INSTKUCTIONS, AND EXPLANATORY REMARKS. 



Washington^ SejiUmher Ij 1847. 



To Col. J. J. Abert, 



Chief of the Corps of Topographical Engineers: 



■ Sik: The following order was received by me June Sth", 1846: 



— ^ . Bureau OF TopoGHAPHicAL Engineers, 



. Washington^ June 5^ 1846.- 



Sir: "You will repair, without delay, to Fort Leavenworth, ahd 

 report yourself and party to Colonel Kearny, 1st dragoons, as field 

 and topographical engineers -of his command. In addition to your- 

 self, the party will consist of 



Second Lieutenant Abert,' 

 Second Lieutenant Peck- 



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do. 



Lieutenant Peck is at West Point, but he has been ordered to 

 repair to St. Louis, and report to you at that place. Should Colo- 

 nel Kearny be at St- Louis, which you^^vill ascertain on passing 

 through that place, you will report to him at St. Louis. ^ 



Although ordered to report as field and topographical engineers, 

 under the regulations, you 



will not' consider these in the light of 



. exclusive duties, but wull perform any military duty >vhich shall be 

 assigned to you by Colonel Kearny in accordance wath your rank- 

 Should Colonel Kearny have moved on the prairies with his com- 

 mand, you will make every effort to overtake him. ' 



Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, 



J. J. ABERT, 



Colonel Topographical Engineers. 



.To Lieut. W. H. Emory, Top. Eng. 



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Anticipating that the route of Colonel Kearny's command would 

 be through unexplored regions, your suggestions required, that in 

 all cases where it did not interfere -with other and more immediate 

 military demands of the service, the attention of ruyself, and the 

 officers assigned to duty with me, should be employed in collecting 

 data which would give the governnfent some idea of the regions 

 traversed. . 



The column commanded by Colonel Kearny, to w^hich we were 

 attached, styled «'The Army of the West,'' to march from Fort 

 Leavenworth, was destined to strike a blow at the northern pro- 

 • yinces of Mexico, more especially New Mexico and California. 



It was supposed we would barely reach Fort Leavenworth in 

 time to join tne army, and but twenty- four hours were allowed us 



