26 
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 
timber, and very stony: in some of the valleys pretty good bunch-grass is found. The soil of 
the valleys of the Yakima and its branches, though very limited in extent, is good enough to 
make tolerable farms, if irrigated. The Indians raise excellent potatoes, hut the cold nights 
(the thermometer frequently standing below 32° at sunrise) and the shortness of the season, 
would he great obstacles in the way of cultivation. We have found gold in this valley, hut no 
deposit sufficiently rich to justify working. The Indians are thus far perfectly friendly. I 
have informed the chiefs of the probable passage of immigrants through their country, and of 
Governor Stevens’s approach. They have promised to he friendly to the immigrants, and extend 
every assistance to them ; to prevent depredations on the part of their own people, and to refer 
any complaints they may have against the immigrants to the Governor on his arrival; hut on no 
account to retaliate, as I have told them that would not for a moment he allowed. 
I shall leave this place to-morrow for the north, and will endeavor to reach Fort Colville 
from Mount Baker. 
While in the mountains myself, I sent one small party to the mouth of the Yakima and 
another to the Dalles. The Yakima valley below this is wide, often destitute of grass, no tim¬ 
ber of any consequence, and a limited extent of soil that by irrigation could he made moderately 
productive. On the trail to the Dalles the country is everywhere stony, barren, and worthless. 
The valley of the Columbia, near the mouth of the Yakima, is a vast sage desert. I shall 
strike it again somewhat farther north. On the road to Steilacoom, after having passed the 
mountains, there are a few limited tracts of good land; that on the sound, and for some miles 
hack, is a mere mass of gravel—perfectly worthless. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
george b. McClellan, 
Lieut. Eng. and Brevet Capt. U. S. A., Commanding Expedition. 
Hon. Jefferson Davis, 
Secretary of War. 
Northern Pacific Railroad Exploration and Survey, 
Fort Benton, September 18, 1853. 
Sir: Since my letters of the 8th instant, transmitted by Dr. Evans, the geologist of the 
expedition, very important changes have been made in the plan of continuing the survey west¬ 
ward, in consequence of the information brought by the arrival of Lieutenant Saxton. 
I was on my way to the Piegan camps to secure guides for the survey of the Marias Pass, and 
to provide for permanent relations of peace with the Blackfeet, when Lieutenant Grover’s 
express overtook me, sixty-five miles from this point, with information that he met Lieutenant 
Saxton just near the dividing ridge; that the road passed over by Lieutenant Saxton was in 
many places, in consequence of timber, impracticable for wagons, and that he would he at Fort 
Benton one day after the express, with much valuable information as to the routes west of the 
mountains. I immediately determined to return, sending forward Mr. Stanley, the artist of the 
expedition, with Iiammel, the interpreter, and three voyageurs, to see the Indians and invite 
them to Fort Benton. 
On my return, which was accomplished in less than twenty-five hours, I placed Mr. Lander’s 
party in camp on the Marias river, where it would he in position either to move on to the 
exploration of the Marias, or join, by running a side line, the main party as it entered Cadotte’s 
Pass. 
Lieutenant Donelson having informed me, by the express bringing Lieutenant Grover’s letter, 
that he should the next day move on with the whole party, in pursuance of my instructions, I 
despatched early in the morning our Indian guide, to direct him to move forward the advance 
party, that delay might not occur in the survey of the country, but to keep the supply train in 
camp till my arrival, and on my arrival to meet me with Lieutenant Saxton for consultation. 
