the Indians. Fortunately, the Greneral was at Omaha when Mr. Blickensderfer arrived there, and he was thus afforded \ an opportunity, not only of making Greneral Sherman's acquaintance, but of personally explaining to him the .great importance of the Expedition, and of asking for a .; suitable escort for its protection, which, in his opinion , should consist of at least three Companies of Cavalry. The General smiled good naturedly upon this propo- |8itioii, and remarked that he thought one company V, would be quite ample for the purpose ; but, as Mr. Blick- ,1 icnsderfer was somewhat persistent, he said that he ® |would refer the matter to Genl. Augur, who commanded ;tates Gov- 'er, jr., an n Tuscara- |the Department of the Platte, with instructions to meet Mr. Blickensderfer's views, so far as the forces at his command would enable him to do so. .4MB I 14 REMINISCENCE. General Augur being absent upon a western tour of inspection at the time, it was finally arranged that Genl. Myers, Quarter Master of the department, should accompany the Expedition with two companies of Cavalry, until it should meet General Augur, who would then make the necessary arrangements for its protection during its further progress. The late lamented Secretary of War, Genl. John A. Rawlins, then acting as General Grant's Chief of Staff; Mr. T. J. Carter, one of the Government Directors of the road ; Genl. G. M. Dodge, Chief Engineer, in charge of location ; Mr. Samuel B. Reed, Chief Constructing En- gineer ; and Mr. John R. Duff, a son of the present Vice President of the Road, together with several Engineers and Contractors, were also of the party, besides two or three other gentlemen who were not directly connected with the road. At this time the track had been laid to the mouth of Lodge Pole Creek, at Julesburg, about three hundred and eighty miles west from Omaha ; and the country west of that point was infested with roving bands of hostile Sioux Indians to such an extent that it was found necessary for the Government to provide a military escort for every engineering and construction party en- gaged upon the road. Several persons, employed in these parties, had already been most cruelly murdered and mutilated by these inhuman savages. As a means of more effectually guarding against these atrocities. General Augur had organized a band of about four hundred friendly Pawnee Indians, from the | Yalley of Loup Fork, and equipped them as cavalry, mounted upon their own fleet and hardy ponies ; and had ARRIVAL AT CHEYENNE. 15 tour of d that should nies of r, who for its [ohn A. )f Staff; rs of the harge of ing En- int Vice igineers s two or )nnected le mouth hundred country bands of ras found ■ military )arty en- 1 in these ered and inst these band of from the ; cavalry, and had placed them under the command of Col. North, a most accomplished and indefatigable Officer, whose dashing raids upon the Sioux had driven the most of them far up the Valley of the Lodge Pole Creek, and into the almost impenetrable gorges of the Black Hill Range of the Rocky Mountains. The country had been thoroughly explored, and the line partially located, as far west as Fort Sanders, on the Laramie Plains ; and a construction force under the charge of Mr. Lewis Carmichael had been pushed for- ward, early in the Spring, to the Eastern Slope of the i Black Hills, at a point now known as Granite Canon, about twenty miles west of Cheyenne ; which party was under the militar/ protection of a company of [Infantry, under command of Major Mimmack, whose lead quarters had, for their better protection from Indians, been established in the immediate vicinity of lose of Mr. Carmichael and his construction forces. The distinguished party, consisting of Mr. Blickens- lerfer, G-enl. Rawlins and the other persons above named, left Omaha by train, on the 26th of June, and after larching from the end of the track at Julesburg, reached Crow Creek, about five hundred and sixteen dies west of Omaha (at the point where the flourishing )ity of Cheyenne is now situated), on the 3rd of July ; id we were so fortunate as to find encamped at the ime point, G-eneral Augur, who was making a tour of ispection of the different military posts in his Depart- lent. The G-eneral was escorted by one or two com- panies of U. S. Cavalry, and a large detachment of his fawnee Warriors, under command of Colonel North. It had been previously determined that our party 16 REMINISCENCE. would remain in camp at Crow Crook, durini:^ a week or ten days, in order to alFord the Chief Engineer and myself an opportunity to examine the Country with re- ference to a proper location of the line in that vicinity ; and also to enable Mr. Blickonsderfer to make a thorough search for the " Eastern Base of the Rocktj 3IountauiSy' which was supposed by some of the party to be con- cealed somewhere near this particular locality. A further inducement to indulge in this delay was an, invitation kindly extended to our party by Gronoralj Augur, to unite with himself and ollicers, in the cele- bration of the anniversary of our National Independence, which was done in a manner every way suitable to the] occasion. I was called upon to read the declaration of Independ- ence ; but as the Government had neglected to furnish! Mr. Blickonsderfer with the original as prepared by| Thomas Jefferson, and finding that no one i)resent had| an authentic copy, I was obliged to improvise the f lowing for the occasion. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. "When in the course of human events it becomes ne cessary for a community composed of military Officers with 350 rank and file, Grovernment Directors, and civi Engineers of the Union Pacific Railroad, with thei friends, to sever their social relations w^ith the peopl'| of the United States and all the rest of mankind, it seem eminently proper that they should publish to the worl DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. It a week eer imd A'ith re- i^icinity ; borough be con- y was an General , the cele- )en(leiice,| ble to thej Lndepend'! to furiiishj ?pared byj resent hadl ke the foil [CE. jecoraes ne try Officers I rs, and civi; with thei;^ the peopl'l ind, it seem: to the worl> | the reasons which have induced them to emigrate to, and establish this goodly City ofCheyenne, at the Eastern base of the Kooky Mountains, on the Western half of the American Continent, six thousand feet above the level of the sea, within the shadows and beneath the summits of Long's Peak and of the great Snowy and Black Hill Ranges of the Eocky Mountains. The laws of society which are rigidly enforced in Eastern Cities, and of which we complain, are : 1st, Extravagant dress, requiring from one to two changes of linen each day. 2nd. Late hours for meals and sleep. 8rd. Restriction of speech. 4th. Too dainty and delicate food. 5th. Too little exercise. 6th. Too much dust and heat. 7th. Too much Newport, Saratoga and Long Branch. The privileges which we claim for ourselves and our )osteritv, are : 1st. The most simple dress, consisting of flannel shirt, '^eralls, blouse, top boots with spurs, and slouch hat. 2nd. Early hours, breakfast at 4 A. M., and sleep at P. M. 3rd. Perfect freedom of speech on all subjects. 4th. Plain, simple and healthy food, consisting of ^acon and hard-tack with a judicious sprinkling of ante- >pe, black tailed deer, elk, praire dog, speckled trout, id mountain sheep. 5th. Exercise on horseback with carbines and re- >lvers, from fifteen to thirty miles per day, Sundays and kh July excepted. 18 KEMINISCENCE. nth. No dust, and thermometer ai 60' to 60" above zero at twiliirht, and sleep under two Ma<;kinaw blankets, or a bulialo robe. 7th. Summer resorts for pleasure and recrc^ation, such as the cloud capped summits of the Snowy Kange, the Mountain Parks and trout streams in their vicinity. 