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164 Chapter 10 from the Yukon up Forty Mile Creek to the Tanana. . . . 2nd expedition , No. 2 will explore the valley of the Copper River or tributaries from its mouth to the Tanana River establishing a line of communication to the junction with the expedition No. 1 on the Tanana. 3rd expedition , No. 3 will start from some point on Cook’s Inlet and endeavor to discover the most direct and practicable route from tidewater to the crossing of the trail from Copper River and Forty Mile Creek on the Tanana. . . . Authorized to enlist 150 Indians—75 to 100 men will be ample for this purpose.25 As in previous exploratory missions, General Miles emphasized establishing and mapping a trail from the Alaskan port of Valdez up the Copper River to the interior. In a letter to Merriam on February 4, 1898, he noted Captain Abercrombie’s previous work up the Copper River, but he said, “Since the excitement has occurred in Alaska, I have urged that an expedition be sent up the Copper River.” Part of Miles’s interest in this route stemmed from the need to have an all-American trail avoiding the concern of always dealing with the Canadians over the passes from Dyea and Skagway. In April 1898 two exploring teams were outfitted, instructed, and sent to Alaska. Capt. E. F. Glenn, 25th Infantry, was named commander of one group, and trail veteran Captain Abercrombie, 2nd Infantry, was to lead the other. As expected, the two expeditions were to work routes during the Alaska summer and then return to Department of the Columbia headquarters in October and November. Upon completion of the field work during the 1898 summer, both leaders were ordered to report to the assistant secretary of war in Washington, where they would have better facilities for completing their maps and reports.26 In June Merriam wrote to the commander of Alaskan Exploratory Expedition No. 3, Captain Glenn, saying, “5 pack mules sent” and urging that the captain establish supply depots on the trail. Later in the month the general experienced trouble with the captain. He told Glenn that his comments about the expedition’s medical officer were inexcusable and that his “request for authority to cache your supplies and abandon important and expensive work entrusted to you at your own request, is equally disappointing.” Also in June, Merriam wrote to Captain Abercrombie, commanding Expedition No. 2, saying, “Arrangements have been made to ship supplies for your expedition to extend from June 30th to October 31st. . . . Five pack mules and one packer were shipped to you from Dyea, Alaska, in the latter part of May.” He went on to address the captain ’s exploration of the Copper River and his need to “establish one or more supply depots—say from 100 to 150 miles apart.”27 As in the case of Captain Glenn, Merriam soon felt the need to reprimand Abercrombie. He scolded the captain, saying: “[I]n abandoning your detachment on exploring duty on or near Copper River in Alaska and proceeding to Seattle,Washington, appears to have had no purpose except to request authority to buy 25 range ponies for use of your expedition.The request could have been Department of the Columbia 165 made as well from your place of duty.” The general went on to emphasize the importance of Expedition No. 2’s mission “to fix upon the best route for connecting Valdez Inlet with the upper portion of Copper River, thus preparing the way for undertaking the extended explorations toward and beyond theTanana.” Apparently the independent decisions and actions of several expedition leaders did not meet with Merriam’s approval. With respect to the better-known and more frequently used routes over Chilkoot andWhite Passes, the general merely noted that he was “sorry to receive a telegram directing action to protect the toll road throughWhite Pass.”28 In addition to the concerns about the exploratory teams, Merriam worried about wider logistical support for Alaskan army units and adequate provisioning for the mining camps for the next winter. Since resupply was mainly limited to the summer months, there was always a narrow window for planning and shipping . On July 7, 1898, he received a status report from Lt. W. P. Richardson at Fort St. Michael. At nearly the same time, he received a letter from the Alaska Commercial Company at St. Michael, warning, “you will remember at that time [referring to the previous winter] the trouble was averted...

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