28 
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
Pacific, in consequence of the impracticable character of that portion of the Bitter Boot ranges 
of mountain lying immediately west of the St. Mary’s valley. Should, however, a good pass 
he found leading to the Little Salmon fork of Snake river, and should this route to the Pacific 
prove more feasible than more northern routes, then Cadotte’s Pass will more naturally lead to 
it, and to the preferable one. Dr. Evans’s survey shows that a railroad line can he run on 
nearly a straight course from the mouth of Milk river, between the Milk and Missouri, to the 
falls, and which, in connexion with a good pass in the Bitter Boot range west of St. Mary’s, 
would make the route by Cadotte’s Pass, the Little Salmon, or Ivooskooskia river, not only a 
remarkably direct route, hut one that, by branches to Puget sound, to the Willamette valley of 
Oregon, and even to California, would afford great facilities to emigrants to both Territories, 
and he in connection with the great port of the Pacific. I shall give as much attention as 
practicable to the passes in this direction, though they are represented to me as entirely 
impracticable. 
I have established at this place a meteorological and supply post, under the charge of Mr. 
Doty, with Corporal Kouster, of the dragoon detachment, to assist in charge of property; 
Private Lynt, of the sappers and miners, to assist in observations; and Hugh Bobie, laborer 
and cook. Mr. Doty has rendered service on the route in the astronomical and magnetic obser¬ 
vations, having been placed in charge of the latter observations a few days since. He is 
exceedingly well qualified for his duties, well educated, of decided character, of experience as 
a woodman, a hunter, and in intercourse with Indians. He will devote himself to the mag¬ 
netic and meteorological observations, to getting in the topography to the base and into the 
passes of the mountains, and to maintaining the present friendly feelings of the Blackfeet 
Indians. A copy of his instructions is herewith enclosed. 
From the post established at St. Mary’s, as announced in my letter of the 8th instant, I 
expect the most valuable results, not only as illustrating the meteorology of the region west of 
the mountains, but in knowledge of the several passes by actual survey made before operations 
are resumed in the spring. 
Lieutenant Saxton left Hew York on the 5th of May, and, taking the Isthmus route, arrived 
in San Francisco on the 1st of June. During the time he remained, delayed by procuring an 
outfit for his journey to the Flathead village, intelligent gentlemen pronounced his undertaking 
difficult, and indeed impracticable, from the hostility of the Indians, and the character of the 
country. He had intended to accomplish his labors with a small party of from four to six men. 
Hot able to discourage him, they advised him to enlarge his force, and be attended with an 
escort. On the 27th of June he reached the Columbia barracks, and proceeded to organize his 
party and prepare his train. The most experienced and intelligent men there, including Gov¬ 
ernor P. S. Ogden, chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, discouraged his efforts, and 
predicted his entire failure of getting through this season in consequence of the bad country 
towards the mountains. Upon the urgent persuasion of these gentlemen, Lieutenant Saxton 
resolved, in carrying out his instructions, to take a larger party than originally contemplated. 
On the 1st of July Lieutenant Saxton sent forward Lieutenant Arnold, 3d artillery, with the 
greater portion of the men and provisions to the Dalles, remaining at Columbia barracks to 
complete his arrangements. On the 18th of July the organization of this party was perfected, 
and he started for the mountains, his force consisting of Lieutenant Saxton, 4th artillery, in 
command; Lieutenant Bichard Arnold, 3d artillery, astronomer; Mr. Lyman Arnold, his 
assistant; Lieutenant Macfeely and eighteen soldiers, of the 4th infantry, as an escort; Mr. D. 
S. Hoyt, assistant quartermaster’s department; one packmaster, one assistant packmaster, 
twenty-three packers, and two herders. 
Lieutenant Saxton encountered many obstacles on his march which were calculated to deter 
a man of less energy and force of character. The whole of one day he was crossing a sandy 
desert, the sand at a temperature of 150° Fahrenheit. On reaching the Pend d’ Oreille lake, 
the supplies were all carried across in canoes, and, when over, they discovered that the prairie 
