heavy thunder-storim coming on, we again went into camp. Several of thc Indians were here found to be quite sick, and having mueh anxiety and no little trouble. The danghter of Standing Bear, one of the chiefs, was very low of consumption, and mov ing her with any degrce of comfort was almost impossible, and the same trouble existed in transporting all the sick.

"May 28th. Last evening I gave orders to break catnp at five o'clock this morning, intending, if practicable, to reach Co- lumbus before night; but a heavy thunder-storn prevailed at that time. Broke camp at seven o'clock. Marched seven iniles, when we came to a slough eonfluent to Shell Creek, whieh was only made passable after two hours of active work in cutting willow-brush and bringing a large quantity of wheat straw from a distance of thirty rods, with which we eovered the road tickly After crossing the slough and eamped, aving made about fourteen miles during the day

"May 29th. Broke camp at seven o'clock and crossed Shell Creek. For about five miles the road led over a a physicían, and none being attainable, they gave us no we marched to a point on Shell Creek divide, and quite good; but in coming down on the fiats, which ex tended for five miles between the Bluffs and Columbus, we found the roads for the entire distance almost impassable, ing to the mauy decp, miry sloughs which eross the road, and the generally fiooded and yielding condition of the soil aside fron te slougls. Teams had to be frequently doubled, in order to get the wagons through. overcome, and the train inarched into Columbus at two o'clock, amd went into camp at was OW The difficulties were finally Soap Fork, having made a march of about ten miles, the marclı of five miles across the flats occu pying about seven hours. Major Walker, who had accompanied us from the Niobrara River to this place with twenty-five sol diers, under orders from the War Department, took leave of us, and returned to IDakota."

It was asserted again and again by the Seeretary of the In-