10 
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT. 
You are also authorized to employ such hands, packers, &c., as may he necessary; to purchase 
such of the instruments, named in your estimate, as cannot he obtained from the Topographical 
Bureau, and such smaller instruments, maps, hooks, camp and garrison equipage, animals, 
quartermaster’s stores, provisions, &c., as may he necessary to the successful accomplishment 
of the objects of the expedition. 
The commanding officer of the Pacific Department will be directed to furnish you with an 
escort of (100) one hundred men, with not less than three regimental officers and an assistant 
surgeon, if one can be spared from other duty, one of the former to act as commissary and 
quartermaster to the party ; and to instruct the commanding officer of the escort to afford you 
such aid and assistance as will most tend to facilitate your operations. A large escort will be 
required to protect the exploring party in Oregon, but in the subsequent part of your surveys 
it may be diminished. 
Lieutenant Henry L. Abbot, Topographical Engineers, will be ordered to report to you for 
duty. 
The colonel of the Corps of Topographical Engineers will direct that such of the instruments 
named in your requisition, as are in depot at the Topographical Bureau, or at Benicia, Cali¬ 
fornia, and not required for other service, be supplied to you. 
The quartermaster’s department will furnish you with horses, mules, equipments, and such 
other public property as may be needed for the use of the expedition, if they can be spared ; 
which will be returned to that department upon the completion of the field duties, payment 
being made for such animals as may have been lost, or as may be found unfit for use, and other 
public property lost or seriously damaged. 
The commissary department will furnish you with such provisions and stores, if they can be 
spared, as you may need for the use of the expedition, to be paid for out of the appropriations 
for the survey, at cost prices at the place of delivery. 
The ordnance department will furnish arms, accoutrements, and a mountain artillery forge, 
payment to be made for such arms, &c., as are lost or seriously injured. 
You are authorized to purchase, for the purpose of trafficking with the Indians and compen¬ 
sating them for services, such articles of Indian goods as are most desirable for such purposes, 
provided the expenditures for these articles do not exceed ($300) three hundred dollars. 
The sum of ($42,000) forty-two thousand dollars is set apart from the appropriations for the 
expenses of the survey entrusted to you. 
With your assistants you will proceed without unnecessary delay to San Francisco, and there 
organize your party, unless upon your arrival you should ascertain that it would be preferable 
to organize it in Oregon ; in which case you will proceed to Vancouver, and organize your 
party at the most suitable point to commence the survey from the Willamette valley. 
The duties assigned to you being completed, you will discharge your party, dispose of your 
outfit to the best advantage, and proceed with your principal assistants to this place, and make 
out your report. 
Should the views of the department be modified, you will receive further instructions. 
You will make the usual monthly reports of the work done ; and, besides, advise the depart¬ 
ment from time to time of the progress made in, and the results of the explorations. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
Secretary of War. 
Lieut. R. S. Williamson, Corps Topographical Engineers , Washington. 
