NARRATIVE OF 1853. 39 
officers and gentlemen of the scientific corps will take the boat at the Falls on Monday and reach 
Sauk Rapids Tuesday evening, where an astronomical and magnetic station will be established. 
I sent off, in charge of Mr. Simpson, a small party of wagons, the mountain howitzer, Cor- 
poral Coster and three men with twelve pack mules. А report from Mr. Lander, at Sauk 
Rapids, announcing his encampment on the west side of the Mississippi and giving notes of the 
camping ground, enabled me to furnish information to Mr. Tinkham and the teams in charge 
of Doty and Simpson, to regulate their marches. 
One of the curiosities of our vicinity, which was sketched by Mr. Stanley, and which is 
shown in the accompanying sketch, (No. 2,) is the Minne-ha-ha, or the Laughing Water, called 
also Brown's Falls. It is situated west of the Mississippi, and distant about three miles from 
Fort Snelling. Ten miles above the Falls the stream flows from Lake Calhoun, and it passes 
through a level but fertile prairie, its margin decked with a wholesome growth of willow, 
poplar, and hazel, while at a short distance there are little forests of black-jack (Quercus imbri- 
caria, Michaux) and other trees of like character. Неге the sheet of water is from twenty to 
twenty-five feet wide, and its fall forty-one feet. The rock over which it pours shelters an 
oval cave about seventy-five feet wide and thirty feet from the falling water to the back. The 
view is taken from beneath this shelving rock. Though the magnitude of this cascade is not 
such as to excite our wonder, its picturesque beauty and pleasing melody attract the admiration 
of. every visitor. 
Below the Falls, the aspect is quite different. The stream glides along in its rocky channel, 
forty to fifty feet from the top of the steep rocky banks, for about four miles, to the Mississippi 
river, overshadowed, on both sides, by a forest of oak, ash, maple, and other trees, with their 
attendant vines and deep undergrowth. The soil above this valley is very rich, and there are 
good grounds for the opinion that the axe, the plough, and the mill-wheel will before long 
invade and materially change the character of the scene. 
This stream is usually perfectly clear. So short, indeed, is its course, that it seldom becomes 
in any degree turbid or largely increased in volume. 
June 6.—Broke up camp at 10 a.m., sending forward the command in three parties; one 
under Lieutenant Grover, consisting of the astronomical, magnetic, and meteorological parties, 
Mr. John Lambert, topographer, assisted by Mr. Strobel and the necessary men, fourteen 
persons in all, were sent on the steamer that plies between St. Anthony and Sauk Rapids, with 
directions to land on the west side of the Mississippi river, below the mouth of Sauk river, and 
crossing it by a good ford about a mile and a half above its mouth, establish an astronomical, 
magnetic, and meteorological station on the Red river trail. The directions were given to 
sketch in the river and make all the observations practicable for determining geographical 
positions and the altitude, in order to connect carefully the river with the work of the land 
parties; fourteen mules, two horses, and one wagon were also put on board as transportation 
to reach the Red river trail from the point of landing. 
The second, under Lieutenant Du Barry, consisting of Mr. Stanley, Dr. Suckley, Mr. Le 
Frambois, the guide, a sergeant, and fourteen men, were instructed to follow on the trail of 
the advance parties on the left or east bank of the Mississippi, to cross the river at Sauk Rapids 
and encamp with the former party; the third consisting of the train in charge of Mr. i ee 
the quartermaster and commissary clerk, with the same general instructions. 
