Year: 1862




from ST. Louis to the mouth of the COlum-


bia--by CAPT. JOHN MULLAN, U. S. A.


Many detailed surveys were made of the mouth
of the Columbia and its approaches, from the
North and the South. Soundings were made of
the two channels the position of the breakers,
Chose terrorS to safe navigation, which, like mon
Sters of the deep stand, as grim sentines, at the
portals of the Columbia, ever ready to contest the
right of navigation to this noble river) was given
and marked on the map; and, for the first time
in the history of the geography of the country, had
we correct map of the interior through which
the Columbia and its tributaries fow Days thus
spent in mapping the coast and river, and nights
in observing the heavens for their exact position,
brought them to the end of the rainy season and
to the time for resuming their duties in retracing
their steps.


The month of March, 1906, was chosen for
their return trip, and, toiling against the ungen-
current of the Columbia and its tributaries,
they reached the western base of the Bitter Root
mountains by the last of May, where the SHOWS of
the mountains still ten feet deep, caused them to
halt and delay the passage of the range to later
date


Their supplies were scanty-their bulk of goods
wherewith to barter, reduced to a handful, and
hence, the opportunities for trade and exchange
with the Indians were much diminished. The
Nez Perces Indians, however, who had taken care
of their horses during the winter, were kind and
generous to them, and what with hunting fishing
and bartering, they we're outftted for their on
ward journey.


They recrossed the Bitter Root mountains in
June, by the same pass through which they had
sought the main Columbia, and the early days of
July found them once more encamped in the beau
tiful and genial valley of the Bitter Root where
the expedition divided into two parties, the one,
under Capt. Clark, seeking the head waters of the
Yellowstone, to be followed to its mouth-at
which point the second, under Capt Lewis, was
to be met-they in the meanwhile crossing the
main range of the Rocky mountains, via Lewis
and Clark's pass !" and following the Missouri to
the journey of few days brought them once more
to the scattered settlements along the Missouri
border, and, finally, to the small village of st.
Louis. Here they were greeted with open arms,
the firing of guns, and a season of genial festvity


Thus was brought to a close in success and
safety the first, and doubtless one of the most re-
markable overland journeys ever performed un-
der the auspices of the American Government


81 t. I'll
the Blackfeet tribe-gave them cause for alarm
or detention. The commanders, except in the
case of Capt. Clark, when accidentally disabled by
one of his men, (who, taking him for an elk, fred
and wounded him. were ever foremost and first
where danger and exposure were to be met and
save the periods when starvation stared them in
the face by day and haunted their sleep at night
the utmost contentment, cheerfulness and good
fellowship prevailed; and there is no doubt-as
the record of their journey bears full internal evi
dence thereof-but that all the elements of sue
cess so entered into the composition Of this party
and they were so moulded and directed that we
might have anticipated the end from the begin
ming that the Government had not erred in Sc
leClluB lue IDtu IL ulu oO anu
task.


When completed, not only did our citizens, but
the world at large, begin to see that there were
objects and ends in this movement of great ma
tional Importance to our own Government, and
strongly indicative OF its history during the past
half century. The great principle of Territorial
expansion was then, for the first time, determined
upon; and it is gratifying to know that the fore
sight of the Statesmen of that day was not limit
ed by time, distance or sectional feeling Peering
far into the years yet locked up in the womb Of
the future, and standing upon the western con-
fines of our own now ocean girt Republic, they
could see the Pacific whitened by the sail of an
American commerce, starting from the now open
ports of China and Japan, laden with the silks
the teas, the spices, and the wares of an eastern
industry, and sailing for our own golden and land
locked ports, to be there freighted with the spars
the piles, the masts, the lumber the fisheries and
gold of our labor-rewarding soil.


1t was vision--more than visionary; it was
one well founded, that told the mariner his long
and tedious voyage, either by the Cape of Good
Hope, or through the blighting climate of Egypt
and the Red Sea, was to be followed no longer
either for the pleasure of the valetudinarian or th'
profit of the millionaire. 1t was one which told