Government Document – Expedition From Fort Abercrombie To Fort Benton. The Overland Expedition lead by Capt. James L. Fisk

Government Document – Expedition From Fort Abercrombie To Fort Benton. The Overland Expedition lead by Capt. James L. Fisk.  NOTE- The images of the expedition are from a CDV we previously sold some time ago, not offered with the document.

The document was printed for the 37th Congress, House of Representatives, Ex. Doc. No. 80, February 1862. No covers, 36 pages. Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, transmitted the Report by Capt. James L. Fisk, to Congress, and printed March 2, 1863.

The report is a fabulous read, with seemingly nothing to the imagination left out. An earlier reader, possible from the period it was issued has made notations, and highlighted sections he found most interesting, and I followed his lead, photographing these pages for your viewing.  River crossings, Buffalo hunts, a wedding, several mention of indians – several tribes , hunting exploits, Forts,  Goodbyes to the emigrant train and crossing the Great Divide, Dr. Dibb’s Report on the health of members on the expedition, printed journal in the back 7 pages with dates, and brief remarks for the day, by engineer David Charlton. July 7, 1862 to September 5, 1862.

An absolute wealth of information here. If the original journal/Report were for sale it would be worth many thousands!

Captain James L. Fisk’s last expedition from Minnesota to Helena, Montana Territory beginning toward the end of May, 1866.  Advertisements pamphlets in the St. Cloud, Mn. area mentioned going to the “Great Gold Fields of Montana,” and said that military protection to the party would be guaranteed.  The massive wagon train left an early stop at Fort Abercrombie on the morning of June 16, and this carte de visite was taken just 14 miles to the west of that post, as mentioned on the reverse of the image, “Capt. Fisk’s Expedition crossing the Table Lands 14 miles east of Ft. Abercrombie.”  The expedition arrived at Helena in September.

James Fisk was an private in the 3rd Minn. Vol. Infantry during the Civil War, due to his experience as secretary of the Dakota Land Company, which promoted settlement along the Fort Ridgely – South Pass Road, he would later be commissioned a captain and appointed as Superintendent of Emigration on a new route from Fort Abercrombie, Dakota, to Fort Walla Walla, Washington. The 1866 expedition was the last of four, beginning in 1862 (no 1865).

The image (NOT Included), shows a massive wagon train, with Fisk surveying the train at a halt, to allow the photographer, William H. Illingworth of St. Paul, Mn. to take this, one in a series of 30 photographs taken  while on this expedition, with very few surviving.

Some dog-eared corners, some rough page edges, but string binding holding firm making it a readable document. Light stains, and minimal foxing.