The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-22
From the Boston Courier, Dec. -.
the Oregon Territory. 4sH 81 ~

From the Boston Counter Dec. n
The Oregon Territory. Dry tAsMqt
Since the gold OF California has directed the tide
Of western emigration almost exclusively to that portion
OF Our Pacific territory, but little notice has been COM
paratvely taken OF the adjoining country OF Oregon
which lew years ago the main point of attact0n
in the West VS. have received the following letter from
gentleman who left this city last spring for the over
land route TO California, and induced by circun-
stances 10 attach himself toa company oil United States
troops their march to Oregon. It will be found TO
contain much curious and interesting information
FoRT VANCOUVER, ii. B. C. OFFIcE, CoLumBIA RIVER,
Oregon Territory, October III, 1S49.
have just arrived here from the States, overland
across the Rocky Mountains, which may with rnh be
called ths most tosoms Journey that can % mads
back at the rande Ronde,n and proceeded by expees
TO- the Dallss. mission OF the late Pr. Whitmans
aes Il ss ass s..
tenasler United States army this coast Captain Lana.
sey and escort Of three men and myself constitued
senior chief Of the Cayuces tribe This trp. without ~
except the hardest portion OF our long Journey
We followed the Indian trail, which courses through
country; We frequently found ourselves passing along
ue brink oil some steep pecpces thousands OF i6et high
nearly perpendicular, the trail just wide enough 70 permit
us to pass along in single file. II either of faiihu
animals had stumbled both rider and horse would have
fallen headong into the yawnng abyss below ns Sew
places. and would dsmount; but the guide and old Inl
dian chief Would urge remain seated our saddl6
as the safest mode OF getting these tEcendOns
the many overhanging bluffs would break its hold, and
come dashng down across our path, carrying everything
Oe,ose T. uns q or loose ANIMALS stumbled and tsl
Columbia, and was soon carried down BY the powerful
current We had no provisions after the first day's
travel, except pork having lost all bread in crossing
the Umantilla; this cooked on stick We obtained.
the third day, little fresh horse meat from thu Csy
uces, which was most acceptable 10 us. We slept, Of
RIM thu aosr xUh ,l., kot oonkG
which to the traveller the mountains novelty,
but at our first camp the vicinity Of the Blue m0un-
ans we suffered most severely from .ns cold
barren land It's extent is almost unlimited; but OF all
The accounts have yet seen OF the dreay and
dy deserts of Arabia, have never yet seen anything
that would come up to the reality Of the immense bar
rem deserts between Fort Hall and this pointost
pecialy along the banks Of the volcanic Snake NV
err Select out the Blue mountains-whch, to be sure,
are clothed with the finest timber--and the "GSande
Ronde and the remainder Of the country is ncapableof
unfit for grazing and barren Of timber Of every descrp
ten. The wearied traveller will not find dozen trees
shrubs. in distance Of six hundred miles sufficiently
LANCE to shade him from the burning The GstsDasG
Is the only verdan thing that hrves in this whole tract
OF all the countries that have passed through or
have ever read Of this bears the palm for serility
The name OF Dalies is derived from emigrant who
attempted TO settle here many years ago; but finding Il
too serious job TO transport his stores from the Tort
finally abandoned the place. The Columbia river hare,
for some three four miles, passes through baselic
channel, varying in depth from twenty 70 two hundred
feet, the sides being nearly perpendicular and most Of
the distance over nifty yards apart. Al the head OF the
Dalles where the whole of the Columbias wales
issues, the width rs not twenty thirty feet The
current here Is very powerful, and dees all siempts II
navigation. The Indians have drawn chinook canoe
through the gulf, after laborng hard fifteen hours M
AT the present time there residents here excspt
two Catholic priests To each of these kind and couro-
clegymen am under special obligations for supply
of food. They have built two very Comfortable ca6ips.
have made some little attempt at cultivation, and also
keep cows, sheep, pigs, and horses sl n eao1s IS
Back from the river, some four or five miles, there is
hne grazing region The first range of the Cascade noun
tans here commences They are covered with the most
valuable timber; OF the three hundred feet
high and sixteen in diameter. have one that
ured twenty.four feet uHQgGt a1f
ocean communication the Cascade mountains lift their
heads height that forbids all land intercourse The
river navigation is nothing, the Cascades obsuc.
low here and extend nearly FIVE miles. Every article must
be carried this portage by hand There formerly
wagon road but i has become filled up BY the trees and
rocks constantly falling from the cliffs that hang ov6et
The actual fall in the ver, the whole distance cannot be
forty feet but the water Is exceedingly rough, and
the channel 6led with immense rocks The current
dashes through and over these rocks at an astonishing
rate The first falls of the rapids present most charm
ing view to the eye never saw finer landscape than
the inst time that had had clear view--ths whole
country having been developed 10 thick smoke ever
since reached Il oil this time Mount Hood with IL
distance the left The highest range Of the Cascade
mountains seemed TO have opened their majestic cliffs
Just Wlde enough permit the moving waters
OF the Columbia pass through The nnumerable lie
lie isles Just above the falthe towering bluffs TO be seen
in every dreciionai combine TO form amosi magnificent
picture. As 4d ~ W t94ii11 .ifalisft
The first of the rifle regiment reached the Daes on the
morning Of the 23d of September fotilla of eleven
boats received many OF them board they could
take Being anxious 10 reach California, finished NY
association with MAJOR Cross in the quaremasters de-
partment his senior agent and Joined the F detnch-
ment that went down under command Of Major Raj
We forced lay TO often Of head winda
Ii always blows up down the river, and generally very
strong, especially at the "Wind River Mountain,r and
a point known {" Cape Horn .lHsl il iAa ms
left the troops the Cascade Falls, and procee4ed
down the river in canoe, with seven Indians end Dr.
Steele of Oswego. From the upper falls was induced
enter the canoe and over the lower rapids and fa
feat that have disposition TO repeat, ahough Tie
along over the umuuous waters Of this mighty nver
reached Vancouver on the Goth Septsmbsr The Cd
vanced corps OF the rifles reached this placeon The 18th
October and harder looking get OF you never s4w.
The return volunteers from Mexico. incIudnx or 0un
regiment, did not look 20 fused up" With the axcep-
ton OF one company, the whole regiment has bean de
mounted since we left Fort Hail. Many OF The poor nol-
ders have been obliged TO 60 this distance baref00o6
have frequently them come into camp, two, fouE,
and six hours after the train had aryed with their hi
bleeding from the cuts Scratches and bruises received
during The day They to encamp here until The wkos
ring he winter at Oregon city Major Hathaway has two
companies OF the I'd artillery in the Territory. one Of
which is stationed at Vancouver, IN the rear 81 the font
OF the Hudson Bay Company's quarters The other u
Nesqnally Vancouver is the north bank Of The CO.
lumbia II contains about one hundred houses moe1lt