36 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
Starting from St. Paul at 3; a. m. on the 28th, I reached our camp in about an hour, and 
had the pleasure of rousing the gentlemen of the expedition from their sleep. Captain Gardiner 
had located our camp on the borders of Lake Amelia, and, in honor of the President, I called it 
Camp Pierce. It was situated about nine miles from St. Paul, and about three northwest from 
Fort Snelling. About a quarter of a mile to the eastward lay another lake or pond, connected 
with Lake Amelia by a creek, which was very convenient for watering our animals, and formed 
a fine meadow on which they grazed. These lakes furnished us with fish in abundance, con- 
sisting of bass, pickerel, and sunfish. Dr. Suckley here made a very handsome natural history 
collection. 
The mules presented a fine appearance, and were apparently strong and healthy, though 
young and even more unbroken and unserviceable than I had feared. Not a single full team 
of broken animals could be selected, and well broken riding animals were essential, for most of - 
the gentlemen of the scientific corps were unaccustomed to riding. I felt that time was 
precious, .and a great difficulty to be overcome, so at once resolved that the whole force should 
set to work to break them. 
Fortunately my purchase of mules along the river enabled me to break in the animals rapidly 
to the teams, by which they were started several days earlier than otherwise could have been 
done. The grass, however, is backward, and some forage will be required on the road for a 
few days to come. 2 
After a brief visit to St. Paul in the course of the day to attend to business connected with 
supplies and information of the country, in which connexion I desire particularly to make my 
acknowledgments to Captain J. H. Simpson, United States Topographical Engineers, I finally, 
towards night, took up my quarters at Camp Pierce. I had, however, much positive informa- 
tion in regard to the country, derived from the labors of Mr. Lander. In obedience to his 
instructions he had, previous to my arrival at St. Paul, examined the several crossings of the 
Mississippi, as high up as the Little Falls, and had collected information as to the general 
character of the country on either bank of the river. There were good locations for railroad 
bridges at the Falls of St. Anthony; near the mouth of Sauk river ; at the mouth of the River 
Watab; near the mouth of Swan river; and near Little Falls. Indeed, the bridging of the 
Mississippi was found to be an entirely practicable undertaking, and the principal question 
was to select a point which would lead us on a practicable line on our general westward course, 
have an easy and as short a connexion as possible with Lake Superior, and be in a region of 
country over which we could pass our wagons. It was not doubted that a line could be run 
westward from the Falls of St. Anthony, but it would be through a wooded country, where 
much cutting would be required for our train. By crossing at Sauk Rapids we entered at once 
upon the Red river trail, known to be practicable, though thus early in the season somewhat 
difficult for wagons. The country westward from Little Falls, at least to Long Prairie, to 
which point it was examined, was extremely favorable; but there was the same difficulty in 
moving with a train as from the Falls of St. Anthony. The object of the exploration being to 
-determine the question of practicability, rather than the best route, and the details of locations, 
I determined to cross the Mississippi at Sauk Rapids, continuing for some time on the Red 
river trail, and then move as the information, yet to be collected; should determine. 
It will be observed that, notwithstanding my delays in St. Louis, I reached St. Paul in two 
