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 Warre and Vavasour, 1845-6. 69 or otherwise obstructing the passage of any body of troops from the United States, in their descent of the south branch of the Columbia, from the ruggedness of the present route and the obHgation they are under of keeping to the beaten track to obtain water and wood, and from the fact that troops brought 2000 or 3000 miles across any country would be har- rassed by their long march, and rendered unfit for active serv- ice on their first arrival in the country. It is therefore both evident and expedient, should it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take military pos- session of the Oregon Territory, that the British troops should be in occupation of certain positions, previous to the arrival of any force from the United States. We beg, therefore, to request your Lordship's attention to those points, the prior occupation of which would enable a comparatively small force to resist any number of regular troops likely, from the known scantiness of the available force in the United States, to be dispatched to this country, viz. : 1. The first and principal points are Cape Disappointment on the north and Point Adams on the south shore, command- ing the entrance into the Columbia River. 2. Puget Sound is easy of access for ships of any tonnage at every season of the year, and from Nesqually, near the head of the Inlet, troops can be forwarded during the summer months (say from July to October) with great facility, to any part of the Territory. 3. Fort Vancouver is a central position and would afford temporary accommodation for troops, but the present site of the fort is ill chosen for defense, nor does it command any particular or important point. 4. The falls of the River Willamette, where the village called "Oregon City" is now commenced, is an important point and is well adapted for defense, from the steepness and im- practicability of the immediately surrounding country. A small force stationed at this point would overawe the present American population and obtain any quantity of cat- tle, etc., to supply the troops in other parts of the country.