EIPEDITIOJf TOWARD TEE N#STH POLE. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO CAPTAIN HALL, BY HON. G. M. EOBESON, SECRETARY 



OF THE NAVY. 



Navy DepartjMENT, June 9, 1871. 

 Sir : Having- been appointed, by tlie President of the United States, 

 commander of the expedition toward tbe North Pole, and the steamer 

 Polaris having been fitted, equipped, provisioned, and assigned for the 

 purpose, you are placed in command of the said vessel, her ofiicers and 

 crew, for the purposes of the said expedition. Having taken command, 

 you will proceed in the vessel, at the earliest possible date, from the navy- 

 yard in this city to New York. From New York you will proceed to 

 the first favorable port you are able to make on the west coast of Green- 

 land, stopping, if you deem it desirable, at St. Johns, Newfoundland. 

 From the first port made by you, on the west coast of Greenland, if farther 

 south than Holsteinberg, you will proceed to that port, and thence 

 to Goodhaven, (or Lively,) in the island of Disco. At some one of the 

 ports above referred to you will probably meet a transport, sent by the 

 Department, with additional coal and stores, from which you will supply 

 yourself to the fnllest carrying capacity of the Polaris. Should you fall 

 in with the transport before making either of the ports aforesaid, or 

 should you obtain information of her being at, or having landed her 

 stores at any port south of the island of Disco, you will at once proceed 

 to put yourself in communication with the commander of the transport, 

 and supply yourself witli the additional stores and coal, taking such 

 measures as may be most expedient and convenient for that purpose. 

 Should you not hear of the transport before reaching Holsteinberg, you 

 will remain at that port, waiting for her and your supplies, as long as 

 the object of your expedition will permit you to delay for that purpose. 

 After waiting as long as is safe, under all the circumstances as they may 

 present themselves, you will, if you do not hear of the transport, pro- 

 ceed to Disco, as above provided. At Disco, if you hear nothing of the 

 transport, you will, after waiting as long as you deem it safe, supply 

 yourself, as far as you may be able, with such supplies and articles as 

 you may need, and proceed on your expedition without further delay. 

 From Disco you will proceed to Upernavik. At these two last-named 

 places you will procnre dogs and other Arctic outfits. If you think it 

 of advantage for the purpose of obtaining dogs, &c., to stop at Tossak, 

 you will do so. From Upernavik, or Tossak, as the case may be, you 

 will proceed across Melville Bay to Cape Dudley Digges, and thence 

 you will make all possible progress, with vessels, boats, and sledges, 



