, 1856-08-29
The OuarterlnaSter and COmmiSSary Gen.
erals Department, &c.


Post Quarter Master for Olympia, c.
: L. WEED, Esq, returned to this place on
the schooner 4. Y. Trask on Monday eve
ming last, from business excursion TO the
several posts northward, on the Sound a"d
Straits. whittier he had repaired under in
structions from Quarter Master General
f W. W. MuLLR, for the purpose OF rccelv-
ing all Quarter Master and CommisSary
stores Of every description, that had been
in the use of the northern battalion, Major
VAN BoKKEllN-dispatching the same to
OLYMPIA, and for the purpose of winding
, up, completely, all matters pertaining to the
Quarter Master affairs, connected with that
battalion, in that direction. Mr.. Weed
gives q very satisfactory report as to the
f condition in which he found business had
been managed by Post Quarter Master r..
! S. ROBINSON, of Port Townsend, Che and
his assistants being the only ones with whom
he had any business to transact and the
property of that, and all the branch posts
f in connection with it, is now here, with the
exception of the surplus flour and sugar
which lie had been directed to turn over to
the Indian Department north, and which
was received by special Indian Agent Fay,
at PENIS Cove.
/, The property, supplies, &C., that have
= been in use, and deposited at the different
forts on the line Of the Snoqualmic, had
all been collected at fort Tilton, about so
4 miles from the mouth of the Snohomish !;
, and the water being very low in the first
mentioned river, q considerable distance
1 partaking of the character of rapids, and
- being difficult of assent, Mr. Weed expe-
ricnced considerable difficulty in getting the
{ stores down-in doing which he found it
necessary to employ some eighty Indians
, and thirteen canoes.
E On the course of his excursion, Mr.. W.
visited Seattle, Penn's Cove, Holmes IIar-
Dor, Port Townsend, Bcllingham Bay, fort
Ebey, &C., aud represents the Indians oil
quiet, on their eservations-evincing not
the slightest disposition to go to war, or
, assume hostile or troublesome attitude.
He represents the once exposed northern
frontier in an excellent state Of defence
particularly the line looking upon the Sno-
, quamie pass. 1t is evident, as far as la.
Dor and hard service is concerted, that the
northern battalion, and the Pioneer "
company, of the central battalion, have
had the butt end of the load to carry, the
"hot end Of the poker" during their term
of service, in the erection of forts at cx-
posed points, and in the cutting Of roads
+ and trails, whereby easy access throughout
the entire chain--from the Nah Chess TO
the Snoqunlmie, and from different points
in the settlements, has been provided. So
perfect has the line Of communications be-
tween the several Notifications and the set
Elements been established, looking upon the
Nah Chess and Snoqualmic passes, that it
is confidently asserted that train Of pack
animals can be started from fort Hicks,
Camp Montgomery, Pierce County, and
be driven thence, with all ease, to forts
White, Puyallup river, McAllister, South
prairie, Hays, Connclps prairie, Posey, ford
, of White river, Pike, Porter's Prairie,
thence to Fort Slaughter, Mucklcshoot
prairie, and on to fort Smalley, Rattle
snake prairie, and forts Alder, Tilton,
and Ebey, coming ont at Port Town
send, or steamboat and ocean steam nayi-
cation, pointing towards Seattle, Penn's
Cove, Holmes Harbor, Bellingham Bay,
&c, thus completely blockadng, and look
ing upon both passes, and all the import
ant and practicable Indian trails in that en-
tire region Of country.
The affairs Of the Quarter Masters and
Commissary's Department, under the Wig
orous, prudent, aud successful management
of its chief, General MILLER, is being bror
to highly satisfactory close, and the terms
of service OF all the Post Quarter Masters
on the Sound, will cease on the first proxi-
imo.. 1t is admitted on all hands, that the
territory could not have furnished the head
of the department with an officer who could
haye, advantageously, supplied the place
of Gen. Miller. Well known as he is and
has been to the citizens of our entire terri
tory, as careful manager, and a nah pos
sesSed of superior business qualifications
and probity Of character, the position,
which was voluntarily rendered him by Gov.
STEVENS, created confidence which per