518 APPENDIX. 



Passed Midshipmen Eld and Colvocoressis, Messrs. Dana and 

 Brackenridge, Sergeant Stearns, and Henry Waltham, an ordinary- 

 seaman, are added to your party. 



You will leave your encampment in the Willamette at the earliest 

 possible hour. 



Your route from thence will be through the Willamette Valley, 

 south towards California, and if possible west of the Shaste Moun- 

 tains, thence to strike the waters of the Sacramento, passing over the 

 head waters of various streams that empty into the ocean, viz., the 

 Umpqua, Klamet, and their branches. 



Your party is now composed of twenty officers and men: the addi- 

 tion of five or six more good and trusty men, will, I think, be amply 

 sufficient to insure your safety, and enable you to proceed with all 

 despatch : any more than is necessary to insure safety, I view as likely 

 to retard your progress. 



After you start, which must not be later than the 5th or 6th, I give 

 you twenty-five days to reach the forks of the Sacramento, where the 

 boats of the Vincennes or squadron will be on the 30th of September. 



If you should fall upon the Sacramento, taking a more easterly route, 

 you will, if you find it difficult to proceed with your horses, abandon 

 them, and proceed in canoes down the river. 



It is possible you may have to construct them ; and rough ones will 

 answer your purpose for navigating the river to its mouth, where you 

 will find the Vincennes at anchor. 



In conversation, I have impressed upon you the necessity of not 

 losing time, and bear in mind that in order to gain this desirable end, it 

 will be necessary for you to press your party all you can. The saving 

 of a few horses must not impede your advance, particularly after you 

 have passed the hostile Indians. 



I desire that you will endeavour to reach your destination in the 

 time specified, as it may save the party sent to meet you, and the 

 service, much delay. 



The route you will probably follow, is that usually taken by the 

 Company's party ; but in your advance, when it is safe, it may be 

 desirable for a part to deviate, for the purpose of gaining information. 



Although your orders are marked " confidential," you will show them 

 to Passed Midshipmen Eld and Colvocoressis, that they may be aware 

 of the duties to be performed in case of accident to you. And no 

 important hostile step will be taken unless through a council, in which 

 all the gentlemen accompanying you will join ; and you will be parti- 

 cularly careful that no act of aggrievance by youx party should bring 

 about such an event. 



