82 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



Benton, and surveyed the Marias pass, situated to the north of the 

 Blackibot or Cadot's pass, and proceeded to Olympia, Washington 

 Territory, by a new route through some pass in the Cascade moun- 

 tains. Lieutenant Grover was to make an accurate survey of the Mis- 

 souri river from the Falls to the mouth of the Yellow Stone, and then 

 across the Rocky mountains, in mid-winter on snow shoes, by the route 

 Lieutenant Saxton followed. His object was to test the climate in the 

 mountains during the most unfavorable season of the year. Mr. Doty 

 was left at Fort Benton to make meteorological and other observations 

 during the winter. He remained until the autumn of 1854, when he 

 proceeded to Washington Territory, and joined Governor Stevens. 



Most of these parties were provided with the means of making ob- 

 servations and collections in natural and physical science, and all have 

 faithfully carried out their instructions. 



Dr. Suckley, surgeon and naturalist to the main party, accompanied 

 Governor Stevens as far as the Flathead village, and thence down the 

 riv^er, as described. 



Dr. J. G. Cooper acted in the same capacity in connexion with 

 Captain McClellan's expedition. Both these gentlemen, aided by the 

 officers and assistants of the command, were occupied the whole time 

 in making extensive collections of the highest interest. Lieutenant 

 Donelson, with the party under his command, m proceeding up the 

 Missouri to Fort Union, spared no exertion to accomplish the same 

 object, and gathered a large collection of plants and of specimens in 

 alcohol. 



Dr. Evans, United States geologist for Oregon, accompanied by 

 Dr. B. F. Shumard, visited the Mauvaises Terres of Nebraska, in con- 

 nexion with Governor Stevens's exploration, and collected a very 

 extensive series of the fossil mammals and chelonians of that region, 

 embracing several species not previously found by him. He arrived 

 in Oregon late in 1853, and has since been engaged in completing his 

 regular explorations of the geology of Oregon and Washington, with 

 very important results. 



Since the completion of the survey. Dr. Suckley and Dr. Cooper 

 have continued their explorations most energetically. The former 

 spent several months at Steilacoom, on Fuget's Sound, as United Stales 

 surgeon of the post, and then went to the Dalles, from which point he 

 accompanied a party sent to Fort Boise, to chastise some Indians. 

 Dr. Cooper has been most of his time at Shoal-water bay. Both of 

 these gentlemen have collected and sent home, from their respective 

 stations, very valuable and extensive series of animals and plants, with 

 important notes on their habits and peculiarities. 



2. Survey of the route near the 38th parallel, under the late Coptairi Gim- 

 nison, and continued by Lieutenant BecTcwith. 



The party of Captain J. W. Gunnison originally consisted of him- 

 self in command, Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, commissary and quar- 

 termaster ; II. N. Kern, topographer and draughtsman ; J. H. Peters and 

 T. L. Homans, assistant engineers; Dr. Scheel, surgeon and mineralo- 

 gist; F. Kreutzfeldt, botanist and draughtsman ; together with an escort 