8th. The privilege of protecting ourselves from hostile Indians, by our own Henry and Ballard rillesand Colt's revolvers. And generally, to do just about as we please at all times and under all circumstances, with due regard and gentlemanly respect to our companions, and a proper observance of the laws of Nature and of Nature's Grod, which reign supreme throughout all this vast and beautiful country. Although we are now so far from the Westerly con- lines of civilization, we expect within a few short months to be broken in upon by the shrill whistle of the loco- motive upon the Grreat Union Pacific Eailroad, which is now making such rapid progress through these beautiful plains, and necessarily bringing with it all the evils, as well as many of the blessings of the very civilization which we have renounced and endeavoured to escape, And to the maintenance of the above rights and pri- vileges, we pledge our lives, our fortunes and odi sacred honours. REGULAR TOASTS. The following brief report of the regular toasts, anc the responses thereto, has fortunately been preserved 'r$ THE DAY WE CELEBRATE. S9 ae at all rard and a proper :e'8 Grod, vast and ;erly con- rt months the loco- , which is beautiful I evils, a6 Lvilization to escape. is and pri- and oni toasts, an£ jieserved 1. " The day we CELEimATE. " General Rawlins in rewponding, referred in an approv- ing tone, to the Declaration of Independence as rt^vist^d by Col. S. Seymour, and declared it his opinion that many of its complaints and demands were indisputaliie. The General said that those heroes of old, who rendered this day such an era in the existence of the world, would never have believed that in this country far be- yond their utmost knowlege, prairie dogs, owls, rattle snakes, wolves and the other interesting denizens of this delightful region, would have heard a Declaration of Independence read on the 4th July, 1867. The tele- graph and the railroad now cross this once howling wilderness which through their agency, has become the backbone of a .ountry which can never be dis- severed so long as the descendants of those who founded the country uphold the principles laid down by them on the Fourth July 1776. The G-eneral concluded a most able and eloquent speech amid loud cheers. The health of G-eneral Rawlins was then proposed by Mr. Carter, and drunk with enthusiasm. 2. " The President of the United States." The Hon. J. Blickensderfer Jr., after a most eloquent j speech in reply to this toast, offered the sentiment, " Our [■country, and nothing but our country, bound together [by iron bands. North, South, East and "West, never to )e separated by any enemy whatever. 3. " The Army of the United States." General C. 0. Augur, after the example of his victor- Sous Chief, General Grant, felt unwilling to make a Ifpeech, but felt happy to meet such pleasant gentlemen, ■MCVWRPHmiHIWi 20 REMINISCENCE. engaged in forwarding so noble an enterprise as the Union Pacific Railroad, and returned them his thanks for proposing the Army, trusting to meet them in suc- cessive years when Cheyenne would be a City not only in name but in reality. 4. " The Press, the universal accompaniment of civil- ization." Mr. John E. Cor with returned thanks, and stated that it was a rooted conviction, that the only reason why there is not a " Daily " on Crow Creek, is that the benighted Sioux, Cheyennes, and the rest of the lively population inhabiting the district, cannot read. 5. " The Union Pacific Railroad." Col. Carter regretted that the duty of replying to thisj toast had not fallen into abler hands, and then went on! to state, that as Grovernment Director he had always j taken a deep interest in the Union Pacific Railroad. 1 He was much gratified at seeing so many officers of the! United States Army present, who take so great an in- terest in this undertaking, and who so efficiently protect those engaged in carrying it out. The Union Pacific Railroad was the enterprise of the age, not in the mere construction of the road, but in the mining, agricultural and other resources of the country which are boundless This immense work depends not on the Directors, but on the Chief and Consulting Engineers, the working Engineers and the Contractors. The United States hm aided the Union Pacific Railroad, but it must not bt forgotten that the Railroad wiU be immensely service I able to the United States ; the army protects it, but i gives the army facilities for carrying out their opera tions. T'venty years ago Mr. Carter heard this enter 4* i REGULAR TOASTS. 21 as the thanks in Buc- lot only i of civil- ated that hy there enighted jpulation ng to this L went on id always Railroad, ers of the eat an in-^ fly protect Dn Pacific the mere rricultuTal boundless 3ctors, but ■e working . States hiij lust notb ily service tQ it, buti heir opera this entei prise agitated in Europe, and it was then deemed vi- sionary ; but he now looked forward to seeing this Rail- road, not only the Union Pacific, but the great thorough- fare between England and China. Our Steamers now sail between San Francisco and China, and the mails and light freight from London and Liverpool will pass over the Rocky Mountains, to the land of the Celestials and the City of Palaces. 6. " The Embryo city of Cheyenne located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, in which we celebrate this day. " Col. A. B. Coleman in responding to this sentiment I said, that he had been informed by his friends on [leaving New York, that he would certainly be scalped [by the Sioux, but he had seen no Sioux, and for ds own part did not care if he never did see any, lor Cheyennes either. He begged to be excused the )leasure of their acquaintance ; they might be good jnough in their way, but in his opinion their way was very nasty one. He was a member of the committee to decide on the name of this city, and he had called it )y its present cognomen in the hopes of conciliating ^he interesting Savages. He trusted that a gracious *rovidence would enable him to get out of this city quickly as possible if the aborigines should object to le arrangement. 7. " The Colorado Central and Pacific Railroad.' Mr. F. M. Case in responding said, that he has been ^ut here for six years, and thinks that there is more in le country than is thought of He believes the moun- ins to be full of gold, but the heavy machinery ne- 20 REMINISCENCE. CEssary to procure the gold can only be transported by a railroad. 8. " The Engineering Department of the Union Pacific Railroad. In the absence of General G- M. Dodge, Chief Engineer, Col. Silas Seymour, Consulting Engineer, responded to this toast, and sta»,3d that were any evid- eaice necessary, the absence of General Dodge, who was attending to his duty instead of seeking that rest which his feeble health and a long march imperativeily de- manded, would be proof sufficient that the Engineer Department neglected no business entrusted to their care. After some humorous remarks. Col. Seymour sat down amidst loud cheers. 9. " The Great National Railroad. " Col. Seymour said, that amongst his earliest recol- lections was the opening of the Erie Canal ; he was first employed as an Engineer on the New York and Erie Railroad, the western base of trade being then at Buffalo ; thence that base was removed to Chicago ; thence, to the Mississippi ; thence, to the Missouri ; the next base will be the Eastern base of the Rocky Moun- tains ; thence, to Salt Lake City ; and from that point to San Francisco ; then to China and Japan ; thence to New York, returning in a circle. Col. Seymour thought this only the beginning of a vast network of railroads which will eventually traverse the whole country. 10. Western Territories. " Mr. Charles H. Rogers declared these resources to | be infinite, only requiring the Union Pacific Railroad to open them up. In developing them by industry and intelligence, we can pay not only the National debt, but I " The Agricultural and Mmeral resources of the REGULAR TOASTS. ed by- Pacific Chief vineer, f evid- ho was which ily de- igineer their our sat t re col- he was )rk and then at hicago ; uri ; the Moun- at point lence to thought ra itry. 3S of the burces to Railroad istry and debt, but our own debts, and only the Union Pacific Railroad can do it. 11. " The Contractors of the Union Pacific Railroad distinguished for their energy in prosecuting the work." Groneral Casement, who was to have replied to this toast, was unfortunately absent on important business. 