EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1843 To A. D. 1852. 53 
of the West.’ Washington: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, printers.—1848."* It is accompanied by 
a map, on a scale of about 24 miles to an inch, exhibiting only that portion of the country and 
the routes that came under the observation of the parties. The map contains also a baromet- 
rical profile of the route across the continent, on a horizontal scale of about 24 miles to an 
inch, and a vertical scale of about 8,200 feet to an inch, the vertical scale being about 15 
times the horizontal. A report by Lieutenant Abert, of the portions of the route between 
Fort Leavenworth and Bent’s Fort, is also appended. Major Emory (then a first lieutenant 
of Topographical Engineers) was assisted by Lieutenant W. H. Warner, Topographical Engi- 
neers, Lieutenant James W. Abert, Topographical Engineers, Lieutenant Wm. G. Peck, 
Topographical Engineers, Mr. J. M. Stanley, and Mr. Norman Bestor. His instruments were 
two box chronometers, two 84-inch sextants, and one syphon barometer, which was the first 
‘mercurial barometer ever carried overland to the Pacific unbroken. 
They started from Fort Leavenworth June 27, 1846, and, proceeding south, struck the Santa 
Fé road, which they followed to the bend of the Arkansas river, and thence up the valley to 
Bent’s Fort, where they joined the column of the ‘‘ Army of the West." From this place they 
travelled in a southerly direction, up the Timpa creek to its head, and thence through the 
Raton Pass near the head of Purgatory creek. After crossing the valleys of the tributaries of 
the Canadian, they struck the Gallinas river near its source, and thence travelled to the Pecos, 
crossed it at San Miguel, and followed up its valley tothe old ruins of Pecos. They then passed 
over the Santa Fé mountains, by the pass at the head of the north fork of the Galisteo creek, 
and entered Santa Fé. 
Lieutenants Abert and Peck did not accompany Lieutenant Emory beyond Santa Fé, instruc- 
tions being given them to make certain explorations in the neighboring region. 
From Santa Fé the army travelled down the valley of the Rio Grande del Norte 230 miles. 
At Fra Cristobal the command, separating from the wagon train, which took another route, 
crossed the dividing ridge ‘‘nearly on the 33d parallel,” struck the Gila, and followed its valley 
to the Colorado of the Gulf of California; being sometimes forced, by cafions and ravines, to leave 
the river for short distances. Crossing the Colorado south of the mouth of the Gila, they 
travelled northwesterly over the Colorado desert, very nearly along the present wagon road, 
until, on the 5th of December, they crossed the summit of the Coast Range, through Warner’s 
Pass. After much hard fighting with the Mexicans, es arrived at San step December 12, 
1846, and here the ene reconnaissance prantingted:: " 
The results of these iie و‎ is are given by Lieutenant Abert’s report, which forms a part 
of House Ex. Doc. No. 41, Ist session 30th Congress. It is accompanied by a map, on a scale 
of 10 miles to an inch, exhibiting the portion of New Mexico between latitude 33° 30’ and 37°, 
and from the meridian of 104° 30’ to 108°. This map was also reduced and republished on 
Lieutenant Emory’s map already described. 
Lieutenants Abert and Peck commenced, on the 8th of October, the examination entrusted to 
them by Lieutenant Emory, after having previously visited certain mines. It does not appear 
that they were provided with any instruments for making astronomical observations, and the 
latitudes and longitudes used were those determined by Lieutenant Emory. They descended 
the Rio Grande to the Algodones, whence they made a short journey up the Rio Jemez and 
? It was also published by the House of Representatives, House Ex. Doc. No. 41, Ist session 30th Congress. 
