NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY — FORT READING. 59 



former course, and struck across the hills to Beaver creek, which we found flowing in a small 

 canon. We then crossed a rocky plain to Liver creek, where we encamped. The hills may be 

 avoided by keeping nearer the bank of the Sacramento. 



" July 21. — As far as Battle creek we found the road pretty rough. At first it crossed a ridge, 

 which might be avoided, with some rock cutting, by passing around the bluff. The rest of the 

 road to the Fort was good, a few short, steep slopes excepted." 



Fort Reading is situated on the northern bank of Cow creek, a little stream- which discharges 

 itself into the Sacramento, about a mile and a half below the post. There are dry, elevated plains 

 northwest, and a steep bluff conducting to a higher plateau, east of the Fort. The buildings are 

 mostly made of adobes ; but some are of wood. The locality is unhealthy in the summer, on 

 account of the prevalence of fever and ague. 



We were courteously received and hospitably entertained by Major F. 0. Wyse, 3d artillery, 

 and the other officers stationed at the post. The escort here joined us. It consisted of Lieut. 

 II. G. Gibson, 3d artillery ; Lieut. George Crook, 4th infantry, commissary and quartermaster 

 of the expedition ; Lieut. J. B. Hood, 2d cavalry ; and 100 men, twenty being dragoons, and 

 the remainder artillery and infantry soldiers. Mr. J. Daniels was quartermaster's clerk, and 

 Mr. J. B. Vinton pack master of the escort. 



Various causes of delay prevented Lieut. Williamson from continuing the survey until the 

 twenty-eighth of July. Dr. J. F. Hammond, United States army, the surgeon of the Fort, 

 very kindly volunteered to have a series of barometric observations taken at the post, during 

 the continuance of the field work. Lieut. Williamson accordingly left one of the barometers 

 in his charge. His observations proved of very great value in the subsequent computation of 

 altitudes upon the route, as is fully explained in the chapter of this report devoted to that 

 subject. 



At the recommendation of Major Reading, Lieut. Williamson employed as guide and scout 

 an old hunter, named Bartee, but usually known as "Old Red." He proved a valuable ad- 

 dition to the party. 



July 28. — To-day we left Fort Reading, and began our journey towards the wild region east 

 of the western chain of the Sierra Nevada. Lieut. Crook, with the foot soldiers and the escort 

 train, had left Fort Reading two days before our departure, and encamped at McCumber's 

 Flat, distant 30 miles from the post. Lieut. Williamson, being detained by necessary businets, 

 sent forward his train this morning, and started about noon to follow it with his assistants, ac- 

 companied for a short distance by Dr. Hammond. We crossed Cow creek at a good ford, where 

 the stream was about 50 feet in width, and then abruptly ascended to a level plateau, elevated 

 about 200 feet above the Fort. We travelled 3.5 miles over this plain to the crossing of Bear 

 creek, a branch about 30 feet in width ; and then began a gradual ascent. The road soon 

 entered a thick pine and oak forest, varied by occasional clumps of manzanita bushes. Grizzly 

 bears are often found in this vicinity. Our train had taken a wrong roarl, and we were com- 

 pelled, in consequence, to encamp without blankets or cooking utensils, near the small rancho 

 of Mr. Asbury. A rather cold and uncomfortable night was spent by most of us. 



July 29. — To-day we started early, and continued our course through a thick pine and fir 

 forest, many trees of which bore long, graceful bunches of black and light colored mosses, with 

 an occasional bough of misletoe. We crossed two small streams, the first, Ash creek, about 

 ten feet, and the second, Mill creek, about twenty feet in width. The water of the latter was 

 very cold, its temperature being 47° Fahrenheit, while that of the air was 79° Fahrenheit. 



