OCR Text |
Show 76 FROM FORT LARAMIE TO FORT BRIDGER. and the road, consequently, is much lengthened* tfhe other route was laid out by the Moftnon community in 1847, and conducts the emigrant to their - city, iri the southern ~ part of the Salt take valley, causing him to vary from the line of his direction rather mote than a degree southwardly: . this he has to recover by a direct north dourse to the crossing of Bear River near the north end of the lake, whence he proceeds in a north- west direction, until he intersects the old road from Fort Hall. I was desirous of ascertaining* whether a shorter route than either of these could not be obtained by pursuing a direct course to the Head of the lake, or to the point where Bear River enters its basin through the Wahsatch range from Cache Valley. If practicable, such a trace would save the emigration the great detour that has to be made by either of the present routes, and would have a direct bearing upon the selection of a site for the military post contemplated for this region. I had ascertained that this Selection had not yet been made, the officer designated for that purpose having determined to winter his command in temporary quarters, in the vicinity of Fort Hall. A glancd at the map will show the importance of this " cut- off" to the travel for either Oregon or California I therefore determined - to make the examination myself, accompanied by IJIajor Bridger, and to send forward the train to Salt Lake City by the Mormon road, under the command of Lieutenant Gunnison, whose health had become so far* established as to enable him to resume his seat in the saddle. The train left, accordingly, on the 16th; but as we returned to this point by the. same route the following year, I defer for the present any description of it. I was. myself detained until the 20th, by the absence of the partner of Major Bridger, who was on a trip to Salt Lake City, and without whose presence Major B. did not deem it prudent to leave the fort. As the examination was intended to J> e a mere recOnnoissance, without instruments, a couple of men, with as many pack- mules, a little flour' and bacon, with* some aground coffee, and a blanket a piece, comprised all the preparation it was thought needful to make, taking care, however, that the little party should be well armed. |