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Trumball Journal
Index
Walter Trumbull
The Washburn Yellowstone Expedition
Parts 1 and 2
from
The
OVERLAND
MONTHLY
DEVOTED TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY
Vol. 6 - May, June, 1871 - Nos. 5, 6.
THE WASHBURN YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION.
NO. I..
SINCE the first settlement of
Montana, vague stories have been floating about, in regard to the wonders of
the country surrounding Lake Yellowstone. Trappers and half-breeds have
dilated, in glowing terms, of impassable caņons, water-fallsthousands
of feet in height, and "steamboat springs" of remarkable magnitude.
Heretofore, these reports have been generally believed to be gross
exaggerations. They, however, led to the formation of a party last summer,
resolved upon as thorough an examination of that section of country as their
leisure time would admit.
The expedition left Helena, Montana, August 17th,
1870. General Washburn, Surveyor-General of Montana, was elected Captain.
The remaining members of the expedition were: S. T. Hauser, President of the
First National Bank of Helena; N. P. Langford, late U. S. Collector of
Internal Revenue; T. C. Everts, late U. S. Assessor; Messrs. Hedges,
Gillette, Smith, Stickney, and Trumbull, all of Helena; two packers, and two
unbleached citizens of African descent. Each member of the party was
mounted on horseback, and there were twelve pack animals.
By order of General Hancock, we were provided with
an escort; and at Fort Ellis we were joined by Lieutenant Doane, of the
Second Cavalry, with a squad of soldiers, well mounted, and armed with
needle carbines and revolvers. We citizens carried an assorted armory,
consisting of Henry, Ballard, and Spencer rifles, revolvers and
bowie-knives. We intended to hunt for all sorts of large game, Indians only
excepted. No one desired to find any of them.
On Monday morning, August 22d, our party bade
adieu, for a time, to civilization; and leaving Fort Ellis; turned our faces
toward the almost unexplored wilderness. The weather was fine; the air
invigorating; all were cheerful, and each face betrayed that curiosity and
expectation, which almost every one feels when entering upon a new field of
adventure. Our course lay to the east, over Bozeman Pass; which will
necessarily be the route of the Northern Pacific Railroad, if it goes
anywhere in that vicinity.
Having passed over the divide, the party camped on
Trail Creek, a small stream flowing into the Yellowstone. At this place a
night-watch was established; which was maintained throughout the entire
trip, in order to keep the Indians from breaking the Eighth Commandment.
The following day we reached the Yellowstone, and
camped at Botteller's, which is a rancho, as you ascend that river.
During the day the party traveled in detachments. Three hunters kept
several miles ahead; next, were two skirmishers in front of the main body;
and a half-mile father back, came the main body itself, together with the
pack-train. As the skirmishers neared the river they discovered three
Crows; not sitting on a tree, but riding in their direction. With keen
military sagacity, they appreciated the position, and rallied on the main
body with astonishing rapidity. This movement was much commended by parties
who had had experience in our "late unpleasantness."
1
The article has two parts. The first part (NO. 1) is
in The Overland Monthly, 5, 5-6 (May-June 1871): 431-437; part two
(NO. 2) is on pp. 489-496.
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