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Show 04 fflfiCOKKOISSANCB OF CACHE VALLET. The supply- train from Fort Leavenworth, with my provisions, had not arrived at the post, as I expected, and I was consequently detained until the 6th of October, when, having obtained them, I set out on my return. The frank and generous hospitality we received during our stay at the post demands a grateful acknowledgment. Returning, I was accompanied by Colonel Porter, with a small escort, as far as the crossing of Bear River. He was desirous that we should make conjointly a reconnoissance of Cache Valley, to ascertain its fitness for the location there of a permanent military post., * Following the same route which I had taken when coming up, we arrived at Bear River on the evening of the 11th, and encamped. The examination of Cache Valley occupied several days. Crossing over the range of low, rounded hills through which Bear River has cut a passage, we entered this beautiful and picturesque valley, which was then covered with a profusion of rich green grass, and adorned and diversified by numerous clumps of willows. Our attempt to cross it directly was frustrated by meeting with a deep, quiet stream, called the Muddy, which rises in the hills dividing the southern end of the valley from Ogden's Hole, and winds through the tall grass without banks, until it discharges its waters into Bear River, just before that stream enters the valley of the Salt Lake. We were in consequence driven some eight miles to the south, and effected our crossing where the valley is full of swampy springs, affording abundance of good Bweet water, and excellent grass. Speckled trout of large size abounded in the streams. After crossing the Muddy, we skirted the eastern side of the valley for thirty- five miles in a northerly direction, crossing successively Blacksmith's Fork, Logan's Fork, High Fork, Gros Bois, and Rush Creek, all tributaries of Bear River, which latter stream traverses the valley from the north, until it breaks through the range forming its western boundary and enters that of the lake. The streams on the east side take their rise in a heavy range running to the north and constituting the eastern limit of the valley, which has an average width of about ten miles. The cafions which they form before leaving the mountains abound in timber, consisting principally of cotton- wood, with some maple. They afford desirable facilities for irrigation, presenting at the same time advantageous sites for the erection of mills. These ravineB abound in fine timber in quantities sufficient for fuel and building purposes. |