. II. 6

Laramie, with two companies, under Colonel Benja min Roberts; and another at Cantonment Loring, three miles above Fort Hall, 34 on Snake River, with an equal number of men under Major Simonson, the command being transferred soon after to Colonel Porter. 35 The report made by the quartermaster is an account of discomforts from rains which lasted to the Rocky Mountains; of a great migration to the California gold mines 36 where large numbers died of cholera, which dread disease invaded the military camps also to some extent; of the almost entire worth- lessness of the teamsters and men engaged at Fort Leavenworth, who had no knowledge of their duties, and were anxious only to reach California; of the loss by death and desertion of seventy of the late re cruits to the regiment ; 37 and of the loss of property and life in no way different from the usual experience of the annual emigrations. 38

It was designed to meet the rifle regiment at Fort Hall, with a supply train, under Lieutenant G. W. Hawkins who was ordered to that post, 39 but Hawkins

34 Cantonment Loring was soon abandoned, being too far from a base of supplies, and forage being scarce in the neighborhood. Brackett a Cavalry, 120-7; 31st Cong., 1st Sess., H. Ex. Doc. 5, pt. i. 182, 185-6, 188.

33 tSteele says that Simonson was arrested for some dereliction of duty, and came to Vancouver in this situation; also that Major Crittenden was arrested on the way for drunkenness. Rifle Regiment, MS. , 2.

36 Major Cross computed the overland emigration to the Pacific coast at 35,000; 20,000 of whom travelled the route by the Platte with 50,000 cattle. 31st Cong., 2d Sess., H. Ex. Doc. 1, 149.

37 Or. Spectator, Oct. 18, 1849; Weed s Queen Charlotte Island Exped., MS., 4.

38 On reaching The Dalles, the means of transportation to Vancouver was found to be 3 Mackinaw boats, 1 yawl, 4 canoes, and 1 whale-boat. A raft was constructed to carry 4 or 5 tons, and loaded with goods chiefly private, 8 men being placed on board to manage the craft. They attempted to run the cascades and six of them were drowned. Or. Spectator, Oct. 18, 1849. A part of the command with wagons, teams, and riding horses crossed the Cas cade Mountains by the Mount Hood road, losing nearly two thirds of the broken-down horses on the way. The loss on the journey amounted to 45 wagons, 1 ambulance, 30 horses, and 295 mules.

39 Applegate a Views, MS., 49. There were fifteen freight wagons and a herd of beef cattle in the train. Gen. Joel Palmer acted as guide, the com pany taking the southern route. Palmer went to within a few days of Fort Hall, where another government train was encountered escorting the customs officer of California, Gen. Wilson and family, to Sacramento. The grass having been eaten along the Humboldt route by the cattle of the immigration,