12. " The Loyal Red Man of the Plains." Captain Arnold, in the absence of Major North, said that 15 years ago the Pawnees were the robbers of the desert, but now were an immense support to the white man in the plains. The Captain claimed no discipline in particular for the Pawnees, but did not know by whom more hair can be raised, and believes they would beat the devil in jayhawking. ] 8. " The Ladies." Mr. John R. Duff was sure that this toast must touch the dearest and truest sentiments of our hearts. The health of Col. S. Seymour was then proposed by Greneral H. R. Misner, to which Col. Seymour briefiy responded, and then gave Greneral Gribbons. The G-eneral said that he had only once tried to make a speech and then he failed. Consequently he now al- ways resorts to a 4th July oration he heard 20 years ago. He would however first give them his bosom fri(nul Artemus Ward's ideas of Africa, of its foral productions especially the rose ; unecessary to say he meant negroes. Feared he was wandering from his subject but would return. Referred to the G-uerilla who objected to the I draft and taxes, was wandering again, but would once more return. The G-eneral then delivered his 4th July |oration amidst great cheers and tun. , 4i)i July, replied to, by Lieut. Jones. The Medical Department, replied to by Dr. Alexander. -L. tnuumtmtgkitMMm 24 REMINISCENCE. The Ordnance Department, Lieut. Comly responded. The health of our Mule Train, was then proposed by G-eneral Augur, and drunk in the wildest enthusiasm. In the unavoidable absence of the mules, Captain Wauds made an eloquent and touching response. Captain Petrikin, Chief Engineer of the Department, was given by G-eneral H. R. Misner. The Quarter Master's Depaitment w^as responded to by Captain "Wands, G-eneral Augur and Staff, was drunk with all the honours. The President then returned thanks to General Augur and Staff, for the entertainment on this occasion, and the party broke up. An unusual number of other most soul stirring toasts were also drunk and responded to, later in the day, by the Officers and other gentlemen present, with great powers of endurance, and with marked ability. There being no tree suitable for a flag-pole within fifty miles of the camp, one end of the glorious flag of our Country was elevated several feet above the ground, by means of two wagon poles, thoroughly lashed toge- ther, under the personal superintendence of Greneral Merrill, Inspector General of the Department, then acting, temporarily, as Chief of General Augur's Staff. It will be seen from the above, that it was upon this memorable occasion that the name of *' Cheyenne " was given to the future City that it was foreseen must spring up at the point upon which we were encamped ; although, at the time, there was not a house, nor a piece of lumber with which to construct one, to be found within fifty miles of the locality. 11. ANTECEDENT EVENTS EXPLANATORY OP THE OBJECTS OF TUB SUB-EXPEDITION — ESCORT PROVIDED — ORDER OP MARCH PROM CAMP — REPORT OP ACTION WITH THE SIOUX — EXPLANATORY REMARKS. The question of the location of the line over the Black Hill Range of the Rocky Mountains, had been regarded as one of the most difficult problems to solve, connected with the construction of the road. The entire range of mountainous country lying between the Laramie Canon on the North, and Berthoud's Pass on the South, had been instrumentally examined during previous years, under the direction of Mr. T. C. Durant, the Vice President and General Manager of the road, for the purpose of ascertaining the best route for extending the road west of the great Platte Valley. During the early part of 1866, Mr. Durant had appointed General G. M. Dodge as Chief Engineer of the road, who being , as he had frankly informed me entirely without experience in construction, was placed I in charge of developing the country, and locating the line west of the main Valley of the Platte, into which jthe road had previously been completed. During the summer of 1866 a personal examination 26 KEMINISCENCE. had been made of the Berthoud Pa.sts by myself, ac- companied by the Hon. Jesse L. WilJiams, one of the Groyernment Directors of the road, and an Engineer of great reputation and experience, from Fort Wayne, In- diana ; after which, being joined by the Chief Engineer, we also examined Antelope and Cheyenne Passes ; and we had determined that a depression lying a few miles south of Cheyenne Pass, presented fewer objectionable features than any other point, to the passage of the road over the Black Hill Range. After a careful examination of the Eastern slope, together with a preliminary line that had been run over it, by Mr. Jas. A. Evans, Asst. Engineer, we had further determined that a grade of eighty feet per mile would be the maximum required for the ascent of the slope ; and I had so reported to the company, on my return to New York. During the Fall of that year, Mr Evans, under the direction of the Chief Engineer, had located this portion of the line with a maximum grade of ninety feet per mile ; and the Chief Engineer had reported to the Company that this was the lowest grade that could be obtained, in which opinion I had never been able to concur. I had therefore been requested by the President of the Company, before leaving New York upon the pre- sent Expedition, not only to examine every important point in the locaHon of the road, that might come in my w^ay ; but to examine, wath particular care, the line v/hich had been located, and upon which work had been commenced, upon the Eastern slope of the Black Hills, acsmuch as our present camp on Crow Creek was .. .-lost convenient point from which to make these ex- DEPARTURE OF SUB-EXPEDITION. 27 aminations, I concluded to employ the few days at my disposal, before ae Expedition proceeded farther west- ward, in the performance of that duty. I accordini^ly applied to Greneral Augur for the means of transportation, and also for a military escort for my protection, all which were very promptly granted. Inasmuch, however, as the Sioux wore supposed to be quite numerous throughout the district Avhich I was obliged to traverse, the General very kindly decided, as a measure of greater saf(^ty, that I should take as an es- cort, a detachment of his Pawnee Braves, who were known to entertain feelings of vnp/easantness towards the Sioux ; and who would therefore be quite sure to guard not only my own person, but the Government property placed at my disposal, with much greater care and less danger from surprise, than the ordinary trooj^s under his command. Mr. M. F. Hurd, a Division Engineer upon the Hoad, was also to accompany me, with the maps and profiles of the line, which, in order to guard against accidents, he was accustomed to carry in his hat. My arrangements having been fully perfected on the morning of the 11th July, I started upon my perilous Expedition at an early hour from our beautiful camp upon the banks of Crow Creek. Mr. Hurd and myself, well mounted, and armed with carbines and revolvers, took the front. Immediately in our rear at a respectful distance, marched Lieutenant Matthews at the head of ten of his most trusty warriors. Then followed the outfit, consisting of four Government mules and driver, a Government wagon, containing my camp equipage and that of the troops, together with my supplies and BEMINISCENCE. cook ; also, as I accidentally learned soon after starting, a passenger who by some improper connivance with the cook, had been allowed to smuggle himself into the rear part of the wagon. The remainder of the military escort followed the wagon as a rear guards observing always a proper wheeling distance, in order to prevent surprise from the enemy. The thrilling scenes through which we were destined to pass within a few hours after leaving our camp, are very faintly and imperfectly described in the following : REPORT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIOUX. DESPATCH No. i. Head Quarters, Black Hills Division, DiiPT. OF THE Platte, July M, 1867. General : I have the honor to report, that I left your camp at Cheyenne, on Crow Creek, this morning at half past ten, with a military escort which you had kindly placed at my disposal, consisting of twenty Pawnee Warriors mounted and equipped as cavalry, under command of Lieut. Matthews. I w^as accompanied on horseback by Mr. M. F. Hurd, Div. Eng. U. P R. R. who was armed with a carbine and revolver ; and also by a passenger, unarmed and REPORT OF ENGAGEMENT. 