, 1860-07-27

coast line, being farther from the scenes of
difficulty and danger than when they started /;
truly, these might be regarded as monu-
mcntS Of losses and costs that are well cal
culated TO cause US to ask ourselves the
question, as there no other route to the
Pacific coast by which our troops can tray-
el, that will save the army life and the
country untold thousands Of dollars 7" 1t
if enough at least to compel rs to make
the experiment of any new route that pre-
sents ITSELF be its commendations upon its
face few or many But | claim for the
route from St. Louis to Wnlla Walla, via
the Missouri and Columbia rivers, more
than negative advantages. In the first
place, it is within tho limits Of our own
Territory, aud by nayigable streams. This,
in times of peace, may be of minor import
ance, and hence not regarded by many
with its full share of weight; but in times
of war, how momemtous becomes the prob
lem TO solve, and how delicate the position
in which the War Department must find
itself placed. On the score Of economy the
proposition is as one to two. The books
of the Qnartermaster-G General, examined by
his permission and authority in 1858 proved
that the cost of sending the 9th Infantry
to this coast and placing the troops ut
their respective posts, cost tbe Department
5000 per man. The contracts now taken,
aud the cost of putting the same in the De.
parment of Oregon, via Fort Benton, will
be 500 per man, from ST. Louis. These,
then, are two sufficient arguments that
must forever remain potent and of weight
to the General Government in its admins
tralion of the War Department. But
there are other contingent, and to the
army itself, no less powerful arguments
that are far from being negative.
Who that hasAseen the recruits and old
soldiers Of our army so packed aud wedged
in among the steerage passengers from
New York to San Francisco, until we could
well believe that cOmfort was what a life at
sea did not possess; with the sultry heat Of
the tropcs-rendering disease not only
probable, but certain; with few opportuni-
ties, if any, for drill and discipline on ship
board; with all the attendant risks aud
dansers-has not asked himself the ques.
tion, "if this was to be the permanent
military line of travel froA the Atlantic to
the Pacifc?" True, on such trips, the
comfort Of the officer is not only. provided
for, but audiediy provided for But how
fares the private soldiers? The sufferings
and discomforts Of the men on these pas
sages might well be passed over and for
gotten, 10 the hope that they are soon TO
end. But what are the contingent advan-
tages ria the Missouri and overland to the
navigable waters Of the Columbia? In the
FIRST place, the Government has its own
transports where they are free and untram-
meled, and where the men are not only free
from all discomforts of seasickness, but are
in condition and have ample space for
drill and parade every day. They pass
along aourishing towns, villages and ham
let's, where markets Of fresh meat and veg
etables can be had day by day, until the
upper waters Of the Missouri bring them
among the countless herds Of buffalo, and
where now they pass through large and
rowing bands of Indian tribes, as a silent
but powerful and salutary echo Of the voice
Of the General Government. On reaching
Fort Benton, the soldier, who started re-
cruit, begins an overland Journey Of 900
miles through what is now wilderness, in-
habited only by large and warlike bands Of
Indians. He makes bis march, day by
day, as on a campaign, and camps at night
prepared for danger or quiet. The enerva-
ted system, as produced by life at sea,
here gives place to healty, strong and ro-
bust soldier; lax discipline here gives place
to the active and useful discipline Of the
field, in which not only the recruits, but the
young officers themselves find school
fraught with instruction. The moral effect
upon the Indian mind is great and saluiary,
and the body Of men who started from ST.
Louis, as recruits, reach Walla Walla us
soldiers tried in the ield, and when being
assigned to their regiments and companies
haYe made q summers campaign OF two
months, and possibly saved other troops
from making a more active one ut greater
costs and at greater hazards. If these,
then, are not pOsitive arguments. where IN
der Heaven will you find theml And they
are such as are well calculated 10 make the
veriest enemy Of our military establishment
less bitter in his rancour and hostility for
that class and that profession. who now, as
in years past, labor long, hard and jealous
ly, and whose reward is small and slow in
the coming. But am willing that the fu-
ture should be the erPerimeHtEm erWes to-
which the truth or falsity Of our views
should be reduced.
My several letters to Col. Tilton, Survey
ORG General, have assured him that he has
broad field before him in the exploring
and surveying this region but SO little
known
This would not be the place, even il !
had the time, to refer you to many loeali-
ties Of marked value, especially to the ge-
ologist. Who yet has explored thorough
ly and written the history Of the geology Of
the Rocky Mountains? The immense de-
yosits of beautiful red sandstone, fossilfer-
Gus limestone, the seams and beds Of iron.
ore and traces of copper, through which