APPENDIX Q. 



: HUMBOLDT RIVER, 



Washington, September 10, 1860. 

 Sir : In compliance with your request for information regarding a portion of tlie 

 route pursued by the expedition to the Rocky Mountains and California under com- 

 mand of Capt. J. C. Fre'mont, in the year 1845, I inclose you a copy of my journal, 

 which you are at liberty, if it will be in any way serviceable to you, to make such use 

 of as you may think fit. 



Truly, your obedient servant, 



Edw. M. Kern. 

 Capt. J. H. Simpson, 



U. S. Corps Topographical Engineers. 



November 5, 1845. — Whitten's Spring. To-day we parted company, the captain 

 passing to the southward with a small party, to examine that portion of the Great Basin 

 supposed to be a desert, lying between the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. 

 The main body of the camp, under the guidance of Mr. Joseph Walker, are to move 

 toward the head of Mary's or Ogden's River, and down that stream to its sink or lake. 

 From thence to Walker's Lake, where we are again to meet. I am to accompany the 

 latter party in charge of the topography, &c. Crossing the mountains near our camp, 

 we arrived about 1 o'clock p. m. at several springs of excellent water. These springs 

 spread into a large marsh, furnishing an abundant supply of good grass for the animals. 

 On the 6th, owing to a severe snow-storm, we were obliged to remain in camp. Hav- 

 ing no timber but a few green cedars, fires were not very abundant. 



On the 1th we commenced our ascent by a steep and rocky road. The snow was 

 falling lightly when we started, but before we reached the summit, we were nearly 

 blinded by the storm. A short descent brought us into a pleasant valley, well watered 

 by several small streams, and timbered with aspen and cottonwood. This is, really, 

 a beautiful spot, surrounded by high mountains, those on the west covered with snow. 

 Crossing a low range of hills, we entered another valley, that takes its waters from the 

 snowy mountains on either side. The stream, after winding among the grass-covered 

 hills, emerges into a plain, through which we could see Ogden's River flowing. Walker 