29 name unknown. My outfit consisted of a Cook, Driver^ four Grovernment mules, and a Government wagon, loaded with supplies, camp equipage, cooking utensils &c ; the driver being mounted on the near hind mule, and the passenger and cook riding in the wagon. My objective point was Carmichael's grading camp, from which as a center I intended to make some explo- rations among the Black Hills for railroad purposes. I proceeded up the valley traversed by the Union Pacific Railroad line, a distance of about eight miles, when I divided my force of warriors into two battalions of ten each, and ordered Lieut. Matthew^s with one battalion, to follow Mr. Hurd and myself into the bluffs northward of the valley, where I intended to explore for a railroad route, and incidentally to hunt for Sioux and Antelope. The balance of the forces were ordered to escort the wagon up the regular road in the valley, until I rejoined them. I also requested Lieut. Matthews to throw out two flankers into the hills on the right and left, in order to guard against surprise from the Sioux ; and these flankers were strictly ordered not to fire under any circumstances, except at a Sioux, or stray antel®pe. After travelling some three or four miles through the hills w^ithout seeing the enemy, I returned into the valley by the road, and found myself about one mile to the rear of the wagon and its escort. Putting our horses into a gallop, we were rapidly approaching this detach- ment of my command, when I observed the wagon escort dash up the hill to the left ; and, at the same instant, heard a most unnatural and uncertain sound from a bugle, blown by one of my braves, from the top of a mmmm ■HM 30 REMINISCENCE. high bluflf in the same direction. When I reached the wagon it was entirely deserted, except by the passeng(T, cook, driver and mules, all of whom, I am happy to say, seemed to be fully impressed with the solemnity ol th(^ occasion. The warriors who had been my personal escort, immediately dismounted, and without waiting for orders, commenced unsaddling their ponies, and divest- ing themselves of their military caps, coats, pantaloons, boots and other superfluous appendages. They then re-mounted with great celerity, and notwithstanding my most positive orders and protestations to the contrary, dashed up the hill side, yelling " Sioux ! Sioux ! ! Heap Sioux ! ! ! " Mr, Hurd also caught the inspiration, and regardless of his own safety, dashed up after them ; and I take plea- sure in observing that Lieut. Matthew^s himself, was not far behind. My passenger sprang from the wagon, and was rapidly making his way up the hill on the opposite side of the valley, when I deliberately drew my revolver and ordered him to halt, and to return and assist me in protecting the property of the G-overnment ; which order, I am happy to say, was promptly obeyed. The cook showed great presence of mind by crawling back into the wagon, and intrenching himself among the contents, evidently prepared to sacrifice his life, if necessary for their protection. The driver remained firmly seated upon his mule, with rein in hand, and indicated a de- termination to do or die in the good cause, as circum- stances might require. Having made the above disposition of my remaining forces, and supplied my passenger with an old musket. r" c — t w Co 0) P fe wh Ir. am ant car vol by but reti folL as 1 coil and cou no I ass t C situ of S aC thai one vail poll reac as t< A post sud mui quii REPORT OF ENOAOEMKNT. 31 which I fortunatt'ly found in the outfit, (but for which, I regret to say, we could at the moniont iind no suitable ammunition), I retired to the shady side of the wagou, and proceeded to fill the magazine of my carbine with cartridges, and to rtdoad the vacant chamlxirs of my re- volver, both of which had become somewhat depleted by frequent liring at Antelope during the morning. Very soon aftiu* I had taken this somewhat unusual, but in my opinion vertj neceasnnj precaution, Mr. Kurd returned and reported that our Pawnee Warriors, closely followed by Lieut. Matthews, were making their way as rapidly as th(ur ponies would carry them, across the country to the bluff, or divide, south of Lone Tree Creek ; and that the Sioux were so far in the advance, that they could not be seen with the luiked eye, and he, having* no glass, could therefore not form a icry clear opinion as to the exact number or position of the enemy. Comprehending at once my isolated and unprotected situation, I immediately appointed Mr. Ilurd my Chief of Staff, with the rank of Major, and proceeded to hold a Council of War, at which it was unanimously decided that we had better push our reserve forces forward at once from their very exposed position in the narrow valley, to the high ground which the road reached at a point about one half mile to the front ; and that upon reaching there, we would be governed by circumstances as to our further movements. After throwing out a flank and skirmish line, com- posed principally of Maj. Hurd (my passenger having suddenly disappeared soon after I had loaned him a musket) I ordered a forward movement, at " double quick, " which I headed in person ; and which, I am ii 32 REMINISCENCE. happy to report, was executed in good order, and without serious casualty. Having reached the elevated ground, about two miles east of the Laramie road crossing, and six miles from these Head Quarters, I ordered a Halt ! and pro- ceeded at once to take an observation with my field glass, for the purpose of ascertaining, if possible, the position of my late escort, as well as of the enemy. The enemy was no where visible ; but I could dis- tinctly see several of my braves galloping at full speed up and over the divide south of Lone Tree Creek. They soon disappeared however, and then we heard nothing but the report of two or three guns in the distance. In about five minutes afterwards, the crest of the divide was seen to be covered with from twentv to one hun- dred warriors, dashing to and fro, apparently in great confusion. These however very soon disappeared from view, and all was quiet again. Another council of "War was immediately called, at which it was decided with great unanimity that we had better proceed as rapidly as possible in the direction of these Head Quarters, in order to intercept any flank movement that might be contemplated by the enemy. I at once resumed my exposed position at the head of the column, giving strict orders that there should be no stragglers, nor falling out of the rauks, and that the driver should keep the mules at " double quick " time, or even " quicker^' if they could endure that rate of speed. I also kept up my flank and skirmish line, through the able assistance of Maj. Hurd; and am happy to say that we reached this place in safet^'^, at about three P. M. We saw the heads of several Sioux peepin^* over the ■ ■■* ,•1 vithoiit miles 3s from id pro- y field >le, the y- lid dis- 1 speed :. They lothing ce. In divide le hun- 11 great d from lied, at we had tioii of r flank emy. lead of be no driver )r even ■ • I rough to say P.M. er the ■ ''S f>s I — I o CD 3 3 OJ P". &-• tj K-1 nmmnnnanimBHMaBHH I REPORT OF ENGAGEMENT. ^ adjacent ridge, as we marched rapidly along, which however, upon our nearer approach, were suddenly transformed either into rocks, bushes, or large tufts of grass ; except perhaps in one instance, when Maj. Hnrd protests that he saw a " solitary mounted horseman " (supposed to be a Sioux,) at some distance in front, but who, fortunately for himself, soon disappeared from view in the valley of Lone Tree. Our vahant escort has not been seen or heard from, up to the present writing (10 P. M.) Too much praise cannot be awarded to Maj. Hurd, for his gallantry upon the field, as well as for his coolness and sagacity in the performance of the arduous and dangerous unties assigned to him ; and I would respect- fully recommend him for promotion. The remainder of the command showed great zeal and perse v^'-ence in reaching this place ; and I would also recommend them to your favorable notice. Hoping that the days operations will prove satisfac- tory to you : I remain. General, Your obedient servant, (BigHBd,) S. SEYMOUR, Col. Commanding. To Maj. Genl. C. 0. VtfGUR, Oommanc ing Lopt. of the Platte. 