INSTRUCTIONS.—TOPOGRAPHICAL REPORT ON WESTERN DIVISION. 
203 
Washington, D. C., May 9, 1853. 
Sir: On your arrival at San Francisco, you will ascertain from the proper sources the exact 
state of affairs with reference to the supplies and personnel of your command. Before leaving 
there for the Columbia river, you will make all the arrangements necessary to carry out the gen¬ 
eral instructions for the conduct of the expedition. 
Having arrived at Astoria, you will at once proceed to organize your command at such point, 
either in Oregon or Washington Territory, as you may decide to be the best. You will employ 
such guides, hunters, and muleteers as you may find necessary, as well as the civil assistants 
indispensable to the performance of the required duties. With regard to these, and all other 
points involving expenditure, you will be careful to observe the strictest economy compatible with 
the success of the expedition. The first and most important point to which your attention is to be 
directed will be the exploration of the Cascade mountains. You will thoroughly explore this 
range from the Columbia river to the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, making detailed exam¬ 
inations of the passes, and obtaining full information in relation to the range in general. Pend¬ 
ing this examination you will endeavor to examine the line of the proposed road from Wallah- 
Wallah to Steilacoom, and to start its construction. Having completed the survey of the Cascade 
range, you will at once proceed eastward as far as the Rocky mountains, unless you meet, 
before reaching that range, the main party coming from ihe east. In selecting your route, you 
will start from the most practicable pass in the Cascade range, and follow what you regard as 
the most promising line for a practicable road. From the nature of the case it is impossible for 
me to give you detailed instructions ; but I have, in the course of a number of conversations, fully 
explained to you the objects of the expedition, my own probable operations, and my views. 
I have, therefore, to direct you to keep constantly in your mind the tenor of these conversations, 
and the written general instructions. You will use your own judgment as to the manner of 
carrying them out in the most rapid and effectual manner. 
Whenever you meet with the main party from the east, or any portion of it, you will at once 
assume the command, (in my absence,) and give whatever orders may be necessary, in your 
opinion, to carry out the objects of the expedition. Funds will be placed at your disposal to 
meet your expenses. 
Enclosed are the general and detailed instructions of the expedition, with an explanatory 
memorandum. 
Yours, &c., 
ISAAC I. STEVENS. 
Brevet Capt. G. B. McClellan, 
Corps of E?igineers. 
8. Topographical report of lieutenant j. k. ddncan, u. s. a., topographer of the west¬ 
ern division. 
Olympia, Washington Territory, 
February 21, 1854. 
Sir: I have the honor to submit, together with an accompanying map, the following report 
on the topography and general character of the country along the route pursued by the party 
under your command in an exploration of the Cascade mountains, during the months of July ? 
August, September, October, and November, 1853, viz: 
A route northeasterly from Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia, to the Cathlapoot’l river; 
thence, eastward along the banks of the Cathlapoot’l and across the ranges of the Cascade 
mountains, south of Mount St. Helens and Adams, to the open country beyond; thence, turning 
Mount Adams on the east, northerly to Ivetetas, a point on the Yakima above where it receives 
