Chapter XV: Governor, Washington Territory.--Exploration, Northern Route

Washington Territory organized--Exploration of routes to Pacific
determined on--Appointed governor--Letter of resignation from
army--Colonel Totten's reply--Silver service presented by
friends on the Coast Survey--Obtains charge of exploration of
Northern route--Takes high ground--Impresses his views on the
administration--Applies for Captain McClellan--Letter to
him--Sends Lieutenant Donelson to Montreal to procure maps
and data from Hudson Bay Company--Prepares his own
instructions--Magnitude of task--Organizes the expedition--
Gives McClellan charge of construction of the military road,
Steilacoom to Walla Walla--Declares independence of Hudson Bay
Company--Busy scenes in 3d Street house--Sends officers to San
Francisco, St. Louis, and St. Paul to hasten preparation--
Selects territorial library--Exploration fully reported in
vols. i. and xii., Pacific Railroad Reports 280

CHAPTER XVI

THE PARTY.--THE START

Leaves Washington--Expedites matters in St. Louis--Dispatches
party up Missouri--Up Mississippi to St. Paul--Rouses party
in camp before breakfast--Breaking mules--Incessant
rains--Roster of the party--General plan--March to Sauk
River--Winnebago Indians--Canadian voyageurs--Pierre
Boutineau--Camp regulations--Assimilated rank--All to stand
guard--Pembina train--Pushing on detached parties--March to
Pike lake--Swollen streams, bogs--Crossing Sauk and Crow
rivers--Lightning Lake--Fish and game--Relieves Lieutenant Du
Barry--Discharges inefficient men--White Bear Lake--Parties
reassemble at Pike Lake 302