34 EEMINISCENCE. DESPATCH No. 2. Head Quarters, &c., &c., July 12, 1867, 5} A. M. General : I have the honor to inform you, that Major Mimmack, the officer in command of the troops stationed at this point for the protection of the forces employed by Mr. Carmichael, in constructing the Union Pacific Railroad, has not been able since yeste ' v- noon, to find the mules belonging to his transportatic ,'epartment, although his herders were engaged during the entire night in hunting for them. The supposition is, that they were captured by the band of Sioux, which my report of last evening left flying for their lives from the hot pursuit of my brave Escort. A hurried consultation with Maj. Mimmack hu,s satisfied us that we are just at present in a sort of mili- tary " paradox. " That is, he has troops without trans- portation, and I have transportation without troops. Being the senior officer, and not being able to consult either Jomini, G-enl. Butler or Col. Merrill, as to the solution of this paradox, I have taken the responsibility of drawing the cork, and of ordering my driver with his team, to accompany a detachment of the Major's troops, and report to Major North, unless he shall meet on the way with Lieut. Matthews, accompanied by my late escort of Pawnee Warriors, in which case he will report to Lieut. Matthews. SUBSEQUENT DESPATCHES. 35 It has occurred to me that the Pawnees may have returned last night to Major North's camp, near your Head Quarters ; and if so, that they may return here this afternoon. I shall need them very much after to-day. Not a word has been heard from them since my report of las* night. I have also ordered the driver on his way down, to pick up the saddles and other Government property, which was so summarily abandoned by my escort while preparing for action with the Sioux, and to return t to Maj. North. I have the honor to remain, General, very respectfully, Your Obt. Servt,, (Signed), S, SEYMOUR, Col. Commanding. To Maj. Genl. Augur, Commanding Dept. of the Platte. DESPATCH No. 3. Carmichael's Ranch, U. P. R. R., Black Hills, July 12. 1867. 9 P. M. General : I take pleasure in reporting the safe arrival from your camp, of riy Pawnee e^vort. They reported for duty at se REMINISCENCE. 1 P. M. to-day, mounted on mules, the most of which, Lieut. Matthews informs me, were captured from the Sioux during the severe action of yesterday. Several of these mules are recognized by Major Mimmack as for- merly belonging to his transportation department ; which fact confirms our previous suspicions that they were captured yesterday by the Sioux, just previous to our onslaught upon them ; and it is therefore gratifying to know that my brave warriors have been the means of reclaiming a large amount of Government property. I felt it to be my duty to censure Lieut. Matthews very severely for his conduct yesterday, in abandoning the party and property, which his orders from you re- quired him to protect ; and the only explanation or apo- logy he could give was, that unless he had left me and followed his warriors in thv ir pursuit of the Sioux, nei- ther he nor myself would probably have ever scon them again. The mules appear to be in good fighting condition. Their ears and tails are highly ornamented with feathers, ribbons, and other grotesque appendages ; and when irounted by their brave riders, and drawn up in line oi battle before my camp, they certainly present a very martial appearance. I am informed that a mule will not chase an Indian unless he is propelled by spurs. I have therefore con- cluded to disarm a portion of my escort of their spurs, in order that I may be able to keep a few of them near me in an emergency, as I do not altogether favor the idea of being left alone again if I can avoid it, especially up in the neighborhood of Dale Creek. I start westward to-morrow, and expect to return here -< o rhich, n the jral of IS for- w^hich were to our ing to ans of •ty. :thews loning ou re- )r apo- ae and lx, nei- 1 them dition. athers, when in line a very Indian con- urs, in learme e idea illy up nhere ' o o CD CD CO a HI • } "J mmmmmmmmm EXPLANATORY RBMARKS. 3T on Monday, and to reach Crow Cre3k (Cheyenne) on Tuesday P. M. Yours very truly, (Signed), S. SEYMOUR. Major General Augur, Commanding Dept. of the Platte, Cheyenne, D. T. EXPLANATORY REMARKS. I trust it has been observed by the careful reader, that the stereotyped form of alluding to the number of killed, wounded, and missing, either from among my own troops, or those of the enemy, which is usually adopted in reports of this kind, has been studiously avoided in the foregoing despatches. The reasons for this omission will be quite obvious when it is considered that, as is generally the case in matters of this kind, the particular portion of the field where these casualties are supposed to have occurred was not immediately under the eye of the Commanding Ofiicer, nor in fact within the scope of his powerful field glass, although on the occasion referred to, it was undoubtedly worked up to its full capacity. Furthermore, the subordinate officer, Lieut. Matthews, to whom, without due reflection, and in the hurry of the moment, this branch of the business was confided, undoubtedly regarded it as his duty, under the army regulations, to report upon all secondary matters of this nature to the Captain of his Company of Pawnee Warriors, with whom, as will be seen from the des- lit- 88 REMINISCENCE. patches, he happened to be in communication before I had the pleasure of meeting him after the engagement. The Captain would, as a matter of course, report to Col. North : the Colonel to G-enl. Augur : G-enl. Augur to Grenl. Sherman : Genl. Sherman to Genl. Grant * G-enl. Grant to the Secretary of War : and the Secre- tary to the President of the United States, as Com- mander in Chief of the army. In this very direct and comprehensive manner the report would, in due time, undoubtedly reach its final destination among the archives of the G-overnment at Washington, where I would respectfully refer all such a.s are curious in unpleasant details of this nature. It should also be borne in mind that I was not seeking for military renown or advancement, although circumstances over which I evidently had no control, may have conspired to throw them in my way. My mission was eminently a peaceful one, and my chief desire was to perform my duty to the railway company, and at the same time to return intact, and uninjured, the troops and the property of the govern- ment which had been so kindly placed at my disposal by the Commanding General of the Department ; all of which I was fortunately enabled to do, and having done so, my responsibility was evidently at an end. III. REPLY OP THE COMMANDING GENERAL TO .THE FOREGOING REPORT, GIVING NOTICE OF PROJtfOTIONS, &C.~ TOGETHER WITH SOME SEVERE STRICTURES THEREON. REPLY OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL. Head Quarters Department Forces in the Field, Chkyknnk, Dakotah, July 15, 1867. Brt. Maj. Gen. Silas Seymour, Commanding Black Hills Div. Dep. of the Platte. General : The General Commanding, directs me to acknow- ledge the receipt of your highly important and interest- ing dispatch and report of the engagement of the 11th. The General Commanding takes occasion to congra- tulate you on the distinguished success which has attended your efforts, which however was only the fulfillment of his expectations founded on what he knew of you previously. He expects that in the future, as in the past, no effort will be wanting on your part to outshine even this brilliant example of what may be 40 REMINISCENCE. accomplished, by persistant effort and notable courage, and that he may see more of such conduct. He greatly regrets that even in the hour of victory, and while words of praise are still on his tongue, he should feel it his duty to take exception to any part of your conduct. But the morale of the forces in the field, and the impression to be made upon a dastardly and recreant foe, make it his stern duty to call your imme- diate and anxious attention to a grevious fault committed in the course of the engagement. You, of course, cannot be at a loss to know that he re- fers to the great error committed in deploying so thin a skirmish line as he has reason to think you did, if his memory of Maj. Kurd's weight serves him. It