, 1854-02-11

II DOnelSOn. The Southern, or Milk River
Line, over which the baggage and supply
train was to move, was placed in charge Of
Lieut. Grover. | determined to pass over
this line myself, accompanied by Alex.
/ CulbertSon, Esq, who had been appointed
special agent among the Blackfect Indians
lit. 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 llth, on the
Big Muddy River, where the two lines
were abandoned in consequence of my be
ing unable to furnish the requisite trans
pOrtation and force to both parties. I'm
ldef my own command the party moved
forward till the 23d of August when,
with small detached party, accompanied
/ by Mr.. HulbcrtsOn and two select parties
in charge respectively of Lieut. Grover and
Mr. Lander, Civil Engineer, left the train
and came by express, reaching here on the
LIST inst, and finding the distance from
Fort Union, by the odometcr, 1915 miles,
DR.. Evans, the gcologist Of the expedition,
arrived here from Fort Unic= in Is DAYS,
pursuing a line between the Mix and Mis-
souri, 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 go ahead.
Lieut.. Grover with his party, who came
in advance for the purpose of reconnoiter-
ing Cadets Pass-the one adopted for the
passage of the train to St. Mary's, and be
fore alluded to as the Blackfoot trail
started to perform that duty on 9Th, with
orders also to go to st. Ma: IS village, to-
ascertain whether dept had been estab-
lished by Lieut.. Saxton, and in the event
of hearing nothing from him, to push on to
the Koolenair post, and il possible, open
the communication with Capt. Mcclellan;
and in the event Of meeting Lieut.. Saxton:
to return Immediately to Fort Benton, to
survey the river from the falls, some 90
miles above Fort Benton, to the point
where Lieut.. Donelson's survey of that
river terminated, and then returning to
Fort Benton, get up way-train, and
cross the mountains during the month of
January.
The duty, particularly the latter, is at
tended with much difficulty, but it is just to
Lieut.. Grover to add that he made the
suggestion, volunteered for its accomplish
ment, and his high character and great en-
ergy are sure guarantees Of his entire sue
cess.
Mr.. Lander started with his party to
make the examination of Maria's Pass
some hundred miles north Of this point, on
the 9Th inst. This was reported, from fall
en- trees and other Instructions, to be the
most difficult in this vicinity. His patience,
fortitude and established force of character
gave great promise of a successful discharge
of his laboriOus duty.
To Lieut.. Mulan, Of the army, was as
signed the duty of visiting the Flathead
village on the Masole Shell River, some
one hundred miles to the south, procuring
from them good guides to the village of
st. Mary's, and passing through pass to
the south Of Cadets Pass, await the com
ing Of the train at St Mary's village
Having made my arrangements for the
train to move forward, and relying on the
information received from the most relia-
liz eaupaac nl,tofnn1 from Ipdiona oui1pc |
~ ~ 'yI. hSt ttO,o ,.nt ,a,naireJ S ten wscIs 4,
~. III, '',ao @ sns MIA IoLdS ~ tso ,on,,r,a;ns NO
Tion vi 49, 'V. t; 'S'V - or iot w.
Piasou ..,S :; ;.a.; "'. - No. 49, r,rrord
th W.. ,Tth isI, s''.'o d oa;t ~, or,;roi
y. Ss,' S1 NJ, l ~ g.artad " on thc Gtb sor
~ o.nan - tbo Pecan Indians ~ tSel
I%e RVo oI.Sant tSP not;ons ot tbc Gvnrcss NJon.I
to;n ia'N,pvS son,o ] nno hTrJrod and twenty miles
a., .a,I sS"T os ~ S ',ont wtb viow ncysonnIIv
nortn ol sn'S o"l,, VIZ os IA ,ro,,,;
80 ~ .No ta soonro un' s;de tbrougb tbe yari-
ons Z ,,ossos S lcadiug from tbe forks of the
NJ 49, ~ p;vSr asa ~ have a tolk with
I"a,"i .hS, :; As,,e, W. % to +5o;r corSrct toward
.ne,n ai a. les"r L;nI I'll. ToSs;It, ordnn