130 MAJOR Emory's report resumed 



sert grama grass, which made this locality the recruiting station for our animals during our 

 stay on the Colorado^ was now entirely exhausted. 



Leaving the wagon trains to follow out the ordinary road across the mountains, our 

 advance party, under Lieutenant Coutts, left the wagon route at Cariso creek, to mount the 

 height of the range, by a direct ascent, to the west. Following out at first a gradual slope by 

 which we advanced towards a re-entering angle in the steep rocky range, we accomplished with 

 ease nearly half the height of the mountain ridge. The rest of the ascent was literally climbing 

 up steep rocky slopes, or winding along rude ravines ; the height was finally gained, and was 

 some 2,500 feet above the desert plain below. Thence our route led by a gentle slope towards 

 the west, passing along beautifully shaded valleys, watered by clear flowing streams, and brought 

 us to the coast near the initial point of boundary on the Pacific. 



Major Emory^s Heport Besiimed. 



In 184G, I made a report of a rapid reconnoissance of the country here described by Dr. 

 Parry. I preferred giving this description, taken from a diflFerent point of view, to reproducing 

 my own sketch. 



Dr. Parry accompanied me under the first organization as physician to the boundary com- 

 mission, and also undertook the duties of zoologist and botanist. In the summer of 1854, 

 when the second commission was organized under the new treaty with Mexico, the same position 



was offered him, but was declined. The appointment was then conferred on Dr. C. B. R. Ken- 

 nerly. 



In the list of officers of the expedition, (given on page 24,) the name of Dr. Kennerly is 

 inadvertently omitted. 



I cannot conclude the account of this part of the country, relating to the boundary, without 

 some reference to a sad affair which occurred at the crossing of the Colorado, while the parties 



r 



under my orders were engaged at that point, and which, at the time, excited much interest in 



the army and elsewhere. I refer to the death of the hrave and accomplished 

 the army. 



C 



command 



Misso 



iri to California, the collector of the port of San Francisco. As may he 

 supposed, the march was full of difficulties. When hetween Santa Fe and the Gila, the party 



\ force of Indians, which was gallantly repulsed hy Captain Thorn and his 



was attacked by a force of Indians, which was 

 command . 



Arrived at the Colorado, most of the party fagged out and dispirited, Captain Thorn was 

 obliged to use extraordinary exertion in crossing it. There was but one boat ; and with that 

 zeal and hardihood which characterized this officer in the discharge of all his duties, he 

 stripped off his uniform, and took the personal direction of the boat. After having crossed and 

 recrossed repeatedly, in ferrying over his command, and the party he escorted, the boat sank. 

 The captain, although a good swimmer, became entangled with a Mexican who was in the boat. 



o 



probably in the chivalrous attempt to save him, went down, and was swept away by the current. 



I was at the time in my camp, distant one hundred and fifty miles, where a soldier 



came in and reported the circumstance, stating that the body had not been found when he 



left. I immediately despatched an Indian runner to Lieutenant Coutts, who commanded a 



