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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
June 15th, 1859 -- Started up the valley of the Platte, passing through pretty little nooks, studded with wild roses, and young cottonwoods, then climbed the bluffs for an extended view, come down again, described a few acute angles, scaled heights, tumbled down precipices, and had a hell of a road generally among the Black Hills, which probably take their name from the black appearance they present, being all covered with fir and cedar. Laramie's Peak still in sight. Long's Peak, and Pike's Peak are but a continuation of the Black Hills. Any amount of dead cattle still, and I am led to believe that more than half of them perish by inhaling the dust, which hangs like a cloud around us.Powell
Travelled eighteen miles. We have had a hilly road. We passed over a part of the Black Hills. They are covered with pines in places. Small cedars are scattered amongst them. We have seen no dead stock to day. We are camped on big Cotton Wood Creek. It is about sixteen feet wide and eight inches in depth.