The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-05
The New Overland Route. 81
THR NORTHERN OVERLAND ROgTE-THE FIRST


GRANT TRAIN GOVERNMENT PROTECTION.
Ikrom TIM San Francisco Herald, Dec. l0l sl
% sa FISK United STATS
Army, who came here few days since from Oregon,
which place he lately reached as chief q guard fur
emigrant that. left Minnesota months since,
and came to this coast by way Of Stevens Northern
iut0 and the officers commanding il were--Captain
lanes L. Fisk Assistant Quartcrmaster United States
Army Commander f. Ii. Burrtt, First Assistant N. r.
Langford, Second Assistant and Commssary Samuel r.
Bond, Secretary David Charlton, Engineer VIM d. Dibb,
H. D.. surgeon and Physician Pierre Botneau Guide and
ippewa Interpreter; Geo. Gere, Sioux Interpreter R. G.
Some Of the parties here named returned 70 the states
whom they had reached Washington territory The guard
saan Fisk ana other obcers pushed forward =
morrow Capt Fisk we may remark was formerly ed
Tor Of paper, published In Indiana He has active
service in tennessee under Gen. Buell. and now returns
ss take hand again m the terrible game OF war Mr..
Bond practicng lawyer In st. Paul. Minnesota, and
sumo with the train, mpelled BY love Of adventure
acts which We herewith suboin.
Last spring the governments apart the small Of
let such emsrans a. desired 70 cross the plains over
We northern route, from Fort Abercrombe 70 Fsrt Ben
ton which was thought might prove better and nearer
route and Of Capt. Fisk 10 its command made so
tate day that but little time could be given for those
Who might wish TO sn the train 70 mako their arrange
spents 10 do and the emigration was consequently
snuch lees than IL would otherwise have been Fort
soossiing Of one hundred and thirty emgsnss including
thirteen women, nfty-th wagons, . twelve pound
ounain howitsor and two hundred and twenty bead Of
mostly started from that post the Tn Of
July, and, under the guidance Of Pierre Botsineau,
struck ont In . due west oourse, over . country
ind travelled except whsro their route and that q
60 Stevens In 1853 would oscasioually coincide
1Ae country nrst travelled ever was ricn ven asssd
and level prairie, anordng good road and plenty q
Faisr and grazing and chequssed with a abundance Of
~ usrty were OBLIGED % coastyucs but three brds,s
nod NOT delayed IN consequence Than couple
u days. Tho prairie was level or only gently rolling until
sssy ss.cnSa Fort uS'So WIN ne s,ospo' e The Co
were two days crossing. Thsy rssched Fort uniona
trading post q the American Fur Company, on the ME-
s% FO ss q 90
Fort Union 70 Fort Benton distance Of 3o7 miles, their
ssssraIiy level and easy They arrived 4 The latter
fsrt The 9th Of september. From that point their
ypute over Lieutenant MulAns road About sixty o.
the Prcky Pear valley whore they found gold prospects
and good place 70 winter This valley Is ITO mles
tributary Of tho Missouri II abounds with game some
O1crs Of the party stopped In the Bitter Rost valley
,n 10 NJ s,ae ~ snaSs ,ss IA snss " swy
AL the way with The exception Of short distance along
NsIk river aud In the Occur dAiene mountains On the
9th day out from Abercornbte, they killed three baaio
and az time without sgperab lniance of fresh
saAIo meat, from that time until they arrived in the i'm,
meuiaf8 VICINITY W IOrt f'nnSon lEe NUMBER " OuUaO
seen along the route estimated At from three 10 four
vmiIlions, and several were killed every day.
mo Indians met with accustomed further trcnble
annoyance than their begging habits always lnalc, on
travellers, There not an animal lost the whole
"Trip and the heath OF the party exrelort That
of the country which devoid Of timber
covered with buffalo chips, which answer every pur
pose FOR fuel
~ ms err therefore which we projected ana con
&1ced experiment 20 have demonstrated thu
entire practcabiity OF this route, and 10 recommend
hghly for future emigration 70 Tho rich god fields anG
stn
with the very limited means al e deposa has certa n,
made remarkably successful Journey and one that mai
~ frnnohl with ~ lrru rcs,llts