Sam[ue]l L. Mitchill ALS to [Catharine Mitchill], December 30, 1806

wintered there ^[written above: (1803-4)]. The ensuing Spring, he reached Man-
-dane, near the great Bend of the Missouri, and
passed the cold season at that place (1804-5). Thence
he proceeded westward, and crossing the Northern
Andes, near some of the Sources of the Missouri,
traveled before the Rigorous Weather set in, as
far as the Ocean, near the Mouth of Columbia Ri -
-ver. Here he remained during the inclement part
of 1805-6; and as soon as the Spring was far enough
advanced for marching, he started for home.
And here he is once in good health & spirits. I
feel rejoiced on his own account; on account of
Geography & Natural History; and on account of
the Character and Honor of Country that this ex-
-pedition has been successfully performed.- They
were so pinched for food while passing the Snows
of the Rocky Mountains, that they fed upon their
Horses & Dogs, until they arrived to more benig-