De Mofras Exploration of Oregon
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equally among its members, but the annual assessment might not exceed three dollars.[1] In 1839, Mr. Kelley[2] undertook a journey for the same purpose by order of the Methodist committee of Boston. Finally, January 5, 1839, Mr. Poinsett, Secretary of War, made the following answer to Mr. Cushing, to the questions which had been put to him by the Committee of Foreign Affairs of Congress:
Sir: In reply to the inquiries of the Committee on Foreign Relations contained in your letter of the 26th ultimo, I have the honor to state that, in my opinion, not less than a battalion, consisting of four or five companies, ought to be sent on the service contemplated by the bill under your consideration. The troops, on arriving at their destination, will be without cover or shelter of any description, and may be exposed to the attacks of the surrounding Indians before then can erect even field works to protect themselves. They ought, therefore, to be in sufficient numbers to furnish guards, and to take the necessary measures of defense while the work of erecting a fort and buildings for the troops is going on. The expense of an additional battalion, for raising and maintaining it for one year will amount to $98,952. I say additional, because to abstract so large a number of men from the army in the present state of the country, when there are so many calls for regular troops, and the frontiers exposed to attack are so insufficiently guarded, would be imminently to increase the danger of a border war. Without more knowledge of the country than we possess, it is difficult, if not impracticable, to form a just estimate of the cost of erecting a fort sufficient for the protection of the troops in time of peace, and to answer the purposes of defence at the breaking out of a war. An experienced officer of engineers ought to be sent out with the expedition, and $50,000 appropriated to erect a fort. The troops ought to be furnished with subsistence for one year; and I would recommend that about thirty laborers, and an overseer, conversant with husbandry, be employed to accompany the detachment, who would be able, in thatWar Department, January 5, 1839.