is true that in this particular, he does not attribute the fault to you, but believes that the commissariat is greatly to blame. Wherever the fault, he trusts that you will at once take steps to correct it. He also desires to call your serious attention to the condition of your battalion of cooks. It is greatly to be regretted that such a magnificent corps(e) should be irre- treivably ruined by a neglect on your part, to see to its armaments. That this may at once be corrected, he directs me to say, that your requisition will be filled for one twenty-inch Rodman Grun with Eads broadside carriage and equipments complete, and 763 rounds of am- munition, and that Maj. North will be directed to turn over one of the smallest of his ponys for its transport- ation. The conduct of your detachment of the land transport corps is beyond praise, and he regrets that the present imperfect state of the law prevents him from breveting VI H > O CD o CD r5' c:) rii R p. <; w rs o CJ X5 11 ns^Fim&m^mmmmmmm ■ REPLY OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL. 41 the ♦ near hind mule" to a higher grade than " brevet horse." He has been pleased to recommend also the following promotions, which he directs you to publish in orders, with his hearty thanks and congratulations to your forces. Col. Silas Seymour, for ability and coolness exhibited in the preparation of his ordnance stores, to be Brt Brig. G-eneral. Brt. Brig. General Silas Seymour, for distinguished gallantry, in observing the enemy through his field glass, to be Brt. Maj. Greneral. The General regrets that a sense of duty to the skirmish line which siiffjred such unnecessary ex- tension, prevents his making higher recomendation for promotion in your own case. Maj. Hurd, Chief of staif, for highly distinguished gallantry in dashing up the hill after the Pawnee "War- riors, to be Brt. Lieut. Col. Brt. Lieut. Col. Hurd, for gallantry and meritorious service in seeing a Solitary Mounted Sioux some dis- tance in front, who soon disapeared in the valley of Lone Tree Creek to be Brt. Col. Brt. Col. Tlurd, for gallant and meritorious service duripg the war, to date from March 13th 1865, to be Brt. Brig. Gen. The near hind male to be Brevet Horse. I have the houor to be, General, Your Obt. Servant, (Signed), LEWIS MERRILL, Asst. I. General. sib: wmm ■■■■mil 42 REMINISCENCE. SEVERE STRICTURES UPON THE FOREGOING REPLf. "Without pausing to remark at any considerable length, upon the criticisms contained in the otherwise very flat- tering reply of the Commanding G-eneral to my rejiort of the engagement, I will simply state, as an act of justice to myself, and my Chief of Staff, and also for the information of those who are not entirely familiar v-'th matters of this kind, that complete and triumphant success is generally regarded by the severest military critics, as a full justification for any slight departure from the old and established rules of warfare. More particularly should this be the case when, as in the present instance, the enemy is composed of wily and deceitful savages, who will persist in keeping them- selves entirely beyond the reach of the most powerful field-glass : and when the troops upon whom the Commanding Officer is in some cases obliged to rely for success, pay no regard to orders ; but, after divesting themselves of their clothing, rush wildly and pell-mell after the distant foe, entirely regardless of the safety of their Commanding Officer, their ow^n personal appear- ance, or any of the other elements which are generally regarded as essential to military success. As regards the capacity, or the ability of my Chief of Staff", Major (now Brt. Brig. Grenl.) Hurd, to fill the re- quirements of an ordinary skirmish line, I will only re- mark, that the G-eneral himself was highly indignant when I, very reluctantly, made known to him the covert insinuations contained in the reply of the Commanding General with reference to his reliance upon the Com- missariatf or any stimulant, or sustenance, other than STRICTUKES UPON THE REPLY. 48 that contained in the immense slabs of tobacco with which he was always well provided, to aid his firm determination to perform his whole duty, both to him- self, his superior officer, and his country, upon any and all occasions. When to the foregoing considerations, is added the fact, that after the return of the escort, as reported in despatch No. 8, I took up the line of march directly through the heart of the enemy's country, over the summit of the Black Hills (being more than eight thousand, two hundred feet above the sea) to the valley of Dale Creek, a distance of about forty miles from Cheyenne ; and returned to our camp on Crow Creek, on the very day named in my last dispatch, without meeting with the slighest casualty, they should, in my humble opinion, be regarded as a complete answer to the reflections of a somewhat sarcastic nature, which upon a careful re-perusal I am pained to say seem to have been adroitly concealed in the otherwise very able and satisfactory reply of the distinguished Greneral Commanding the Department of the Platte. With these few calm, and I trust dignified remarks, written many years after my retirement from active service in the field ; during which interval, the mortifying eflect of the severe cirticisms of the Commanding Greneral upon the disposition of my forces, has been assuaged to a great extent by the lapse of time, and the performance of other active duties in private life, I am entirely willing to leave my military reputation, so far at lepst as the events of that day are concerned, in the hands of my Countrymen and of Posterity. Mided, I cannot part with him without expressing my hig'h appreciation of his frank and genial disposition, his high attainments, and his general character as a Man and a G-entleman. During the slow progress of the Expedition I fre- quently had the pleasure of riding hours by his side, entirely separated from others ; and it was on these occasions that his social qualities created an impression upon my mind which time can never efface. After con- versing familiarly upon the events of the late war in which he had borne so conspicuous a part, and which had shattered his previously strong constitution, and paying the highest compliments to his commander, Gre- neral G-rant, whom he loved as his own brother, he would sometimes turn the conversation to the subject of his own failing strength, and express the hope and very natural desire that the journey which he was then making might be the means of restoring his health. And quite often, either during, or after these conver- sations, we would join in singing some of the old' reli- gious hymns with which we were both familiar. I shall never forget one occasion of this kind, during which he sang, to an old familiar Methodist tune, that beautiful hymn commencing : " There is a land of pur" delifjiht, Where Saints iniinorlal riign " As I looked at him, sitting gracefully upon his horse, enveloped in the bright Sunshine, with his head slightly elevated, his eyes gazing longingly toward Heaven, and CD 1/1 -t o (T) l"' i re 5 3 :y his T certi viev^ whic desti Ii since office respi tual pedi Hi then but tena: wha1 It of m and i see ] with; after Unit* G-ovt guisl: high( of hi TRIBUTE TO GENERAL RAWLINS. 61 his rich melodious voice raised to its hir^hest pitch, he certainly seemed inspired, and to have obtained a real view of the land : " When) evprldslinj? spring abides, Ami never lading ll^wers : " which, in the inscrutable Providence of God he was destined so soon to call his own. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but once since we parted at Camp Separation, and this was at the office of the General in Chief at Washington, and in response to a kind invitation sent to me through a mu- tual friend, during the Fall after his return from his ex- pedition to the far West. His health, unfortunately, was not restored ; and even then, the rapid and inevitable approach of the end was but too painfully apparent, both in his smiling coun- tenance and feeble voice, as he clasped my hand in what proved to be a last Farewell ! It will always be one of the most pleasing recollections of my life, that I have known and loved Maj. Gen. John A. Rawlins, and also one of the saddest, that after being spared to see his beloved chief elevated to the highest office within the gift of a great and independent People, and after having himself been placed by the President of the United States at the head of that Department of the Government in which he had rendered such distin- guished services to his Country, and had achieved the highest personal honor and reputation, in the prime of his manhood, and at the zenith of his usefulness, I n " » «ttw i> » niiimi>iu *i >j i 62 HEMimSCENOa. he was called to cease from his labors, and tO pass quietly oter that " narrow Sea '* to the blessed land where : " Eternal day excludes the night> And pleasures banish pain* " m: vn. (fnil QREAI* EXPEDITIO.'