John Mullan to A. Cady, May 1, 1862

Col. A. CADY, Seventh U. S. Infantry, Commanding District of Oregon:

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the order directing the escort of my expedition to proceed to the Pacific as soon as the snows of the mountains would admit, and in reply would state that our last account from the mountains was that the snow was nine and onehalf feet deep on the summit, and twelve feet on a prairie to its east, with no forage for animals. The snow is fast disappearing, and will probably enable the command to cross some time in June, when it will proceed to carry out the order as therein directed.

I am, sir, truly and

respectfully, your obedient servant,