Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-09-20

To CGLed G. ForSh.y, ESQ.,:
Sir, notice in the Gnlrcaon News, of the
18Th uIf, an article oycr Your signature in
which you seem DESTROYS to transfer the honor
OF the discovery of Snlr Lake from Fremont to
Major (now Lieut.. COLI Bonneville. 1t seems
irom the general tenor of your article that you
have gathered your information from Irving's
work, 'The Rocky Mountains !" and as, ] was
in that interesting region during the whole
period of Bonnevilie's sojourn there, ! beg leave
TO give you some particulars that you seem to
have overlooked In the first place, the great
Salt Like was pretty correctly laid down on
maps of North America twenty-five years before
BonneviIle's visit. The hike was seen by Gen
Ashley, Major Henry, and host of others,
long before, aud was circumnavigated by Frabb
and three others some twelve years previously;
moreover, The writer of this article, with forty
eight others, wintered at the mouth OF Bar
river several years before the NJ ~ made
this important discovery. There were, at the
time of Bonnevile's visit to the Rocky Moun.
tans, about seven hundred men then engaged
in trading and trapping, many Of whom had
been there twenty years; and assure you that
there was not pass, canon, valley, or river,
but what was well known, lrom the del Norte
TO the Pacific ocean.
Ma jor Bonneville made no discoveries He
only traversed The beaten track where thou.
sands had passed before him Several noun.
lainesrs. besides myself, have read Irving's
book. and unanimously gave Maj Bonneville
credit for possessing eryfcr'Fs Imagination
But he has not stated all his daring and mer
itorious acts. some of which will mcnion
here. For instance, there is not a word said
about taking our u hundred kegs of alcohol to
trade to the Indians, the laws of the United
States 10 the contrary, notwithstanding nor is
there a word said about pending three kegs
OF powder to blow up the road, at Il somewhat
difficult pass in The Black Hills, TO delay the
advance of VIM. Sublete, who was known to
be few days in his rear; nor does he condo.
srrnd to give us any information relative to
the construction of Fort Nuisa nee" on Green
river. 50 called from The fact that II was built
for trading post on neutral ground, equally
distant from the principa points occupied by
the Crows, Chaycrones, ARA pahoes, Snakes,
and Euaws, no two of which tribes being
friendly with each other and of course no in
ducement would prevail upon any of them to
visit the post. The Ind ans who were hostile
to the whites at the time of Bnnnevile's ap-
pearance were the "Grosventers," Arrapahoes,
aud Blackfcef, and | do assure you they were
all stll hostile when he left
Major Bonn vile visited the mountains with
an equipment expressly for trading and trap
ping; hut he was entirely unsuccessful, and
re-entered the army some time after hi return
do think that the old and appropriate name
Of the lake should be retained, and not thrown
away TO give place to that of some popinJay
who may accidentally or Otherwise have hap
pened 10 pass in sight of it, Ii, however, you
are DESTROYS of giving it the name of true
man, one OF modeSty aud sterling merit,
would suggest the name of William Henry
Vander6urgh, a native of Indiana, who was
educated at West Point, and killed by the
Blackfoot Indians, on the Philanthropy, in the
fall of 1888. This gentleman was universally
beloved, and possessed all the merit you have
attributed TO Maj. Bonneville. The amented
Vanderburgh was for several years the leader
Of force of one hundred men. He explored
a great deal OF country but little Known, vet
his modesty did not permit him TO apply his
own name TO any pass, valley, or stream in
that region. | think you must allow hun quite
as much modesty as Maj Bonneville, who did
not hesitate TO apply his own name to the great
Salt Lake which he did not discover. may
further add that the heroic Vanderburgh was
brave as Ney and died as heroes only can die.
w. A, FERRIS.
W. learn from late ex 'hanGes that fnan-