^ moves eastward— tNOAGEMENf M'lTil AN OLD BUFFALO BULL — MR. BLICKENSDBRFER's ATTACK UPON A HERD OF BLK-— SAFE ARRIVAL AT FORT SANDERS. After parting" with our friends at Camp Separation, Mr. Blickensderfer placed himself at the head of our escort, with his face turiied towards the East. The Commanding' Officer of the escort, Major Thompson^ and myself took up our positions at a respectful distance in his rear ; and then followed the two companies of cavalry, under Capt< ^""elis and Lieut. Peel, arranged in proper marching order for the protection of the long train of wagons which contained the necessary camp equipage and supplies for the comfort and sustenance of the expedition. The route which we hi»/f ^"oilowed in our advance upon the summit of the American Continent, had be- come somewhat familiai' .othe engineers who had been engaged in making exploratory surveys for the rail- way; and the trails which they had left were gener- ally not difficult to follow by our advance guard. But the route by which Mr, Blickensderfer had de* cided to make his retreat had never been explored,^ and was therefore entirely unknown to any one con* nected with the expedition^ 64 REMINISCENCE, We were also cheered by the conjectures advanced by our guides, that the hostile Indians, probably in consequence of the chastisement which they had re- ceived on the 11th July, had been frightened from the country through which it was supposed the line of the railway would pass, and had taken refuge along the Western slope of the Black flills, lying con- siderably to the Northward, directly at the foot of which, Mr. Blickensderfer, entirely regardless of these warn- ings, had determined to pass on his retrograde march. After following our preA'ious trail a few miles East- ward, we therefore deflected abrubtly to the Northward ; and, after a few days march reached the valley of the North Platte near the mouth of the Medicine Bow River It was during this portion of our march that, while wandering alone at some distance from the main body, I had my first encounter with a wild butfalo. He was an enormous old bull, who had evidently been driven by the younger gallants, from a herd that were quietly feeding at the foot of the Sweet "Water Mountains, lying some miles to our Northward. I came upon him quite suddenly as he was taking his " siesta" in a small pocket or basin immediately in front of my course. I dismounted instantly and unlimbered my carbine, and before he was aware of his danger I was fully prepared for action. Thinking it cowardly to attack a sleeping foe, I fired the first shot immediately above his head into the bank beyond. This aroused him instantly and, springing up, he gave a tremendous bellow, and com- menced pawing the ground and looking around him for the cause of his disturbance. My horse becoming quite restive, it immediately idvanced )bably in ' had re- ed from the line I refuge ring" con* )f which, se warn- ! march, lies East- •thward ; Y of the w River It, wniie in body, He was ti driven * quietly ns, lying im quite a small urse. I ne, and •repared sleeping lis head tly and, nd com- nd him • ediately 1 ' -1 .-C fO o ,Q .V ENGAGEMENT WITH A BUFFALO. 65 ■.d u o Oh 'Jj ■'6 CD ,C "O o r J 6 ro erf ill V occurred to me, that in order to save time and labor in prox^erly dressnig" and transporting his hirg-e carcass to our head quarters, as we were very much in need of fresh meat at the time, it vvould be a line piece of strategy to entice the old patriach to follow me as far as possible in the direction of the main body of our escort, where he could he butchered iit our leisure. In order, therefore, to aggravate him to the highest possible pitch, I gave him another shot which was not intended to be fatal, and immediately leaped upon my horse, buried the spurs into his Hanks, and took the shortest route for the escort, which upon hearing the report of the engagement, had fortunatidy come to a halt. Alter thus leading the way ibr a])oat a half mile, with visions of savory buiialo loins and steaks iloating in the air before me, with which I intended to surpri.'«e and regale Mr. Blickensderfer, I discovered upon looking quietly around, that the noble and unsuspi'ctinii' animal had taken the bait, and was only a few rods behind me. Unfortunately, however, just at this instant I met a detachment o! the escort whom the commandinu- olFicer had, without knowing my plans, and wiih the kindest inti^ntions, sent as h(* supposed to my relief. Upon seeing this re-inforcement, thf old tVllow chanired his tactics at once and beat a hasty rctr-'at. lie was followed a short distance by a f»'\v of the I'scori, who, upon approaching him closely disv-overcd that he was quite poor and thin, and (Mitirely uiifit lor the tal>]e ; and therefore, as time was prcssinu, they ahaiidoncd the pursuit. Mr. Blickensderfer, from this triilinii' circuniNtaiKc, took occasion to remind me of a promise whi«h I had IS 61) KEMINISCKNCK mii(l(^ him qnitt^ oarly in tht^ hislory of the oxpoditioii. th;it ho should h;)v«' an oppovtuiiity bcibrc its close, to brini;' down an elk, in order that h<* niiu'ht take the beantiin! horns with him to his home in Tuscarawas, as a tropliv (»r memento of tht^ ii'reat expedition, lli' had bt'envery industrious durinii' the piouTt'ss of the expe- dition, as w»dl as very sueressl'ul in lirinii-, without fatal results, at the numerous herds of antelope ^vhieh we had passed ; havinu' used for that purpose, a fine Ballard rilie which he brouLiht al(»nu' for that purpose, whiMiever it could be spared from tlie more important objtM't of ])rotecting himself and his expedition from the Indians ; but he had never, up to the present time, had an opportunity of tiring* at an l<]lk Stag. Soon after rrise, he wasoldiged to advance most of the distan-reat difficulty been hekl in reserve up to the x:)resent moment ; ])ut unibrtanately, the herd had obtuned such an advantage in th(^ start, that the lima: range carbines which were brouiiht to bnir upon them, had very little effect, farther than to rapidly increase the distance between the elk and their piirsners. Upon reaching Mr. Blickensderfer, we found him and his orderly l)usily engaged in searching throuuh the tall grass upon which the elk had been feeding, for the carcasses of those which had fallen under his lire ; but, unfortunately, they could iiotbe found, and it was there- fore reluctmtly assumed that they had escaped with their comrades ; we were therefore com^xdled to move forward Avithout the trophies to which his gallantry had so richly entitled him. The expedition finally reach(^d Fort Sanders ag lin on the 16th August, without further adventure or serious casualty ; Mr. Blickensderfer having, at fre- quent intervals during the march, and more particu- larly, as I liad observed, at the foot of any considerable descent to the Eastward, taken his customary astrono- mical observations, in order to avoid passiuLV at an unguarded moment, the great object of his most dilig(»nt search. vm I'lIK liUKAT KXI'KI»ri'li»\ ADVAM KS 1 I'oN I'llK Sl.M.MIT <»F TllK HI,.V«'K III[,l,s -Ml? HI.ICKKNSltKltKKK's TK-T l.KVEL FUO.M SI'.MMIT T • UASK I>\i!ll\(,' AT rllKVK.NNK. Soon aftor our roturn to Fort Sanders, Mr. Bliekens- derior inibrnnHl mo that he would like to have a Leveller, Rodman, and the neeessary instruments, placed at his disposal, to use at his discretion during' the I'ur- tlier proLi-ress oi' the expedition l^]astward. This was the first intimation I had r<'eeived from Mr. Blickensderfer, i'ither that he had not suceeedi^d to his satisfaction in lindinl>' the l!]astern Base ol' the Rocky Mountains, or that he should employ any other means or aL>'encies than those hereinlxdbre referred to, to assist him in the search, except i^erhaps such levels as had been pre- viously taken by the engineers of the company. His reticence, however, did not surprise me, for the reason that he had informed me some weeks previously, that he should not attempt to calculate the results of his observations until he could do so in the retirement of his study, at his own quiet home in Tuscarawas. Alter spending a day or two, in making the necessary arrangements for a Leveller, &c., the expedition again took up the line of march, and proceeded to the Summit IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) Y / // :/. O § i 1.0 I.I 1.25 i« m >5,' IIIM IM 2,2 1*^ 1^ 112.0 iim 1.4 iil.6 V] v"^ c^J c*: %.v >^^ w %/%^ 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation \ ^\ \. c^ V 23 WEST MAIN E..