, 1861-10-03
TIE Fort RENroX Ro.p.

The lateS INTEL .ruCc from Lieut.. Mullan's i'm
portaut expedition is 10 September 9TH, at which
date the work on the road was progressing finely.
The advance supply train hal crossed the Bitter
Root range, and supplies had been sent forward
to the ferry of the main Bitter Root Eighteen
substantial bridges had been constructed at diff
frrent crossings, and to the east Of the mountains
the road was being put in thorough repair. The
expedition expected 10 cross the Bitter Foot
range on the 18th. The entire road from WalIa
Waa east is represented to Ue in the bcs' PoS>i
bic condition, and will be in good order lo' ravc
at all seasons of the year
Below We publish letter from a Ci.z II of
Sawamish county, at present employe! or the
expedition:
BITTER ROOT MouNTAISs,
Cnur d'Alcne River, 18th Crossing, W.T.
Sept. 81, 1861.
To The Editor Of tie Puget Sound HGraLi:
As the express goes in to Wala Wa!la on the
9th, cannot avoid sending you a few lines.
On the 18th of May last, Lieut.. John Mulan
started on what is known as the Walla Walia and
Fort Benton Road expedition, and to complete
that work. The distance to this nOint. which is
completed, is 225 niles From Walla Walla, for
1870 miles, it is mostly level prairie country, or,
speaking more properly, a level plain; there is
very little timber, except on the rivers and creeks.
After l"aying this post, we Travelled through an
open tinbered country for about thirty five miles,
when We arrived at what is known as the Spo-
kan I al hap luh
mcnced. Choppirg g, grading and bridging, and
for thirty miles cutting q road through to the
Ceur d'Alene Mission; it was as heavy timberrd
country as ever | saw on the Sound, mountain.
Gus aud rocky according. Through this dense
forest and these mountains there is as good u road
as any in Washington Territory; in fact, the
entire road from Wala Walla to this place is as
good as any Of equal length TO be found any.
where.
The Fourth Of July was celebrated tout here
on this expedtiOn) with as much joy and enthu.
siasn as if we had been in some large city or
civilized community. In the evening the men
gathered together and marched over in front of
the Lieutenant's tent, and sang patriotic songs,
among others the "Star.Spanglcd Banner" and
" Columbia. the Gem Of the Ocean," After they
ceased singing, the Lieutenant came forward and
made some UniOn.loving remarks, which made
every Union mans heart beat with joy So the
4th passed away in singing and cheering for the
Union, until the approach Of night admoniShed
us that it was time to retire aud prepare for the
labor Of the 9th
At present we arc building bridges on this
river. Ibelieve the calculation Is to build fifteen
or twenty idges, so as TO avoid high water in
tho wintsr and spring months. There are some
fOrty.six crossings On this river. Aswc proceed
up the river il gets smaller; there are great
many mountain streams running into Il, and it
gets to be quite a small creek toward the head.
Up TO the present time the men appear to be
quite cOntented and in the best Of spirits. No |
sickness worth mentioning has troubled Us yet |
Only five or six men have leit on account Of the |
good news from the mines; in place Of these,
some nine or ten men have come from Walla
Walla to get work on this expedition, and among
the number see four men from the Sound, who
had been in the Wehatchee mines.
There are some seventy-ive laborers (citizens)
employed on this road, besides one hundred sol
diers on extra duty. | will here remark that
Lieut. Mullan and his able assistants deserve
great credit for the interest they take in viewing
and locating the road.
So far, the Indians appear quiet and peaceable.
Each teamster (of which lam one) is provided
with rifle and ammunition, and arms for the
remainder Of the citizens, if required; so you
will see the Lieutenant is prepared for anything
that may turn up.
will write to you again when we get to the
summit Of the Bitter Root Mountains.
Respectfully yours,
~