LETTER TO LIEUTENANT DONELSON. 
63 
of the quartermaster and commissary department. Camille is assigned as an interpreter, with 
an Indian guide of the Flathead tribe. 
Your general course will be by the Jocko river to the Clark’s fork of the Columbia, thence to 
where the fork was crossed by Lieutenant Saxton, westward of the Pend d’Oreille lake, taking 
either the route passed over by Lieutenant Saxton, or some practicable route between Clark’s 
fork and the Kootenaies river, and thence to near the Spokane house, at the crossing of the 
Spokane river. Assign to Mr. Lander such duties in connexion with the railroad estimate and 
side reconnaissance as will give the best result. The Bitter Boot river should be examined, 
and the route by Clark’s fork reviewed, even should the general route be more to the north. 
At the Pend d’Oreille lake, a detached party, sent to Colville by the northern trail, might 
intercept Captain McClellan; and at Colville, would be in a position to move westward to open 
a connexion with his work. The Spokane crossing, near the Spokane house, is a central 
position, trains leading therefrom both to Colville and Wallah-Wallah. At the crossing you 
may expect intelligence of Captain McClellan’s movements, and additional instructions either 
from Captain McClellan or myself. Failing to receive intelligence or instructions, your general 
course will be Olympia, by Wallah-Wallah, and the military road to Nisqually, and thence to 
Olympia. But you have full discretion to reach Olympia, from the Spokane house, by any 
other practicable route which may be detected in your progress through the country, taking the 
precaution, however, to communicate with Wallah-Wallah, where instructions may await you 
to the end, and by express purpose generally. At least six good horses should be reserved by 
you. The party to Colville by the northern trail, from the crossing west of the Pend d’Oreille 
lake, place under the charge of Lieutenant Arnold, and instruct him, if he fail to hear from 
Captain McClellan at Colville, to push beyond Colville to the base of the Cascade range; and 
thence move to the south, along the eastern base of that range. Kecollect the great object to be 
accomplished, in the direction given by your operations, including those to Lieutenant Arnold, 
is to connect your work with that of Captain McClellan, through the most practicable pass found 
in the Cascade range by him; and to this every movement should tend. To this end you will 
instruct Lieutenant Arnold, as he moves south, either to reach Olympia by Wallah-Wallah 
and the military road, or by some other practicable route, as you may judge most judicious. 
In reference to Lieutenant Arnold’s party, I will suggest that it be immediately organized, 
to be prepared for any duties of reconnaissance, on which it may be desirable to detach him, 
previously to arriving at the Clark’s fork crossing. It should be a most efficiently organized 
party. Besides his brother’s assistance in astronomical observations, it is desirable he should 
have an assistant for the compass line and topography, and an assistant for barometrical observ¬ 
ations. Endeavor so to organize his party, unless the deficiency of instruments renders it 
impossible. I am of opinion that Mr. Lander’s party should consist of not more than three 
men besides himself. As you approach the country of the Kootenaies Indians, every exertion 
should be made to secure their services as guides, as they are said to be well acquainted with 
the routes you will take. You are requested to obtain every information possible in reference 
to the Indian tribes you may meet, and I can recommend Mr. Kendall as one who would render 
much assistance in this important branch of the work. You are also requested to learn what 
you can in reference to the missions situated in the vicinity of your route, and also of the 
Hudson’s Bay settlements ; of both, whether their influence is beneficial or prejudicial to Ameri¬ 
can interests in their neighborhood. 
Enclosed you will find letters of introduction to officers in charge of Hudson’s Bav posts at 
Colville and Wallah-Wallah. 
Truly yours, &c., 
ISAAC I. STEVENS, 
Governor of Washington Territory , in Charge of Expedition. 
Lieut. A. J. Donelson, 
United States Corps of Engineers. 
