The Secretary of War transmits to the Committee on Territories Lt. Doane's report on the Yellowtone Expedition with accompanying letters from Generals Winfield Scott Hancock and William Tecumsah Sherman. Doane escorted the surveyor general of Montana and others to the falls and lakes of the Yellowstone. His report procedes day by day for the 34 days of the expedition, giving the distance covered each day, the barometer and thermometer readings, and the elevation. For each day he describes the country traversed, sometimes in great detail and often lyrically. He describes natural features as well as birds and animals, and people encountered, both Indians and frontiersmen. Reference is made to a map and a complete record of observations accompanying the report, which are not part of the Senate document.
Part of the legislative background for "An Act to set apart a certain Tract of Land lying near the Head-waters of the Yellowstone River as a public Park" (17 Stat. 32), which was adopted a year after the presentation of this report.