No. 240.
[Extract.]
Captain Heap to Major General Hancock.
Headquarters Department of
Dakota,
St. Paul, Minnesota,
July 9,
1870.
Sir: * * * * * * *
After the completion of the survey of the reservation selected by the
hoard General Sykes left me, and I went at once to Pembina, camping
near the post set up by Major Long, which post is at present
recognized as the boundary line between the United States and the
British Possessions. Here, in accordance with verbal instructions
received from Major General Hancock, I commenced at once taking
observations for latitude, to determine the true position of the
forty-ninth parallel. Both Mr. King and myself took a large number
of observations, remaining five days at this camp for this purpose.
From the whole number I selected six observations which I believed
to be the most accurate and reliable, and which most closely agreed
with each other. A mean of these six places Long’s post in latitude
48° 59' 13?, or 4,763 feet south of the forty-ninth parallel. The
result I believe to be as accurate as could be obtained with the
instruments at my disposal. Observations with finer instruments may
change the result somewhat.
It so happened that of the six observations selected, three were
taken by Mr. King and three by myself.
Having determined the latitude, I planted a large oak post 4,763 feet
north of Long’s post, on the edge of the woods on the west bank of
the Red River. On this post “U. S.” was chiseled on the south side,
“B. P.” on the north side, and “49th °” on top. From this point I
ran the parallel thirty-five miles west, nearly to the foot of
Pembina Mountain, marking each mile by a stout stake driven through
three sods, cut on the direction of the parallel. Each stake has “U.
S.” chiseled on its south side, and “B. P.” on its north side.
It may be interesting to know that while running the parallel, I saw
drift-wood five miles west of Red River.
The ground from the Red River to the foot of Pembina Mountain has a
gradual upward slope of not much more, I should judge, than one foot
to the mile.
Having completed this duty, which took me till June 3, I rested one
day, and on June 5 started for Fort Wadsworth, via Fort Totten. Mr.
Bellon, guide at Fort Totten, was going there at the time, and could
be of service to me; and I was also enabled to measure the distance
from St. Joseph to Fort Totten and make a map of the country.
I reached Fort Totten on June 8. The distance is about one hundred
and eight miles; plenty of water along the route at this season; in
dry weather there is scarcely any. No wood from Pembina Mountain to
east end of Devil’s Lake; roads generally good.
* * * * * * *
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. P. HEAP, Captain of
Engineers.
Assistant Adjutant General,
Headquarters Department of Dakota.
[Indorsements.]
Headquarters Department of
Dakota,
St. Paul, Minnesota, August 3,
1870.
Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army,
through headquarters Military Division of the Missouri.
The papers in reference to the survey of Fort Wadsworth
reservation have been forwarded in another communication.
Captain Heap was instructed to mark out the line in front of the
position of Fort Geo. H. Thomas, for the information of the
troops.
Since that country is likely to increase in importance, it would
be advantageous if the 49th parallel were authoritatively
established, and with a view of suggesting such a result, this
communication is transmitted.
WINF’D S. HANCOCK, Major General U. S.
A., Commanding.
Headquarters Military Division of the
Missouri,
Chicago, Illinois, August 8,
1870.
Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army,
in the absence of the Lieutenant General.
GEO. L. HARTSUFF, Asst. Adji.
General.
Adjutant General’s Office,
Washington, November
18, 1870.
Official copies.
E. D. TOWNSEND, Adjt.
General.