-SEE) WEBSTER, NY. MSBO (716) 872-4503 :%^ » oft as 1 any Un I for] hin tha pos mil ace pre mo hin the dm exc gro du] affii wii an( 1 the mo tha twi pre a w sui te8 bliokensderfeb's test levels. 69 of the Black Hill range of the Rocky Mountains, which as before remarked, is several hundred feet higher than any other range of these mountains, crossed by the . Union Pacific Railway Upon reaching thi summit, Mr. Blickensderfer in- formed me that he proposed to run a line of levels himself, from the summit to the base of this range, and that he should detain the escort with him for that pur- pose. He also remarked that he had come to this deter- mination, not from anv doubt in his own mind as to the accuracy ol the levels recorded upon the company's profiles of this portion of the line, but that it would be more satisfactorv to the government, as well as to himself, if he could say in his Report, that he had taken the levels himself, and therefore knew that they ivere correct. The few days of leisure thus afforded, gave me an excellent opportunity to complete the study of the ground, which I had done somewhat superficially during my hasty trip over it, immediately after the affair of the 1 1th Julv. And also, to observe the care with which Mr. Blickensderfer took his observations, and tested each reading of the rod. Upon arriving at our former camping ground near the crossing of Crow Creek, I was both surprised and mortified, on being informed by Mr. Blickensderfer, that there was a diffVn'ence at that point, of about twenty two feet between his levels, and those recorded upon the profiles, and that the difference had increased in almost a uniform ratio, every day since he started from the summit. Upon my offering to have our previous levels tested immediately, he very kindly remarked, that as p"- 70 REMINISCENCE. mi he had no reason to believe that the engineers of the company had intended to deceive either himself or the government, he should assume that the levels given upon the profiles were sufficiently correct for his pur- poses, and therefore would not wait to have the error corrected at this time ; but as I was about to make some changes in the line which would involve almost an entire re-survey, he would thank me to write him at Tuscarawas or Washington, as soon as I discovered the error. After spending a most pleasant day with Mr. Blickens- derfer at the flourishing village of Cheyenne, which had during our absence sprung up as if by magic upon the very ground where we had previously encamped, and where we had celebrated the glorious Fourth ; and after assistini»" him in tukinii' the last astronomical obser- vation which it has ever been my pleasure to witness under his direction, we parted, on the 28th August, with the warmest expressions of kindness and interest in each others future welfare and happiness. He, to rejoin his family and to work out, in his own quiet study, those observations which w^ere designed to elucidate the great theory with \vhich his name was to become immor- talized, and to report the results thereof to his govern- ment ; and I, to enter upon the arduous and respon- sible duty of re-locating the line, in accordance with my previous recommendation^ with a maximum grade of eighty^ instead of ninety feet per mile, upon the Eastern slope of the Black-Hills, under orders just re- ceived from the President of the Union Pacific Railway Company. Thus was closed, for the present at least, my official ■H O 3 ^ c o a f( Oj MY OFFICIAL CONNECTION CLOSED. 71 coiinection with the Great Expedition, which was organized by the aovernment of the United States, and placed in charge of Mr. Jacob Blickensderfer, Jr., for the sole purpose of discovering the Eastern Base ofthe Rocky Mountains. IX. EVKNTS SUCCEEr)r\(J MX. HTJCKENSDEIIFEH S DEPARTURE — FAIL- URE TO J)[Sr;)VER ERROR IN LEVELS — FINAL ESTABLISHMENr OF THE EASTERN IJASE — CONFIRMATION OF TlUi (iUEAT KLICK- ENSDERFIAN THEORY — REMARKABLE COINCIDENCES. For the information of such of my friends and readers as may feel an interest in the events which followed the departure of Mr. Blickeiisderfer, and which had a bearing of more or less importance upon the results of his Great Expedition to the Summit of the American Continent, in search of the Eastern Base of the Rocky Mountains, I will state quite briefly, the following- facts. The re-survey of the line which I made immediately after Mr. Blickensderfer left, fully confirmed my pre- vious opinion as to the superiority of a line with maximum grades of eighty, instead of ninety feet per mile, not only in respect to the important element of gradients, but as regards length of line, cost of con- struction, freedom from snow blockades, and elevation of the summit. It tailed, however, to discover the error which Mr. Blickensderfer had found in our levels, although it was sought after most dilisrently, both then and during the construction of that entire portion of the road. DISCOVERY OF EASTERN BASE. 7$ Some weeks after Mr. Blickensderfer had left for the East, I received a communication from him, asking for a minute description of the exact point which I had established as the foot of the maximum grade of eighty feet per mile, ui)on the line which had been adopted by the company for the ascent of the Eastern Slope of the Black Hill range of the Eocky Mountains. Supposing that this information was solicited merely for the purpose of enabling Mr. Blickensderfer to test its accuracy by the results of his great theory, which he had taken the necessary time to work out after reaching his own quiet home at Tuscarawas, I lost no time in forwarding to him the desired information. Some months afterwards, while in Washington, I took occasion to look over his report to the Grovernment, and I was astonished by the remarkable coincidence, that the point which Mr. Blickensderfer had recom- mended for adoption by the President of the United States, as the Eastern Base of the Kocky Mountains, was identical with the point which I had previously des- cribed to him, in answer to his inquiries. The point thus decided upon, and the discovery of which was the result of so vast an expenditure of time, labor, and research, I am happy to say has since been marked by a simple wooden Post, or Monument, for the benefit undoubtedly of future generations. The facts above stated which, owing to Mr. Blickens- derter's proverbial modesty, have never before been published to the world, must I think be admitted as establishing beyond the reach of any reasonable doubt, the truth of the Great Blickensderfian Theory respect- ing the influences which are constantly being exercised vmw 74 REMINISCENCE. by the great Solar and Planetary systems, ui^on the sur- face of the Earth. I trust that I shall be pardoned, before closing this Reminiscence, for an allusion to another most remark- able coincidence in connection with this Great Expe- dition, which is, that the same Monument which, during all time is intended to commemorate the discovery of the Eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, also indicates the precise spot upon which I stood when I first heard the shrill notes of that bugle which foretold with such awful certainty the rapid ai:)proach of the memorable Engagement with the Sioux, ON THE llTH July, 1867. Mil . Riir- this ark- xpe- riiig y of ates ^ard uch able