NARRATIVE OF 1853. 127 
to leave the matter in the hands of Lieutenant Mullan, who would act for them. However, it 
is not believed that the Blackfeet will come with any such intention. 
It may not be necessary here to dwell more particularly upon the arrangements which I 
made with Lieutenant Mullan, as his contemplated field of duty has been explicitly referred to. 
But this gentleman had impressed me in the most favorable manner, by the way in which he 
had discharged his recent duty, with the great confidence which the Indians had in him, and I 
was satisfied that very important results would grow out of his labors. I determined to 
despatch Lieutenant Donelson in charge of the main party over the general route pursued by 
Lieutenant Saxton, and to assign Mr. Lander to duty with him, in order, by side examinations, 
as well as on the direct route, to collect all the data bearing on the question of railroad con- 
struction. Accordingly, on the 2d instant, Mr. Lander went down the valley in advance of 
Lieutenant Donelson, in order to make some examinations of Hell-Gate, and on the 3d, Lieu- 
tenant Donelson was under way with the main party. I left on the 4th, and overtook and 
camped with the main party in my old camp of the 27th and 28th of September. Continuing on, 
on the 5th we both moved down the valley, and encamped on the Bitter Root, some three or 
four miles below the mouth of Hell-Gate. Here I ascertained that Mr. Lander, instead of 
waiting for the arrival of Lieutenant Donelson, to receive the instructions which I had directed 
to be issued to him, to go down the Bitter Root to its mouth, and join the main party at the . 
Horse Plain, had preceded him on the main trail, and must be somewhere near the divide between 
the Bitter Root and the Jocko. Accordingly, by my instructions, Lieutenant Donelson sent an 
order directing him to return to his present camp, in order to proceed on the duty which had 
been assigned to him. This same day I visited Vietor at his camp on the Hell-Gate, (see 
sketch,) three miles above its junction with the Bitter Root, and in return was visited by him 
at our camp, where we had much interesting conversation in regard to the Indians, the character x 
of the country and the passes, particularly in the winter. I determined to remain here until 
Mr. Tinkham returned, who had not yet been heard from. 
GOVERNOR STEVENS AWAITS THE ARRIVAL OF MR. TINKHAM. 
October 6.—Lieutenant Donelson moved off this morning on the route of the Jocko river and 
Clark’s Fork. Mr. Lander, who had returned to my camp in compliance with instructions, 
moved down the Bitter Root river this afternoon. I sent up to Fort Owen for Jaeutenant Mullan, 
and we remained in camp, passing the time, as patiently as we could, Ренин а» arrival of 
Mr. Tinkham. Meanwhile a huge joint of beef was placed upon the spit, to be in readiness 
when the explorers should come in, and honest Sergeant Simpson undertook to act as — 
Bending over the fire, with huge drops of perspiration rolling from his glowing red face, А picture 
was presented, (see sketch, ) which Mr. Stanley thought not unworthy a trial of his же 
while Osgood jokingly told Simpson he was working then for ** two dollars a day and roast beef. 
The meat was cooked in the nicest manner, and at five and a half о? clock we sat down to it, having 
as guests Mr. Tinkham and his party, the returned “ lost sheep of the house of Israel," also 
Lieutenant Mullan, who arrived in season to join us in our meal. Mr. Tinkham gave me an 
account of the incidents of his trip. As anticipated, in consequence of his procetding without a - 
guide, he had had difficulty in keeping the proper trail, and finally found himself in a low valley, 
closely hemmed in by inaccessible mountains, and covered with a dense growth of wood, through 
Which they were obliged for one day to cut their way with axes, making during the day but six 
miles. This valley led them to Clark’s Fork, and thence they crossed the ridge and came into 
