28 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



Pacific, in consequence of the impracticable character of that portion of the Bitter Boot ranges 

 of mountain lying immediately west of the St. Mary s valley. Should, however, a good pass 

 be found leading to the Little Salmon fork of Snake river, and should this route to the Pacific 

 prove more feasible than more northern routes, then Cadotte s Pass will more naturally lead to 

 it, and to the preferable one. Dr. Evans s survey shows that a railroad line can be run on 

 nearly a straight course from the mouth of Milk river, between the Milk and Missouri, to the 

 falls, and which, in connexion with a good pass in the Bitter Root range west of St. Mary s, 

 would make the route by Cadotte s Pass, the Little Salmon, or Kooskooskia river, not only a 

 remarkably direct route, but one that, by branches to Puget sound, to the Willamette valley of 

 Oregon, and even to California, would afford great facilities to emigrants to both Territories, 

 and be in connection with the great port of the Pacific. I shall give as much attention as 

 practicable to the passes in this direction, though they are represented to me as entirely 

 impracticable. 



I have established at this place a meteorological and supply post, under the charge of Mr. 

 Doty, with Corporal Kouster, of the dragoon detachment, to assist in charge of property; 

 Private Lynt, of the sappers and miners, to assist in observations ; and Hugh Robie, laborer 

 and cook. Mr. Doty has rendered service on the route in the astronomical and magnetic obser 

 vations, having been placed in charge of the latter observations a few days since. He is 

 exceedingly well qualified for his duties, well educated, of decided character, of experience as 

 a woodman, a hunter, and in intercourse with Indians. He will devote himself to the mag 

 netic and meteorological observations, to getting in the topography to the base and into the 

 passes of the mountains, and to maintaining the present friendly feelings of the Blackfeet 

 Indians. A copy of his instructions is herewith enclosed. 



From the post established at St. Mary s, as announced in my letter of the 8th instant, I 

 expect the most valuable results, not only as illustrating the meteorology of the region west of 

 the mountains, but in knowledge of the several passes by actual survey made before operations 

 are resumed in the spring. 



Lieutenant Saxton left New York on the 5th of May, and, taking the Isthmus route, arrived 

 in San Francisco on the 1st of June. During the time he remained, delayed by procuring an 

 outfit for his journey to the Flathead village, intelligent gentlemen pronounced his undertaking 

 difficult, and iricleed impracticable, from the hostility of the Indians, and the character of the 

 country. He had intended to accomplish his labors with a small party of from four to six men. 

 Not able to discourage him, they advised him to enlarge his force, and be attended with an 

 escort. On the 27th of June he reached the Columbia barracks, and proceeded to organize his 

 party and prepare his train. The most experienced and intelligent men there, including Gov 

 ernor P. S. Ogden, chief factor of the Hudson s Bay Company, discouraged his efforts, and 

 predicted his entire failure of getting through this season in consequence of the bad country 

 towards the mountains. Upon the urgent persuasion of these gentlemen, Lieutenant Saxton 

 resolved, in carrying out his instructions, to take a larger party than originally contemplated. 



On the 1st of July Lieutenant Saxton sent forward Lieutenant Arnold, 3d artillery, with the 

 greater portion of the men and provisions to the Dalles, remaining at Columbia barracks to 

 complete his arrangements. On the 18th of July the organization of this party was perfected, 

 and he started for the mountains, his force consisting of Lieutenant Saxton, 4th artillery, in 

 command; Lieutenant Richard Arnold, 3d artillery, astronomer; Mr. Lyman Arnold, his 

 assistant; Lieutenant Macfeely and eighteen soldiers, of the 4th infantry, as an escort; Mr. D. 

 S. Hoyt, assistant quartermaster s department; one packmaster, one assistant paokmaster, 

 twenty-three packers, and two herders. 



Lieutenant Saxton encountered many obstacles on his march which were calculated to deter 

 a man of less energy and force of character. The whole of one day he was crossing a sandy 

 desert, the sand at a temperature of 150 Fahrenheit. On reaching the Pend d Oreille lake, 

 the supplies were all carried across in canoes, and, when over, they discovered that the prairie 



