The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-12-17
From the Washington Union, Nov. %.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Northern Route.-Governor Stevens Exp!orin.
Expedition.


HNpeaN''"'
FORT BENTON, upper Missouri, Sept. IL, %.
MY DEAR SIR Tho entire occupation OF my
time in the labOrs committed to my charge has
heretofore preclulcd the possibility of my wri-
ting you.
Knowing the deep interest you take in the
development of the resources of the geeat wes-
tern country, the growth and advancement of
o-r whole national domain, the proper knowl-
edge of the regions lying between the Mississ D.
pi Valley and the Pacific, feel confident that
you will be pleased to hear what we have done
toward accomplishing the exploration of the
northern route. and What may be done in this
direction toward establishing a great iron hich-
way between the two oceans.
The plan of carrying on the survey from the
head waters of the MiSsssinpi to Puget Sound
was by two parties. The one operatinr from
the Pacific eastward to the Rocky Mountains
was regarded as the most difficult labor of the
survey in consequence of the obstacles known
to exist in the Cascade and Bitter Root RANGES
To overcome these almost insurmountable bar.
riers. the prOper examination of either of which
would occupy a whole season. Cant. GEORGE Il
Mcclellan, of the engineer corps. was placed
to it not only great energy and force of cborac-
ter, but an eyperience and talent in this broncb
of duty perbaps uneoualed in the whole army
Enterin1 unon bis loIors with that aIocr;tI- on,d
interest almost peculiar to him. much is looked
for from his branch of the survey
In 80 days from this time shall pro,,ably
meet him. and combining our Joint lahors We
shall have a line conncctine the Mssissinni Ri
yer with the Pacific passing tbrouph these ran
ges. On the feasibility of q line across The CON
finent We will then Ec abIc to oive q dcinito
opinion.
The work of Father Dcsmct. and also Dr. Ev-
ems the eminent peolopist had informed us of tbe
fne valley of tho e. Nerve az tbo o,,oc+orn Loco
of the Rocky Maintains o,J tbo tro;I Io,I;no
thereto AZ tbe s,@rost;on of Nv EUnrS 7 onn7
cIndod +bat IL was 3ho unint ,,horo donn.
should ho os+oh,;sbod 10 srpnnly tho ,ortr ~
mist 1york late in tho season in tho oram;n'ot ZION
of the mounta;n nossos onJ nort;cuIorI,, in tbo :
Iood;nr 70 - tPbo ,ror,, ,,ioS J;s;oy,t ana
onn,r 20 tbo roaJ frnr, thn w. ~ ~ h,,t
;omt Puf,,S co,ton IT, of ,bo or,,'1, .h ,..os nu
in Wosb;n uton Of tbe o,ron;zat;or ~ thn o>,,no
d;tion soa;n" ;ts tS ;,nnortanno nin,aroJ ,u f,r
tho dnt,r o,,d = n ,,',a nSs;,.nnJ p hin' '0'
Ho l:f, Na,Sznr,, C;t,, for thn rnortb of ho
colnn,h;o IN ,ho stan,nnr of tho Et, nf No., VI I ,
nroceeJ;nr nm tho Columhia Rivnr orron;ynJ
b;s nartv nrpcnrod rp tbo nnnnnIics Of nrors;ons
and an;ynofs f nooossorv ,Inyod for,,ard 70 tho
Ct Marv,s yilla1o esfablisbnd n Srnnjy nost in
cbarao Of iant Arnold Of tbo ARM and mass.
ed forword Inv tho RIackfoot trail to meet mo ot
this noint In Tho monnto;n mace Soloctod in
Wasbington Civ for thn nasspco Of tho train
bo mot onr advance in command of .iont Cro'
ver at tho eastnrn ontrarcn and 10th nart;es
;o;n;nr ro+nrnod 70 Eort Rorton i''0
7 con,d IwalI On tb;s inc;Icnt of tho e,storn
ond wostorn nart;os ho;Iinn oocb other boro in
the n,omnta;r oha;n tho oon+ino,t orossod H.,
the snrvcv~tbe line established connrct,ng tbe
head waters NJ tho Wississinni with the Pacific
valley need oniv saw bowrver that when
this letter reaches YOU. carried by Lieut.. sax
! ton. he win have twice crossed The continent
since Nav s. having in the meantime success
fully performed most arduous duties.
l cannot omit this opportunity to express nv
grateful acknowledgements to him for the entire
success of his laIors To great energy and
judgment he has added also qualities which have
endeared him not only to his immediate party,
but acquired for him the admiration and regard
of all his associates in the Survey.
Of the eastern party working westward from
the Mississippi l took personal direction. You
will, l know, be pleased to hear of the great
aid afforded to me by Lieut.. Donelson. of the
Engineer Corps, son of your old associate, Ma
jor Donelson, of Tennessee. He is young man
of fine abilities and ripe Judgment. In all the
duties assigned to his charge he has displayed
devotion in their performance which has secur-
ed the confidence and respect of all his associ-
ates. While the expedition was being organ
lied at the seat of government he was intrust-
eQ WIN the Uuty OF VlSting Sir GEORGE SlnlD-
son, at Montreal, to collect information as to
guides, supplies, routes, &C., which he dscharg-
ed to my entire satisfaction. At a later period
leaving the Mississippi at st. Louis. he went up
the Missouri to some distance above the mouth
of the Yellow StOne and waited the arrival of
the main party at Fort Union. To him was as
signed the duty of surveying that river anG of
making reconnaissance of the country in The
vicinity of Fort Union, lying between the Mis-
souri, River and our northern boundary, from
the Big Muddy to the White Earth Rivers In
all these labors he was entirely successful-ma-
king an admirable survey, and collecting much
valuable data upon which to base a valuable re-
port on the navigability of that river.
At the time now write he is on his way to
the mountains, in charge of the survey of Ca
dots Pass, and Of the supply train, and will, l
am fully confident, develop the full character
OF the route from this point to ST. Mary's. The
main portion OF the party, however, assembled
near st. Paul, Minnesota, and moved on one
line over the Red River trail to Pike Lake, a
distance of about lG5 miles. AT this point Lieu
tenant Grover an eueroetic and very accom-