The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-12-17
NUMBER "A.


on the third Of July, had en- Joined to collect al,
the information possible in regard to routes,
guides, intercourse with Indians. DC, prepara-
tory to the coming up of the main train. Incl
dent to This Information. il was decided ut Fort
Union TO continue the survey westward 10 this
place in two lines. he examination of the
northern one. finding u determining point in
the Cypress Mountain. was committed to the
charge Of party in command Of Lieut.. noncl-.
sen. The Southern or Milk River Line. over
which the baggage and supply train was to
move, was placed in charge Of Lieut.. Grover.
l determined to pass over this line myself ac-
cOmpanicd by Alex. Culbcrtson, Esq. who had
been appointed special agent among the Black
feet lndians-it being believed we should meet
their camps on Milk river.
The survey moved on the 9th of August in
the two parties under the respective commands
Of Licuts. DOnclson and Grover. and joined the
camp on the 1lth, on the Big Muddy river where
the two lines were abandoned in consequence
of my being unable to furnish the requisite
transportation and force to both parties. I'm
der my own command the party moved forward
till the 23d of August, when, with q small de-
tached party. accompanied by Mr. Culbertson
and two select parties. in Charge respectively
of Lieut.. Grover, aud Mr.. Landcn. Civil Engi-
neer. lett the train and came hy express reach
ing here Oh the 1st inst and finding the dist
ance from Fort Union. Ey the Odometcr 375
miles. DR.. Evcns. the geoloeist of the expedi-
ton arrived here from Fort Union in IL days,
pursuing lire between the Milk and Missouri
Rivers, some IS miles shorter than the route
adopted by the main train. The main train
reached here on the 9Th inst the animals in fine
condition and the men all anxious to 20 ahead.
Lieut.. Grover, with his party, " hO came in adj
vance for the purpose of reconBoitering Cadets
Pass-the one adopted for the passage Of the
train to ST. Marys and before alluded to as the
BlackfOOt trail-started to perform that duty
on the Sth, with orders also to 90 to St Marys
village, to ascertain whether depot had been
established by Lieut.. Saxton, and in the event
OF hearing nothing from him. to push on to the
koolcnair post, and, if possible, open the COM
munication with Capt. Mcclellan and in the
event of meeting Lieut.. Saxton, to return i'm
mediatcly to Fort Benton, to survey the river
from the falls, some 20 miles above Fort Ben
ton, to the point where Lieut.. Donelson's sur
vey of that river terminated, and then return
ing to Fort Benton, get up way train, and
cross the mountains during the month of Janu-
airy.
The duty. particularly the latter, is attended
with much difficulty, Int it is just to Lieut.
Grover to add that he made the suggestion, vol
unteercd for its accomplishment, and his high
character and great energy are sure guarantees
of mis- entire success.
Mr.. Landcn started with his party to make
the examination of Marias Pass. some hundred
miles north of this point. on the Sth inst. This
was reported, from fallen trees and other OBJ
structions, to be the most difficult in this vcn-
ity. His patience, fortitudc and established
force of character gave great promise of a sue
cesstul discharge of this laborious duty.
To Lieut.. Mullan, of the Army, was assigned
the duty of visiting the Flathead village, OIL
the Muscle Shell river, some one hundred miles
to the south, procuring from them good guides
to the village of ST. Mary. and passing through
pass to the south of Cadets Pass, await the
coming of the train at st. Marys village.
Having made my arrangements for the train
to move forward, and relying On the informa-.
tion received from the most reliable sources OBJ
tancd from Indians, guides, &C., that there yet
remained ten weeks in which we could labor in
the mountains, | placed the train in charge of
Lieut.. Donelson with instructions to move for
ward on the 1lth or 18th, and await my arrival
at ST. Marys. l started ON the 9th for the camp
of the Pegan Indians, of the Blackfcct nations,
at the Cypress Mountain, some one hundred
and twenty miles north of this point, with q
view personally to examine the approaches of
the mountains to secure guide through the
various passes leading from the forks of the Ma
rias River. and to have a talk with them in re-
gard to their conduct toward other tribes, which
might possibly endanger the passage of whites
through the country.
Such was the condition Of the survey and the
plans of operating westward, when Lieut.. Sax
toms successful accomplishment of his labors,
and the return of Lieut.. Grover changed the
whole field Of operation. The information he
brought reduced the time. l had hoped for ex-
animation of the mountain passes, some five
weeks. Lieut. Donclson, about starting with
the train when the express from Lieut.. Grover,
announcing his return, arrived, Immediately
sent forward to me and l returned.
The time for our work was short, and it would
not do to cucumber the train with the wagons
The change of our entire programme was nee
essary. Our wagons have been left at this
point, and yesterday, with the pack-train Lieut..
Donclson moved forward to St. Marys village,
where shall follow on the return of Mr.. STAN
ley, the artist of the expedition. who contin-
ued on to the Pegan camp on my return to this
place.
Lieut.. SaXton goes down the Missouri to st.
Louis, thence to Washington City, to bear re-
ports and dispatches to the departments In
few days, Lieut.. Grover will commence his sur
vey of the Missouri.
A meteorological post has been established
at this point under Mr.. DOty, who also is intrus-
ted with the charge of a large amount of gov
ernment property. He is a good topographer,
and during the expedition has rendered valua-
able service in the astronomical and magnetic
department He will collect much data in re-
gard to the tribes of Indians trading at this
post, and add much to our limited knowledge
OF tnlS region, ana make valuable series OF
magnetic observations
At the st. Mary's village winter post will
be established, in charge of Lieut. Mullen. He
has been instructed to examine the lateral val
leys and passes after the SHOWS have driven
him out OF the passes of the mountains make
a survey Of the country from the koolenair
post on the north to Fort Hall on the south, and
thus connect our survey with that of Col Ere
mont.
He is a fine young officer, indefatigabie in the
norformance of his duties. and popular in the
Command. Much valuable meteorological in
formation in regard to SHOWS, &c, during the
winter, will be obtained. The establishment OF
this most is essential to the success of Lieut.. Gro
vcr's way train.
The survey is not yet finished, but enoughis
known to speak advisedly. A practicable line
has been found connecting the Mississippi with
the Pacific Further examinations are to devel-
op the best line. Licnt. Saxton reports Cadets
Pass to be some $500 feet lower than the South
Pass in ten days the survey by Lieut.. Donel-
x,,k l. -,