"[Lot of 5 - Fort Benton and Fort Walla Walla Military Road]", U.S. Government

These 5 maps relate to the construction of a military road connecting Fort Walla Walla with Fort Benton on the Missouri River. The purpose for building the road was to assist in moving troops to the various forts in Oregon Territory. Creation of a wagon road had the added benefits of aiding emigrants in their travels through the interior, as well as being used for transporting supplies for possible construction of a northern transcontinental railroad. This route, also known as the Mullan Wagon Road, was the most famous road ever constructed in the high Northwest, according to Wheat. These maps show the progress of approximately 45 miles of this road in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho region including:

A. Map of a Section of Fort Benton & Fort Walla Walla Military Road, in Charge of Lieut. John Mullan Extending from Wolf's Lodge Prairie to Coeur d'Alene Mission, (14.1 x 7.1").
B. Map of a Section of Fort Benton & Fort Walla Walla Milty. Road ... from Coeur d'Alene Mission to 9th Crossing, (13.8 x 6.8").
C. Map of Fort Benton & Fort Walla Walla Milty. Road ... Along Coeur d'Alene River from 9th to 34th Crossg, (12.4 x 6.1").
D. Field Working Sketch of the Proposed Location of Road from Camp July 14th to Coeur d'Alene Mission..., (15.1 x 7.4").
E. Map of Military Road from Upper Spokan Ferry to Wolf's Lodge Prairie [on sheet with] Map of Wagon Road, Connecting the Two Ferries of the Spokan River, (5.3 x 7.8").

The maps show good detail in the immediate vicinity of the road including topography, drainage, camp locations, mile posts, notes on cutting & grading, and more. All sheets are signed in the plate by Mullan.

References:

Condition: B+

Issued folding with light toning and faint scattered foxing.