LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
29 
had been burnt for a great distance. The crossing of the burnt prairie and timber occupied four 
days, during which Lieutenant Saxton lost several of his horses, and every man advised his 
return. False reports as to the intention of the expedition had been circulated among the 
Indian tribes through whose country Lieutenant Saxton had to pass. They manifested much 
susjficion; but meeting Lieutenant Saxton, who had a talk with them, their doubts gradually 
vanished, and they became steadfast friends. He told them that we were their friends, that 
our objects were peaceable, and that among the highest of our duties was that of bearing the 
friendly messages of the Great Father at Washington to his children, and, attesting his kindly 
feelings by a few presents, he soon established friendly relations. 
From this time to reaching the St. Mary’s village, he found them ever willing to assist him. 
At each stream crossed, they were present with their canoes; and one instance occurred where, 
after assisting Lieutenant Saxton’s party over, they sent on to him, requesting him to fix the 
rate they should hereafter receive for ferrying over other white men. 
They reached the St. Mary’s village on the 28th of August, after encountering such obstacles 
as are common to mountainous countries, obliged to cut their way through dense forests of 
mountain timber. 
At this point Lieutenant Saxton placed his provisions in depot, leaving them in charge of 
Lieutenant Arnold and four men; sent Lieutenant Macfeely, with all the soldiers and quarter¬ 
master’s employes whose services could be dispensed with, back to Vancouver, by another route; 
and, with Mr. Hoyt, his assistant, eight soldiers, eight packers, and an Indian guide, came 
across the Rocky mountains by the Blackfeet Pass, and joined me at Fort Benton. It is proper 
here to add, that much dread appeared to exist in regard to the Blackfeet Indians, and Lieu¬ 
tenant Saxton’s guide, Antoine, an excellent man, would not come farther than the St. 
Mary’s village unless the party numbered twenty men. It was his intention to bring but 
four men across the mountain to Fort Benton, but he was thus compelled to bring an escort. 
Lieutenant Saxton followed up the Columbia as far as Wallah-Wallah; crossed Lewis fork of 
the Columbia forty miles from its junction with the latter stream ; thence crossed the Spokane 
to Clark’s fork; crossing Clark’s fork near the outlet of Ivalispel lake, continued along the 
nortlien shore of Lake Ivalispel, and up the valley of Saint Mary’s fork of the Bitter Root to 
the Flathead village. 
Lieutenant Saxton reports the route he followed from the Dalles to this place as practicable 
for a railroad, the Rocky mountains offering no obstacle to its construction, and furnishing 
an almost inexhaustible supply of timber and other building materials. At the place where he 
crossed, the elevation is nearly three thousand feet less than the South Pass. 
He found the country east of Ivalispel lake deserted by the Indians, from fear of the Black¬ 
feet. The universal opinion in regard to the viciousness and disposition to plunder of these 
Indians, keeps the whole country in terror during the summer season. The two Messrs. Owen, 
who for several years have been engaged in raising stock at the St. Mary’s village, were met 
on their way to the Pacific coast, deeming it no longer safe to remain. 
As good a map and barometric profile of the route as their rapid march and their limited 
means would allow, was made by Lieutenant Saxton’s party. 
I might add that the establishment of a depot at the St. Mary’s village, with plenty of fat 
oxen, and the depot for which Lieutenant Saxton made especial provision at the head of Pend 
d’Oreille lake, where Governor P. S. Ogden has had collected an abundance of cattle for our 
supply, are facts the knowledge of which enables us to work much later, and secures us much 
from providing a great amount of transportation. 
He has, in addition to the supply of provisions, left at St. Mary’s sixty-three animals, which 
on our arrival will be in fine condition. My train moved forward with strong animals, fit for 
the service, after leaving at this post some nineteen feeble animals, which could not probably 
have stood the journey across the mountains, but should the survey be continued another year, 
will then be in good condition. 
