NARRATIVE OF 1853. 91 
the route is not only well grassed, but much of it arable. This is emphatically the case with 
the bottoms of the Missouri, which our route followed. Occasionally there would be shingle 
and a spur to pass over. 
CAMP ATCHISON. 
At this camp, which I named Camp Atchison in honor of the acting Vice-President, I reduced 
to writing, and issued in an order the instructions for the government of the expedition and the 
distribution of duties, under which we had been moving by my verbal instructions from the 
Big Muddy river. I availed myself of this opportunity to express my sense of the services of 
the several members of my party. This order is given at length in pages 41, 42, 43, and 44 
of volume first of the Pacific Railroad Reports, from which it will be seen that Lieutenant 
Donelson was assigned the duty of acting as the executive officer of the expedition; that he 
was instructed to take general charge of all the observations; and, referring to the astronomical 
observations, it was enjoined that great attention should be given to the latter, particularly to 
the observations by lunar distances and with the portable transit. 
I have deemed it proper to refer to this arrangement with the more particularity, as on page 
635 of volume first a letter will be found from Lieutenant Donelson protesting against my 
statement that ‘‘at Fort Union the observations were placed in charge of Lieutenant Donelson, with 
instructions, if practicable, to get longitudes by lunar distances, but Lieutenant Donelson was not able 
to report any results, except for latitude" My statement I reaffirmed in a letter to the Secretary 
of War, and in one to Lieutenant Donelson, for whose truth and honor no man has a higher 
opinion or greater confidence than myself. I expressed surprise at the terms of his protest, 
My written instructions, however, show conclusively that Lieutenant Donelson was in error, 
and that my original statement is fully borne out by the written orders, the only error in the 
statement being that the order was written at Camp Atchison, instead of Fort Union; but the 
verbal instruction was given at the Big Muddy river. 
On the 19th there was some little alarm in camp in consequence of false reports about the 
vicinity of a war party of Blackfeet. 
We left Camp Atchison on the 20th, and after moving 15 miles, reached a very pleasant 
camp, with excellent grass, wood, and water. In the évening there was a very heavy thunder 
storm. My order, to which reference has been made, was read to the gentlemen of the party 
this evening, and was the subject of general congratulation and not a little mischievous by-play 
or joking. | 
August 21.—' This morning was clear, cool, pleasant, and delightful for moving. Engineer 
parties, both yesterday and to-day, have been actively at work getting in the country bordering 
the route of the main party. The road, as usual, was excellent to-day. I despatched a small 
party across Milk river to Panther Hill (see sketch) to observe the country. Game was very 
abundant; plenty of buffalo, antelope, and beaver. A heavy rain and thunder storm occurred 
about noon. I'finally concluded to abandon the instrument wagon, which had delayed us very 
much yesterday and to-day, in consequence of breaking down, and transfer the baggage to 
other wagons. Wild horses were reported as having been seen to-day by ihe reconnoitring 
parties. А fine eagle was shot and brought in to Dr. Suckley, our naturalist. ‚То my exceed- 
ing regret, I found that there were points arising regarding the relations of army officers 
