104 NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY LOSS OF ESCORT. 



Sheridan and the dragoon detachment, thus reserving only such portion as I deemed indis- 

 pensable. Lieutenant Crook would still be required as commissary and quartermaster. Accord- 

 ingly, Lieutenant Gibson, with the remainder of the men, proceeded to Fort Jones and Fort 

 Reading, from which places they were drawn. It now becomes necessary, in the prosecution of 

 the duties assigned to me, to proceed to California, where I am instructed to make further 

 surveys. The road leads through the Unipqua, Rogue river, and Siskiyou mountains, which 

 are filled with hostile Indians. But three days ago I received intelligence of five men being 

 murdered on the main road in the last mentioned mountains, and the newspapers for the last two 

 months have been filled with accounts of Indian depredations in that vicinity. Without an 

 escort, I shall incur the risk of losing my animals, and perhaps placing my men in a critical 

 position. 



The animals of the dragoons have been travelling in the field for nearly three months., sub- 

 sisting upon grass, and the officer commanding the escort reports them unfit for service in any 

 expedition where they will have to make other than short marches and cannot be provided 

 with grain. Three animals have already completely given out, and had to be left at the head of 

 the Willamette valley. These animals can go to Fort Lane, on a good road, where forage can 

 be obtained every day, and there I expected to exchange them for fresh ones, with which to 

 prosecute the other surveys ; but they are incapable of being applied to the use for which you 

 require them. The small number of men will be of great service to me, and they will not 

 materially increase your forces in the field. Should I increase my party by hiring citizens, or 

 should I lose my animals, in consequence of not having a proper escort, I shall incur expense 

 which will fall upon an appropriation designed for a different object, and a deficiency in the 

 amount to be devoted to the survey and office work may materially diminish the value of the 

 results of the expedition, for which so large an amount has already been expended, and the 

 importance of which, as estimated by the War Department, may be judged by the large appro- 

 priation (.$42,000) and the large number of men devoted to obtaining the information desired. 



I have the honor, &c, &c, 



R. S. WILLIAMSON, U. S. Top. Engs. 



Maj. G-. J. Rains, Uh infantry, U. S. Army, 



Commanding Columbia Biver and Puget Sound district. 



Letter of Lieutenant Henry L. Abbot, United States Topographical Engineers, to Major G. J. 



Eains, Fourth Infantry, United States army. 



Vancouver, Washington Territory, 



October 21, 1855. 



Sir : I have the honor to report to you that I have arrived here with my detached surveying 

 party, and have found that Lieutenant Williamson has returned to California by steamer, and 

 left me in command of his whole party, with orders to proceed at once and survey the route 

 from Vancouver, by Forts Lane and Jones, to Fort Reading. I deem it my duty before 

 starting to explain to you the very embarrassed state in which the loss of my escort places me, 

 thinking this may induce you to modify your previous instructions, and allow the eighteen 

 dragoons, with Lieutenant Sheridan, to rejoin me. 



As Lieut. Williamson, in his letter to you of the 10th inst., has explained very fully the 



