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By Captain R. B. Marcy, U. S. A. 
Miles.
Fort Smith to
15. Strickland's Farm.--The road crosses the Poteau River
at Fort Smith, where there is a ferry; it then
follows the Poteau bottom for ten miles. This part of
the road is very muddy after heavy rains. At 14 miles
it passes the Choctaw Agency, where there are several
stores. There is the greatest abundance of wood,
water, and grass at all camps for the first 200
miles. Where any of these are wanting it will be
specially mentioned. The road passes through the
Choctaw settlements for about l50 miles, and corn and
supplies can be purchased from these Indians at
reasonable rates.
11. Camp Creek.- Road crosses a prairie of three miles in
length, then enters a heavy forest. The camp is on a
small branch, with grass plenty in a small prairie
about 400 yards to the left of the road.
12. Coon Creek. - Road passes through the timber, and is
muddy in a rainy season.
12. Sans Bois Creek. - Prairie near; some Choctaw houses at
the crossing.
14. Bend of Sans Bois Creek. - Indian farm.
15. South Fork of Canadian, or "Gain's Creek."-Road
traverses a very rough and hilly region. There is a
ford and a ferry upon the creek. Indian farm on the
west bank.
12. First ford of Coal Creek.- Road crosses over a rolling
prairie, and at four miles the Fort Washita road turns
to the left.
Second ford of Coal Creek.-Indian farm.
4. Little Cedar Mountain.- Very rough, mountainous road.
6. Stony Point.- Very rough, mountainous road.
5. Shawnee Village. - Several Indian houses.
14. Shawnee Town.- Road passes several small prairies.
Indian settlement; store on opposite bank of Canadian
River, near the camp.
21. Delaware Mountain.- Road passes over a very beautiful
country, with small streams of good water frequent,
and good camps. It crosses small prairies and groves
of timber.
5. Boggy River. - Road passes a country similar to that
mentioned above.
3. Clear Creek. - Road turns to the right near a prominent
round mound. Beautiful country, diversified with
prairies and timbered lands.
7. Branch of Topofki Creek.- Beautiful country and fine
roads.
9 1/2. Cane Creek. - Excellent camp.
5. Small Branch.- Road passes about two miles from the old
"Camp Arbuckle," built by Captain Marcy in 1853, since
occupied by Black Beaver and several Delaware
families.
11 1/2. Mustang Creek.- Road runs on the dividing ridge between
the waters of the Washita and Canadian, on a high
prairie.
17 1/2. Choteau's Creek.- Road passes on the high prairie
opposite Choteau's old trading-house, and leaves the
outer limits of the Indian settlements. Excellent
road, and good camps at short distances.
11 3/4. Choteau's Creek. - Road runs up the creek; is smooth and
good.
12 3/4. Head of Choteau's Creek. - Road runs up the creek, and
is good.
17 1/4. Branch of Washita River. - Road runs over an elevated
prairie country, and passes a small branch at six
miles from last camp.
5 3/4. Branch of "Spring Creek." - Good camp.
16. Head of "Spring Creek." - Road traverses a high prairie
country, is smooth and firm.
13. Red Mounds. - Road runs over a high rolling prairie
country,and is excellent.
5. Branch of Washita River. - Good road.
15 3/4. Branch of Canadian. - Road continues on the ridge
dividing the Washita and Canadian rivers; is smooth
and firm.
17 3/4. Branch of Washita River. - Road continues on the
"divide."
18. Branch of Canadian. - Road continues on the divide from
one to four miles from the Canadian.
19. On Canadian River. - Good road.
16. Little Washita River. - Good road; timber becoming
scarce.
13. Branch of Canadian. - Good road.
17 1/2. Antelope Buttes. - Road runs along the Canadian bottom,
and in places is sandy.
14. Rush Lake. - Small pond on the prairie. No wood within
half a mile; some buffalo chips; poor water.
16. Branch of Washita River. - Good road on the divide.
10 1/4. Dry River. - Road descends a very long hill, and crosses
the dry river near the Canadian. Water can be found by
digging about a foot in the sand of the creek. Good
grass on the west bank.
17. Branch of Canadian. - Road winds up a very long and
abrupt hill, but is smooth and firm.
22 1/2. Timbered Creek. - Road passes over a very elevated
prairie country, and descends by a long hill into the
beautiful valley of Timbered Creek.
11 1/2. Spring Branch. - Good camp.
14. Spring Branch. - Good camp.
17 3/4. Branch of Canadian. - Road passes a small branch 3 1/2
miles from the last camp.
18 3/8. Branch of Canadian.- Road passes a small branch of the
Canadian at 8 miles from the last camp.
17 7/8. Spring Branch.- Good road.
9 1/2. Branch of Canadian .- Good road and camp.
18 1/2. Branch of the Canadian.- Good road and camp.
10 1/4. Pools of Water. - Good camp.
10. Large Pond. - Good camp.
25. Pools of Water. - No wood; water brackish. The road
passes over a very elevated and dry country, without
wood or water.
18 1/2. Head of Branch.- At 13 1/2 miles the road crosses a
branch of the Canadian.
19 3/4. Laguna Colorado. - Road here falls into an old Mexican
cart-road. Good springs on the left up the creek, with
wood and grass abundant.
7. Pools of Water. - Road runs through cedars.
10 3/8. Pajarito Creek. - Grass begins to be rather short in
places, but is abundant on the creek.
13 1/2. Gallenas Creek. - Good camp.
15. 2d Gallenas Creek.- Good road.
16 1/2. Pecos River at Anton Chico. - This is the first
settlement after leaving Camp Arbuckle. Corn and
vegetables can be purchased here. Grass is generally
short here.
15. Pecos River opposite Questa. - Road runs through the
cedar, and is firm and good. Camp is in sight of the
town of Questa, upon a very elevated bluff.
21 3/4. Laguna Colorado. - Road passes through a wooded country
for a portion of the distance, but leaves it before
reaching camp, where there is no wood, but water
generally sufficient for trains. In very dry seasons
it has been known to fail. The road forks here, the
right leading to Santa Fe via Galistio (45 1/2
miles), and the left to Albuquerque.
22 1/2. San Antonio. - Good road.
18 3/4. Albuquerque. - Good road.
Total distance from Fort Smith to Albuquerque, 814 3/4 miles.
Total distance from Fort Smith to Santa Fe, 819 miles.
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