STANSBURrS REPORT. 



CHAPTER I. 



FROM FORT LEAVENWORTH TO FORT KEARNY. 



Washington, March 10, 1852. 



Colonel John J. Abert, 



Ohief of Bureau of Topographical Engineers. 



Sir : — I have the honour to submit to the Bureau of Topogra- 

 phical Engineers the following report of the results of an expe- 

 dition, organized in obedience to your orders of April 11, 1849, 

 having for its object a survey of the Great Salt Lake, and an 

 exploration of its valley. 



Your instructions required me to report to the commanding 

 oJEcer of the regiment of Mounted Rifles, at Fort Leavenworth, on 

 the 10th of May following, and directed me to accompany those 

 troops on their route to Oregon as far as Fort Hall, at which 

 point I was to separate from the command and prosecute the 

 examinations required. Owing to causes beyond my control, and 

 of which the bureau is already aware, I did not reach Fort Lea- 

 venworth until after the departure of the Rifle Regiment from 

 that post, and was consequently obliged to make such change in 

 my arrangements as the circumstances required. The necessary 

 outfit and provisions were obtained from the proper departments 

 of the army, and the party enlarged and well armed, to enable 

 it to protect itself from any danger or depredation to which it 

 might be exposed from tribes of roving or hostile Indians. I wish 

 here to express my obligation to Colonel Sumner, the command- 

 ing officer at Fort Leavenworth, and to the quartermaster, Major 

 Ogden, as well for the prompt and efficient aid rendered by them 

 as for the kind interest they evinced in the success of the expe- 

 dition. Every facility was cheerfully accorded, and every thing 

 conducive to our comfort most liberally supplied. We were much 

 delayed, however, by the heavy drafts made upon the resources 



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