R. Cornelius to J. Steinberger, May 19, 1862

Col. J. STEINBERGER, Commanding the District of Oregon, Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: COLONEL: I submit to your consideration the follows facts and statements relative to the movement of my regiment across the Cascade range of mountains by the emigrant road, the only route of possible le md travel before September, which route, on account of the depth of snow and high water, could not be traveled before the middle of July, and then would be ac ecomplished with great difficulty. I estimate the ways and means of trausportation by this route to The Dalles as follows, viz: Forage, which on account of there being no grass upon the route would be absolutely necessary for ten days, for 500 horses and 400 mules, 96,000 pounds of barley at 2 cents, $1,920; for hire of 400 pack anim tals, which would be required for the transportation of forage and subsistence for the regiment ten days, at $2 per day, $8,000; total, $9,920. I would also state that the thousands of miners pr oceeding to the northern mines this spring with pack trains going light, in no instance have they deemed the Toute possible or practicable for travel, and would ask if a route discarded by miners as impracticable could be traveled with safety and economy by a military force.

T R. CORNELIUS,