The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-05
Dhc New Overland Houte. s6 y
THE NORTHERN OVERLAND ROgTE-THE FIRST En-
GRANT TRAIN eovERNMENT PROTECTION.

GRANT TRAIN GOVERNMENT PROTECTION.
fkrOm the San Francisco Herald, Dec. To- Ra'
Among the passengers who viii san on tho Golden Age
tomorrow are Captain James A. Fisk United States
Army, who came here few days since from Oregon
sished by tho United States government TO protect
emgrant train that. left Minnesota months since
Route The guard consisted Of nifty men, enlisted the
iuto and the officers commanding it were:-Captan
James L. Fisk, Assistant Quartcrmastcr United States
Army Commander; Il. N. Burritt First Assistant N p.
LanEford Second Assistant and Commissary Samuel r.
nond Secretary David Charlton, Engineer VIM d. Disb
hippewa Interpreter Geo. Gere, Sioux Interpreter; c.
Some the parties here named returned 70 the States
whom they had reached Washington Territory. The guard
proper was dsbanded reaching this coast ani most
sssn Fisk ana other ofcers pushed forward !.
5ea Francisco, and all these will sail for tho East to-
morrow Capt FISK, we may remark was formerly edi-
in Tennessee under Gen. Buell. and
T. take hand again in the terrible game OF war Mr..
s.me with the train impelcd BY love OF adventure.
From him reporter ID indebted for the interesting
Last spring the government sss apart the small sum Of
H for the purpose Of sending an escort 20 aid and
et such emigrants as desired 70 cross the plains
We northern route from Fort Abercrombie 70 Fsrt Ben
ton which was thought might prove better and nearer
than any heretofore pursued The designation Of this
tate day that but little time could DO given for those
might wish TO jsn the train TO mako their arrange
snusn lees than il would otherwise have been Fort
Absrcrombe was The place Of rendezvous and the train
soossiins Of one hundred and thirty smrans, including
thirteen women, nfty three wagons, twelve pound
ounain howtzer and two hundred and twenty head q
stock mostly Oxen started from that post the h Of
STRUCK out in : due vest oourss, over . country
whore there was no trail. and whore no white man
90 vernon stevens in 1853 would occasionally coincide
The country rst travelled ever rich, well grassed
and level prairie, ancrding good road and plenty q
ystsr and grazing and chcquesed with N abundance q
Tns party were obliged 70 ooasssue, but three bridges
q days Ths prairie vas evs Or only gently rolling until
ehsy reached Fort Union, with ths exception u the Co
s e :s y;y s az sG they
trading post o. the American Fur Company, on the Ms
s s sss %SSs S 90 :s
Fort Union 20 Fort BENTON distance Of ss7 miles, their
Evuiela lay up the Missouri and MIX river valleys and
81 on he 9Th q september From that poin. their
yre was over Lieutenant Mulans road About sixty Of
,ns pesr vaey where ,.y ma
and good place 10 winter This valley 40 miles
This side Of Fort along ihs Prcky Pear river
tributary Of tho Missouri II abounds with game some
oAers Of the party stopped In the Bitter Root valley
HE longest drive without water was that q iweuy
All The way With Se exception q Snort distances aions
MIX river aud In the Occur dAlene mountains. On the
Sin day out from Abeconbse they killed three buao
and we're at time without suterabaniancc OF fresh
has0 meat, from that time until they arrived In the i'm
mediae vicinity Of Fort Benton The number Of buffalo
seen along the n estimated at from three 10 -four
smiIlsons and several were killed every day.
Indians met with accustomed further trouble ~
annoyance than their begging habits always ndict
travellers Tbsre not an animal lost on the whole
"TRIP the heath OF the party exceoct That por
Of the country passed which Ia devoid Of tmbe
covered With buffalo chips, which answer every pur
pose FOR fuel.
THIS cxredcn, therefore which wac projected and
n1cted experiment 70 have demonstrated tn
entire practicabiy OF this route and 10 recommend
hHhy Tor future emigration 10 tho rich gold fields
farming lands west u Tho mountains This expeditipn
the very limited dITYnsgi ccrtain
made remarkably eucccssfui journey and Que that ma
10 franght with very important results