LETTERS TO MR. TINKHAM AND TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 69 
I hope to meet Mr. Owen, by whom I will send some powder; and I think you will be able 
to get from him some sugar, coffee, and other indispensable articles. As regards the expresses, 
I shall make every endeavor to establish them, but may not succeed. 
It is a matter which I deem of very great importance, that you should receive intelligence 
from us, and that we should hear of your movements; and you may rest assured that no effort 
on my part will be wanting. 
Our parties are all now to move to Wallah-Wallah and the Dalles, where we shall leave the 
animals; thence to Columbia barracks, when the men will be discharged and the office force 
made up, which will proceed to Olympia by way of the Columbia and Cowlitz rivers. 
Yours, truly, : 
ISAAC I. STEVENS. 
Lieutenant Muay, 
St. Mary's Village. 
No. 14. 
Camp WASHINGTON, 
Twelve Miles South of Spokane House, October 29, 1853. 
Dear Str: We have met at this place the eastern and western divisions, and our success is 
complete. Captain McClellan has found two passes through the Cascade ridge, north of Mount 
Rainier. Last evening we had a supper, at which you were particularly remembered, and your 
services referred to. 
I have met Jack, the guide of Lieutenant Macfeely, who speaks of the Nez Perces trail to 
Wallah-Wallah as quite severe. They were twenty-two days in going—stopping two days, 
however, for a missing man—and lost twenty animals. They did not get on the true trail, 
however ; in the words of the guide, they struck too high up. This letter will probably reach 
St. Mary’s about the time of your arrival there; and I think before deciding to go by the 
southern Nez Perces route, in conformity with instructions already received, you should get all 
possible information from the Indians. 
There seems to be no doubt that the route by Clark’s fork, taken by Lieutenants Saxton and 
Donelson, is the best in a severe season; and you have authority, should your information lead 
you to the belief that the Nez Perces route will expose you to too much risk, to take this route. 
In reference to the goods for your guide, I have them together, and will send them by Mr. 
Owen, if we meet him, as I trust we shall; but if not, you had better arrange with Mr. Owen, 
at St. Mary’s, to pay him there. 
All parties will move from this point to Wallah-Wallah and the Dalles, where the animals 
will be left over winter; thence to Columbia barracks, when the men will be discharged, and 
then to Olympia for office-work, 
Truly yours, &c., 
ISAAC I. STEVENS. 
N. B.—The goods for your guide are as follows: four blankets, four pair leggins (cloth.) 
A. W. TINKHAM. 
OtymptaA, Wasutneton Trrrrrory, 
December 19, 1853. 
Sm: During the last week the parties of Captain McClellan and Lieutenant Donelson have 
reached Olympia, and are now prepared to enter upon the office-work. During this week 
Captain McClellan will leave this place to explore the region west of the Cascade mountains, 
with a view of bringing the railroad line down to a good harbor on Puget sound; to deter- 
