30 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



On the junction of Lieutenants Donelson and Mullein s parties with the party at St. Mary s, 

 leaving at that post for the winter the animals unahle to proceed, I shall have sufficient trans 

 portation to mount well every member of the survey, and with good packs be able to push for 

 ward, making forced marches of thirty-five and forty miles per day, if the season compels us 

 to move so rapidly. 



The unexpected arrival of Lieutenant Saxton with the information he has brought, changes, 

 in several respects, my plans announced in letters written at this point on the 8th of September, 

 and sent forward by Dr. Evans, who left on the 10th with packs for Oregon, and will connect 

 with the mails to the Atlantic States some fortnight earlier than myself. I cannot do better at 

 this time than enclose those copies, and make them part of this letter. I apprehend, however, 

 that this will reach you before they possibly can. 



In those letters I have briefly referred to our progress up to this point, and have frankly 

 given a statement of the balance of the allotment of the appropriation for the survey intrusted 

 to my charge. By the middle of October that will have been exhausted, and I have sent my 

 estimates of what I regard actually necessary to continue the survey. I must refer you to Lieu 

 tenant Saxton in person for much valuable information in connexion with our work its progress, 

 and its certainty of success. I must earnestly recommend the appropriation, at an early date 

 in the session, of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to continue all the surveys for the 

 fiscal year ending June 30, 1854 ; and, should they make such appropriation, forty thousand 

 as the allotment for this survey. The information brought by Lieutenant Saxton is of so im 

 portant a character that I have thought it advisable to send him to Washington city to prepare 

 his report, and communicate in person with the departments. He will be accompanied by Mr. 

 D. S. Hoyt, his assistant in the quartermaster s department, and Sergeant Collins, of the 

 detachment of sappers and miners, who will assist him in his office work. 



I have concluded to send back from this point four non-commissioned officers and thirteen 

 dragoons, whose services are no longer required, and they have been placed in charge of Lieu 

 tenant Saxton. Four discharged quartermaster s employes, who crossed the mountains with 

 him, and three of my party who desired to be relieved from duty at this place, also go down 

 the river to St. Louis. Sergeant Collins, who has been connected with the main party, has 

 been unable to cross the mountains, in consequence of a severe attack of dysentery. Too much 

 cannot be said in commendation of his merits since his connexion with the party. Lieutenant, 

 Donelson, in his report of the survey of the Missouri, notices his efficient service, and since his 

 connexion with the main party as assistant topographer he has performed his duties admi 

 rably. 



Of Mr. D. S. Hoyt, connected with Lieutenant Saxton as his assistant, I would merely say, 

 that Lieutenant Saxton speaks of his labors as being in the highest degree satisfactory. He 

 and Sergeant Collins are detailed for office duty with Lieutenant Saxton in assisting in the pre 

 paration of his-report, and in resuming the survey next year. The following is a statement of 

 the results already accomplished, those which will be gained during the remainder of the season 

 and in the winter, and those which may be expected from the continuance of the survey, from 

 the resumption of operations in the spring to the close of the next fiscal year. 



RESULTS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED. 



1. A line drawn from the Dalles of the Columbia to the head of navigation of the Missis 

 sippi. 



2. The ascertainment that Cadotte s Pass, in the Rocky mountains, is nearly 3,000 feet below 

 the South Pass, and is a much better route, both in summer and in winter. 



3. That this pass connects by the plateau between the Milk and Missouri rivers, rising gently 

 to the mountains west from Fort Benton, and by the valley of the St. Mary s and other valleys, 

 extending for 150 miles alojjg the western base of the Rocky mountains, with the several known 



