13 EXPLORATION FROM A. D. 1852 To A. D. 1851. 
up this stream to the base of the mountains; thence his course was along the east base of the 
mountains to Maria’s river ; thence in a nearly north direction to Chief's Mountain lake. On 
his return the route was nearly south to Maria's river; thence along that stream a short 
distance; thence south to Birch river; thence southeast to the Teton, which stream was 
followed to Fort Benton. 
Mr. Doty made another reconnaissance in July, 1854, from Fort Benton to St. Mary's, 
following the same route as pursued by the main train in 1853, to a point within ten miles of 
the divide of the Rocky mountains. There he turned due west, and crossed the divide. He 
then followed the general direction of the Blackfoot to its junction with Hell-Gate river; 
thence he followed up the Bitter Root to St. Mary's and Cantonment Stevens. On the return 
the party followed the Bitter Root valley to Hell-Gate; thence up that river to the mouth 
of the Little Blackfoot; thence over nearly the same trail as on the journey from Fort Benton 
to Cantonment Stevens. = 
On the "th of September Mr. Doty left Fort Benton for Olympia. The route lay up the 
Teton river to the Great North bend; thence southwest to the trail pursued by the main party 
which led him to Cantonment Stevens, on the Bitter Root river. Leaving the Bitter Root 
valley he proceeded, by way of the St. Regis Borgia river, to the Cœur d' Alene Mission; 
whence he pursued a southwesterly course to Fort Walla-Walla. Leaving Walla-Walla he 
went up the Columbia to the Yakima river; thence up that stream to its source; thence 
through the Yakima Pass to Olympia. 
Lieutenant Mullan being left at Cantonment Stevens, on the Bitter Root river, to v 
observations in the mountains during the winter, made several reconnaissances. He was 
assisted by Mr. Adams as topographer and artist. The maps of the routes were made from 
compass courses and generally estimated distances. 
Lieutenant Mullan's first reconnaissance was made in December to Fort Hall, on the Lewis 
Fork, and back. His route lay up the Bitter Root to its source; thence across the valley of 
the streams forming the Wisdom river; thence up the valley of the southeast branch of 
Jefferson Fork; thence into the valley of the Medicine Lodge ereek; thence across the Camas 
prairie to Snake river, (striking it near Market lake;) and thence to Fort Hall. On the 19th 
of December the party commenced their return to the Bitter Root valley. On reaching the 
Camas prairie, Lieutenant Mullan diverged to the east of the route by which he went to Fort 
Hall, and passing the dividing ridge continued a northerly course across the branch of 
Jefferson Fort. Thence he passed over to the south branch of Hell-Gate river, and pro- 
ceeding by way of its valley returned to his cantonment. 
Lieutenant Mullan again left the Bitter Root valley on the 1st March, 1854, to examine a 
new route to Fort Benton. This route was up the Hell-Gate river to its junction with the 
little Blackfoot; thence up that stream to its source, where he crossed the dividing ridge, and 
proceeded nearly north to the Missouri river and thence to Fort Benton. He went 9 to 
the Bitter Root valley over nearly the same route. 
An odometer line was run over the whole route, and sketches of the principal lini of 
the country were taken. Lieutenant Mullan on this journey travelled with wagons, and the 
pass through which he crossed the mountain divide he pisi» Hell-Gate Pass. It is some 
times spoken of as Mullan’s Pass. ۱ 
Lieutenant Mullan again left the Bitter Root niin on fie 14th April, 1854, to continue the 
explorations of the country between the main ridge of the Rocky mountains and the Bitter 
