Geo. B. Currey to Unknown, August 20, 1864

SIR:

I have the honor to report for the information of the general that on the 2d instant the commands of Captain Drake and mine separated. With mine I took up the march for this point via Harney Lake, passing around the west end and a portion of the south side of that body of water, and from thence in a southeast direction to the headwaters of Thunder Creek, a tributary of Malheur Lake, which takes its source in the Snow Mountains immediately to my west. On the head of this latter-named stream I found several small lakes and valleys. On my journey out this creek was scarcely fordable for depth of water, and upon my return was entirely dry, with the exception of a few pools standing in deep holes in its bed. From Thunder Creek I changed my

direction more to the east in order to strike the pass in the mountains through which I passed in going out. Owing to the wearied condition of the animals I did not deem it advisable to make an excursion out on the desert to the west, where there is some probability the Indians have fled to. On the morning of the 15th I dispatched an express to the Pueblo Silver Mines, some thirty-five miles south of me, with a letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Drew, First Oregon Cavalry, hoping to gain some information from him concerning the region to my south and west, but as he had not yet arrived at that mining camp I gained nothing. On the morving of the 16th I sent Captain Barry, First Washington Territory Infantry, with twenty men of his company to make a scout through the mountains to the south and west of this camp, and for the information elicited by his movement I respectfully refer you to his report, herewith transmitted. About noon on the 19th instant a party of about twenty-five Indians, who were undoubtedly ignorant of the location of this camp, came in sight at a distance of about three miles from camp, but as soon as they saw the camp fled for the mountains apparently panic-stricken. As soon as I could bring in the animals which were out grazing Í mounted a detachment from Companies A and E and pursued them until near night. Got within long-firing range of some of the hindermost. They abandoned six horses, three of which they killed; several pack loads of skins and Indian provision lay strewn along their road. As the pursuit became hotter they directed their course to the more rugged cliffs of the mountain, and at sun about an hour high they succeeded in reaching the head breaks of Horse Creek, and scattered among the deep cations and rocky ledges. Further pursuit being useless, returned to camp. You will observe from Captain Barry’s report that this camp is located in the vicinity of the good winter rendezvous of the Indians.* In fact, wintercamps are found in nearly every cañon on the east and south side of Steen’s Snow Mountain. On to-morrow morning Sergeant Gates, Company E, First Oregon Cavalry, and a detachment of twenty men will go to Jordan Creek and learn what is going on in that direction. I am almost discouraged at the prospect of being able to accomplish anything very definite by the 1st of October; the country is so vast and the Indians so familiar with it that until the mountain fastnesses are blocked up with snow and they are compelled to seek winter camps I can devise no means of striking an effectual blow. I have already traveled over 1,300 miles, and yet find a vast region to my west and south untraversed, and, as far as Í can gather, unknown to the whites. I shall move as soon as my animals have regained strength to warrant a delve into the unknown desert to my west. I arrived at this camp August 12.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,