LETTER TO LIEUTENANT DONELSON. 63 



of the quartermaster and commissary department. Camille is assigned as an interpreter, with 

 an Indian guide of the Flathead tribe. 



Your general course will be by the Jocko river to the Clark s fork of the Columbia, thence to 

 where the fork was crossed by Lieutenant Saxton, westward of the Pend d Oreille lake, taking 

 either the route passed over by Lieutenant Saxton, or some practicable route between Clark s 

 fork and the Kootenaies river, and thence to near the Spokane house, at the crossing of the 

 Spokane river. Assign to Mr. Lander such duties in connexion with the railroad estimate and 

 side reconnaissance as will give the best result. The Bitter Root river should be examined, 

 and the route by Clark s fork reviewed, even should the general route be more to the north. 

 At the Pend d Oreille lake, a detached party, sent to Colville by the northern trail, might 

 intercept Captain McClellan; and at Colville, would be in a position to move westward to open 

 a connexion with his work. The Spokane crossing, near the Spokane house, is a central 

 position, trains leading therefrom both to Colville and Wallah- Wallah. At the crossing you 

 may expect intelligence of Captain McClellan s movements, and additional instructions either 

 from Captain McClellan or myself. Failing to receive intelligence or instructions, your general 

 course will be Olympia, by Wallah- Wallah, and the military road to Nisqually, and thence to 

 Olympia. But you have full discretion to reach Olympia, from the Spokane house, by any 

 other practicable route which may be detected in your progress through the country, taking the 

 precaution, however, to communicate with Wallah- Wallah, where instructions may await you 

 to the end, and by express purpose generally. At least six good horses should be reserved by 

 you. The party to Colville by the northern trail, from the crossing west of the Pend d Oreille 

 lake, place under the charge of Lieutenant Arnold, and instruct him, if he fail to hear from 

 Captain McClellan at Colville, to push beyond Colville to the base of the Cascade range; and 

 thence move to the south, along the eastern base of that range. Recollect the great object to be 

 accomplished, in the direction given by your operations, including those to Lieutenant Arnold, 

 is to connect your work with that of Captain McClellan, through the most practicable pass found 

 in the Cascade range by him; and to this every movement should tend. To this end you will 

 instruct Lieutenant Arnold, as he moves south, either to reach Olympia by Wallah- Wallah 

 and the military road, or by some other practicable route, as you may judge most judicious. 



In reference to Lieutenant Arnold s party, I will suggest that it be immediately organized, 

 to be prepared for any duties of reconnaissance, on which it may be desirable to detach him, 

 previously to arriving at the Clark s fork crossing. It should be a most efficiently organized 

 party. Besides his brother s assistance in astronomical observations, it is desirable he should 

 have an assistant for the compass line and topography, and an assistant for barometrical observ 

 ations. Endeavor so to organize his party, unless the deficiency of instruments renders it 

 impossible. I am of opinion that Mr. Lander s party should consist of not more than three 

 men besides himself. As you approach the country of the Kootenaies Indians, every exertion 

 should be made to secure their services as guides, as they are said to be well acquainted with 

 the routes you will take. You are requested to obtain every information possible in reference 

 to the Indian tribes you may meet, and I can recommend Mr. Kendall as one who would render 

 much assistance in this important branch of the work. You are also requested to learn what 

 you can in reference to the missions situated in the vicinity of your route, and also of the 

 Hudson s Bay settlements ; of both, whether their influence is beneficial or prejudicial to Ameri 

 can interests in their neighborhood. 



Enclosed you will find letters of introduction to officers in charge of Hudson s Bay posts at 

 Colville and Wallah- Wallah. 



Truly yours, &c., 



ISAAC I. STEVENS, 

 Governor of Washington Territory, in Charge of Expedition. 



Lieut. A. J. DONELSON, 



United States Corps of Engineers. 



