Journey from Fort Union to Fort Piegan, or McKenzie, July 6 - August 9, 1833
Departure from Fort Union – Rattlesnakes in rosebushes – Deer (Cervus virginianus) numerous as well as elk – 2,000 Miles River – Elkhorn – Prairie with deer antler pyramid – Buffalo hunts – Deer, bears, rattlesnakes – Beaver lodge – Successful bear hunts – Milk River, frontier of the Assiniboines – Successful bison hunt – Tetrao urophasianus – Beginning of the rugged, magnificent, mountainous world of nature – Thunderstorm – More level region – Petrified shells – Thunderstorm – Musselshell River – Halfway from Fort Union to Fort Piegan – Conifers on the hills – Little Rocky Mountains – Bear in a tree – Many, mostly dry creeks – Many rattlesnakes – Tea Island, good hunting there – Beginning of the rapids at Wincher’s [Windsor’s] Creek – Beginning of the Mauvaises-Terres – Elk Fawn Rapid – The bighorn and the difficulty hunting it – Judith River – Meeting with the Gros Ventre des Prairies – Bartering at their camp – Visit of large numbers of them on ship – Striking Missouri valley – Incredible sandstone formations – Large number of bighorn – The Stone Walls – Bighorn in large troops – View of the Bears Paw Mountain – Several Blood Indians on board – First view of the Rocky Mountains, or Oregon Mountains – Old Fort Piegan – Mouth of the Marias River (Marayon) – Unpleasant situation and precautionary measures against the Indians – Failed reconnaissance of Fort McKenzie – Meeting with the first residents of the fort – Arrival there