The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-06-28

We learn, with surprise, that Colonel
Conner has made arrangements to take
his regiment with large number Of wag
Ons to Salt Lake, by the Big Tree route.
The services of the regiment are need.
ed now at Salt Lake, and it is doubtful
if the Big Tree route will be paSSable be-
fore the latter part of next month. 1t
was stated long since that his regiment
had been ordered to move on the first
Of May, then on the tenth, then on the
first Of June, and that it was delayed only
on account Of the impracticAbility of the
roads. We know nothing Of the correct.
ness Of these reports, but We do know that
he could have passed over the Placerville
route, easily ard safely, since the middle
Of May; and we know, also, that he can.
not go. even at this late date, over the Big
Tree route. He ought to yield his private
preferences to public necessity, and not
defer his departure until his favOrite route
becomes paSSable.
We do not miSrepreSent the route. Col.
Conner himself, in the spring of 1860,
was employed by the city Of Stockton. to
open the Big Tree route. He started on
his mission. full Of energy. enthusiasm
and hope, but he soon discovered that he
was engaged in hopeless task. Alter
incredible hardships aud suffering. with
the loss Of animals, be succeeded in cross
ing, but was compelled to return by the
2iacerville route. His men gave out and
felt reluctant to proceed farther, and he
gave them permission to return, and ell
Of them, il we mistake not, did 50, though
10th to leave their companion, who de-
termined to 60 through or perish. In =
letter to DR.. Holden, then Mayor Of Stock
ton, Col. Conner gave correct and thrill.
ling but discOuraging account Of his trip
and the road. We take the following cx.
tracts from his letter, written at Murphy's
Camp:
lost horse by exposure and cold the frat
night out, and em thankful that did not lose
the cattle too. had the cattle aud two hOFscs
packed when I started frOm here, and when
lost one sent the other back, OF would have
lost him also. Ny cattle will not be DC for
anything for . month 10 come.
Interested parties have misFepFessnted tho
road 70 me, BY stating the depth Of snow TO be
one half Leas GkGm q i. THERE Is NOT
i LEGO THAN R0nA FIVE TWRT " 2
FEET OF SNOW FOR FIFTY NILES
AHEAD; 90 you can imagine the time had
getting cattle even 20 far a. did. j. SEC.
cRn0es Uiscsi6e TO you The difficulties and hard
ships have endured for the last four days,
and what expect 70 endure before l get
through.
"Ifthis was entirely my own AFFAIR, money
could not hire me 70 undertake the journey
acrOss e present, bat - have been entrusted
With the usAtter Intend " carry Il through 10
the best of ny Hbility."
Not . favorable route, certainly, for
troops and wagons, BY his own evidence 3;
and yet he cOntemplates taking his CON-
mand over it. Last winter was noted for
its severity and for the immense amount
Of snow that fell; and it is probable,
SWutk ~ Suo uuubu1l CVOttbcoe vi Iuo
spring and summer, but little of il has
melted. No work has been done on the
Big Tree route-nO travel over it; and
it there was, as Col. Conner informs US
and We believe correctly, "JrOHs .fUe to
tsOstUs JsSt Of snOsO for fifty miles GheGG'
on it in May, 1850, there must be at least
that amount on IL, for the same distance,
at the present time. How long will it be
before wagons can pass over it? Is it
not ungenerous. to say the least, to CON-
pei troops to cross such dangerous route
IA route upon which their Colonel en-
counteVed so many difficulties and hard.
ships" when another, much shorter and
free from distractions, is OpenG We
have no disposition to find fault with Col.
Conner; we admire his gallantry and
esteem him as q friend, but We must be
permitted to remark that we think he
allows his prejudices to warp his judg.
ment, and that he ought, In justice to bis
command, to abandon the idea of taking
the Big Tree route, and take the Placer,
vile route.