G E IsT E 11 J^l. 1 T I ^ E K xV n V 



United States Engineer Office, 



IlKADljUAUTEKS DKI'AKTMKNT OF CAI.IFOKNIA. 



Sun FifiiHlKco, Cut., JuHuurij I'l, 1870. 

 To BrevetColoiu'l .1. 1'. SuERuruNE, 



AssIkIuiiI Adjutant (icnerul, lUp't of CuL, Sun Frunrlsro, CuL: 



Sii;: 1 Lave tlio lidiior to make tlio following |)i't>limiiiary report in m-Htimh'o, more partieiilarlv, 

 to the military features connected with the reconnaissance through Southern Nevada, lately con- 

 ducted under my cliarge, in which T was assisted by Lieut. 1). W. Loekwood, Corps of Engineers, 

 Suited States Ai'my, three lUofessioTial assistants, and two practiced soldiers, accomiianied l)y an 

 escort of twenty-li\e men of Company IT, I'^ighth United States Ca\alry, from Camp Halleck, 

 Nevada. 



The conception of this reconnaissancie having originatt'd wilii the lirevet major jieniral com- 

 manding the department, was commuuicated to the Chief of Engineers, and, meeting witli his 

 ei)useut and approval, Special Order No. !)i was published, as follows : 



[Special Oiilers, No. i)-!.] 



IIliADQUACTKKS Pkt \l: 1 M I N I iil ( AMIliliMV. 



Sun I'linifixiv, Jiiuc 7, 181)9. 

 By aiitliority from )io;i(liiii alters Military llivisioii of the I'acitic, LiiMit. (iiMjr-jo M. \Vli(i'l<'r, United i^tiitcs 

 Eii<"iiieer.s, will proceed with liis eivil assi^stallts and tliree enlisted lueu to either Camps Halleek or Kiiljy, Nevada, and 

 having been joined by Lieut. D. \V. Loekwood, United States Kngineors, now en route via Fort t'hiirehill, will 

 there organize a party, to consist of two uon-commissioued oftieers and twenty-three enlisted men, (cavalry, or infantry 

 monnted,) such drivers, packers, and guides as may be re(|uired; e(iuip them with the necessary, full, and completeout- 

 lit, as far as the resources of the, posts will unable him so to do ; after which he will proceed, via the White Pine district, 

 to make a thorough and careful reconnaissance of the district of country to the south and east of White Pine, extending 

 his recounaissanee, if practicable, a« far as the head of iiavigatiou ou the Colorado Kiver, with a view of opening a road 

 thereto from the White i'lue or CJrant district, of obtaining correct data for a military map of the country, and for the 

 selection of the site or sites for such nnlitary post or posts to cover the mining country .south and east of White 

 Pine frtun hostile Indians, as may be re(iuired. Such explorations and examinations as may will be made in reference 

 to the physical geography of the country, its resourei^s in wood, water, agricultural or mineral productions. 



The character, habits, and numbers of Imlian tribes, aiul their disiiositioii toward settlers ami miners, will be sub- 

 jects for investigations. 



Upon his return, he will make a detailed report upon the results id' the expedition, accomiianied by a map and 

 subreports of a.ssistaiits. 



By commaud of lirevet Major-Geiiei:iI riid : 



John p. SiiiutiuRNE, 

 Aaahlant Ailjiilaiit-General. 



Having carefidly made the iiecossary pielimiuary arraugemcnls. dtine 11-' found us ready to take 

 the held. 



It having become necessary to forward transportation from Fort Churchill, Nev., to Camp IJuby, 

 Nev., Lieutenant Loekwood was obliged to leave late in -May, as ho would have to make trom the 

 former iioint a inarch of about nine dtiys ou the old overland road. 



Camp Halleck was reached on the morning of the loth, and it was I'oiind that few necessary 

 arrangemeuts had been completed for fitting out the expedition for so long and dillicult a trip. It 

 was necessary, therefore, to remain .several days in this vicinity, which proved of no considerable 

 ultimate delay, as the survey of a hay reservation for the post was required. 



Careful sets of astronomical aiul meteorological ob.servations were taken to test our instruments) 



