DE MOFRAS EXPLORATION OF OREGON

equally among its members, but the annual assessment might not exceed three dollars. 39 In 1839, Mr. Kelley 40 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 an- swer to Mr. Cushing, to the questions which had been put to him by the Committee of Foreign Affairs of Congress: War Department, January 5, 1839. Sir: In reply to the inquiries of the Committee on For- eign 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 des- tination, will be without cover or shelter of any des- cription, and may be exposed to the attacks of the sur- rounding 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 ne- cessary measures of defense while the work of erecting a fort and buildings for the troops is going on. The ex- pense of an additional battalion, for raising and maintain- ing it for one year will amount to $98,952. I say addition- al, 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 ex- posed to attack are so insufficiently guarded, would be imminently to increase the danger of a border war. With- out 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 ex- pedition, 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 that 39 25th Congress, 3 Sess., H. R. 101, p. 25-28. 40 Hall J. Kelley. His journey was undertaken in behalf of a colon- izing scheme, and had no religious connection.