SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 11 



fitted out for exploring the river St. Peter's and the coun- 

 try situated on the northern boundary of the United States 

 between the Red River of Hudson's Bay and Lake Su- 

 perior." 



The command of the expedition was intrusted to Major 

 S. H. Long, and he received orders from the War Depart- 

 ment, dated April 25, 1823, of which the following is an 

 extract : — 



" The route of the expedition will be as follows : — com- 

 mencing at Philadelphia, thence proceeding to Wheeling 

 in Virginia, thence to Chicago via Fort Wayne, thence to 

 Fort Armstrong or Dubuque's Lead Mines, thence up the 

 Mississippi to Fort St. Anthony, thence to the source of 

 the St. Peter's river, thence to the point of intersection be- 

 tween Red River and the forty-ninth degree of north lati- 

 tude, thence along the northern boundary of the United 

 States to Lake Superior, and thence homeward by the 

 Lakes. 



" The object of the expedition is to make a general sur- 

 vey of the country on the route pointed out, together with 

 a topographical description of the same, to ascertain the 

 latitude and longitude of all the remarkable points, to 

 examine and describe its productions, animal, vegetable, 

 and mineral ; and to enquire into the character, customs, 

 &c. of the Indian tribes inhabiting the same."* 



The advanced state of the season admitting of no delay, 

 the necessary preparations for the expedition were hastily 

 made, and the party left Philadelphia on the 30th of April 

 — consisting of Stephen H. Long, Major United States' 



• Reference was also made to the insti'uctions which were issued by 

 the War Department at tlie commencement of the Expedition to the 

 Rocky Mountains, an extract of which is inserted in the Journal of 

 that expedition. 



