132 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



Kush Valley from summit, for about sixty yards, is pretty steep; balance easy. Some 

 little filling up of bottom of canon and at crossings necessary, and a little cutting of 

 oak bushes. Two miles from summit reach east foot of pass in Rush Valley. The 

 southern and southwestern portion of this valley for 8 or 10 miles in every direc- 

 tion is covered with beautiful and luxuriant grass, and so are the bases of the mount- 

 ains. There are some springs to the south of the pass in the valley. From east foot 

 of pass strike northeastwardly across Rush Valley for Camp Floyd Pass, in 6.7 miles 

 crossing Meadow Creek, a flowing stream, 4 feet wide and 6 inches deep, and along 

 which are good camping places; in about 18 miles more attaining summit of Camp 

 Floyd Pass, and in about three miles more, at 7.15 p. m., reaching Camp Floyd. Road 

 to-day, except as stated, through Oak Pass, good. Journey 44.5 miles. Reported to 

 General Johnston in person same evening. 



August 4, Camp Floyd— At my suggestion, by direction of General Johnston, two 

 men, with Pete as guide, and two pack-animals, were sent out this morning to my 

 party. They take four days' provisions for the command, and some sharp hatchets 

 to cut away the oak brush in Oak Pass of the Guyot range. The following orders 

 have been issued: 



[Special Orders No. 64.] 



Headquarters Department of Utah. 



Camp Floyd, Utah, August 4, 1859. 

 1. The infantry portion of the escort to the topographical exploring party under Capt. James H. Simpson will be 

 replaced by one non-commissioned officer and ten privates^ rom the same am " 

 ment will be formed from those men of the command whose term of servic* 



The detachment from Company A, Second Dragoons, will continue to form part of the escort, and ioin the comnanv 

 at Fort Kearney. p y 



Second Lieut. Alexander Murry, Tenth Infantry, will continue in command of the escort, and furnish all assistance 

 necessary to enable Captain Simpson to perform the duties with which he is charged 



ratio^ JftrT" ' ''' £ " ^ "'^ * ^ F1 ° yd ' and pre P are to march on the 9th instant, 



rationed for twenty-two days, five-sevenths of the meat-ration on the hoof. 



3. The proper staff department will provide the necessary transportation and supplies 



4. Captain Simpson will dispatch a subaltern of his party over the last 100 miles of his new route with minute 

 instructions to straighten the portion west of Rush Valley, and establish guide-marks upon it ' ■ ""^ ° 



A detail of one non-commissioned officer and ten dragoons, rati for fcwelv< ,;,-. . wiU e8C ort this officer This 



Jtachmeut will i ,;, ;U id held ready to march on the arrival of the surveying par ty 



* depot quartermaster will provide the necessary transportation and material for making stakes, and also for 

 i which Captain Simpsou will designate. 



P. J. Porter, 



Assistant Adjutant General 



August 5, Lamp *%*— Topographical party, with escort under Lieutenant 

 Murry, reached this post this afternoon. It seems that Pete was too late in reaching- 

 Lieutenant Murry with the hatchets, the party having got through the difficult portion 

 of Oak Pass before they met. The road through the pass has not been made as prac- 

 ticable tor wagons as I had intended, but, in consequence of the General Johnston 

 Pass, 5 miles farther north, being wider and therefore not so liable to obstruction by 

 snow in the winter, and it not lengthening the route a great deal, probably my return 

 route should have come into Rush Valley by this pass. In order to make this con- 

 nection with my outward route, Lieutenant Smith has received from me, by direction 

 of General Johnston, verbal orders to this effect, and also the following instructions in 

 relation to the shortening the route between Tyler's Springs and William's Spring and 

 establishing water-troughs at the Marmaduke Spring : 



