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Romansoff) to St. Michaels.  This gentleman was engaged in the work of transportation from the 5th. of Dec. to the 5th. of January in transporting the [[underline]] provisions only [[/underline]] to Uualachleet.  After the arrival of my stores I took a careful inventory of the same, and found that the amount left would be exhausted before arrival of the ships, and I therefore instituted a system of strict economy throughout my command placing both officers and men on two meals a day while laying idle in winter quarters.  I was determined to husband my means until such time as I commenced the building of the line.  The men complained and grumbled greatly about it, but the officers looking only to the best interests of the Company and disregarding their own desires said nothing.  Seeing that my allowance would run short, I determined to commence active operations as soon as my dogs would arrive and thus satisfy myself whether or not men could work the [[underline]] entire year [[/underline]] in this climate.  The 28th. of January found me prepared to commence work, and I forthwith divided the party into two commands, assigning one to