32 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
As the route was comparatively new and unexplored, it was determined to organize the 
whole command into two divisions—the eastern division being under my immediate direction, 
and the western division under Captain George B. McClellan, of the corps of engineers, who 
was ordered to report to me, and whose field of duty is best shown by the following extract 
from the general instructions: “А second party will proceed at once to Puget Sound and 
explore the passes of the Cascade range, meeting the eastern party between that range and 
the Rocky mountains, as may be arranged by Governor Stevens.”’ 
To this party were assigned Lieutenant J. K. Duncan, United States army, and Dr. J. G. 
Cooper, surgeon and naturalist. Lieutenant Duncan left New York on the 5th of May, and 
was instructed to repair to the Columbia river, and make every possible arrangement in the 
way of collecting transportation and supplies in anticipation of the arrival there of Captain 
McClellan, who being in Texas at the time of his assignment to the command of the western 
division, was necessarily late in reaching Washington city. Dr. Cooper accompanied him. 
Captain McClellan arrived on the 8th of May, and, besides the charge of the western division, 
was, under the direction of the Secretary of War, assigned to the charge, under my general 
supervision, of opening the military road from Fort Steilacoom to Fort Walla-Walla. Leaving 
on the steamer of the 20th of May, he was joined on his way by Mr. Jos. Minter, as assistant 
engineer, and, on his arrival on the Columbia, organized his scientific corps by the addition of 
Lieutenant 8. Mowry, United States army, as meteorologist; Mr. Geo. Gibbs, as ethnologist, 
geologist, and interpreter. Lieutenant H. C. Hodges, 4th infantry, was assigned to duty with 
him, in command of the escort, and as acting quartermaster and commissary. 
Lieutenant Saxton was assigned to duty with the exploration as quartermaster and commis- 
sary, and was directed to repair to the Columbia valley, organize a suitable party, and establish 
a depot of four thousand rations of provisions in the Bitter Root valley. He was to make the 
best examination of the route which his means afforded, and when the depot was established 
was directed to continue on his course eastward until he joined the eastern division. Fort 
Benton was indicated in his instructions as the point of meeting. Thus, in fact, three distinct 
parties were in the field : the eastern division, the western division, and the party under Lieu- 
tenant Saxton. 
I relied upon Lieutenant Saxton gaining such knowledge of the country intermediate between 
the two division, as would enable me to combine their labors and insure the exploration of the 
whole route in a single season. Much attention was given by me to the collecting of all exist- 
ing information. All the books bearing upon the subject were carefully examined, and a map, 
on a large scale, was compiled, showing everything which had been published. A copy of this 
map was placed in the hands of chiefs of parties. Lieutenant Donelson was despatched to 
Montreal to confer with Sir George Simpson, for the purpose of gaining information in regard 
to the route, to secure guides from the Red River settlement, and to obtain provisions and 
supplies from the Hudson Bay posts in case of necessity. Many instruments were to be made. 
The portable transit and the barometers were all constructed after the issuing of my instruc- 
tions of April 8. : 
After considering Ње subject maturely, I determined to rendezvous the main party іп a camp 
near St. Paul, and thence to start on the survey. To send a small party up the Missouri, 
making a survey of the river on the way up, to establish a post at Fort Union, and examine 
