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386 ^ Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



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*T 



APPENDIX No. 6. 



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r" 



Washington City, October 83 1847. 



Sie: I have the honor to submitj herewith, a report of such ob- 

 jects of natural history as came under my observation while I was 

 attached to the topographical party, under your command, during 

 the journey from Fort Leavenworth to Penrs Fort. 



The plants which w^ere collected were submitted to the inspec- 

 tion of Dr. Torrey, to whom I am indebted f*or their names. 



With great respect, I am^ sir, your most obedient servant, 



J. W. ABERT. 



Lieutenant U. S. Top. Engineers 



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To. Lieut. W. H. Emohy, 



U. S. Topographical Engineers, 



I 



JSTotes of I Lieutenant J. W. Ahert. 



On the 27tTi of June, 1846, we set out from Fort Leavenworth. 

 The day was clear and bright; the woods were rejoiced with the 

 Toice of the mocking bird, and of the many little warblers that 

 ■would join in the chorus of his song; the bluebird was there with 

 his sprightly notes, and the meadow lark, perched on some tall 

 mullein weed, caroled forth his song of love. As we were heartily 

 tired of remaining quiet, we were well prepared to enjoy the 

 "beautiful scenes that our progress gradually developed. The 

 ground is what is called "rolling prairie," of gentle curves, one- 

 swell melting into another. 



The soil around is extremely rich; the whole country is verdant 

 ■with the rank growth of the "tall grass," as it is cajled by way ~ 

 eminence, when compared with, that which grows beyond the re- 

 gion of the walnut and the hickory. 



Here are many varieties of useful timber: the hickory, the wal- 

 nut, the linden, the ash, tLe hornbeam, the maple, the birch, nnd 

 the beech", also the cotton wood; but, beyond the limits of the "tall 

 grass," there is the cotton wood only. 



Five miles from Fort Leavenworth we passed a large butte, 

 called "Pilot Knob;" its top is flat, and unites with the vallies be- 

 lo.w in a curve like that of a ropp slackly drawn; spreading over 

 the valleys, dnd climbing almost to the top of the butte, we teaW' 

 fine forests of timber, consisting chiefly of oak. Among the shrubs, 



•we noticed the hazel, (corylus Americanus 



(cephalantus occidentalis;) among these ih 



of 



) and the button bush 



had twisted 



