56 EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1843 TO a. D. 1852. 
was surprised on the march by an ambush of Pit River Indians, and he and several of his 
party were killed. "This rendered the further prosecution of the reconnaissance impossible, 
and Lieutenant Williamson returned to Benicia. Captain Warner's note books were saved, and 
from them a sketch of his route, with a report, was made by Lieutenant Williamson. 
RECONNAISSANCE IN CALIFORNIA BY LIEUTENANT G. H. DERBY, TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, IN 1849. 
A report of certain of these examinations forms a part of Senate Ex. Doc. No. 47, Ist session 
31st Congress, and is accompanied by a map of the Sacramento valley, from the American river 
to Butte creek, surveyed and drawn, by order of General Riley, commanding 10th military 
department, by Lieutenant Derby, یرم‎ — September and October, 1849, on 
a scale of ten miles to an inch. 
SURVEY OF,THE MOUTH OF RIO GRANDE, BY — J. D. WEBSTER, TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, 1847. 
The report of this forms Senate Ex. Doc. No. 65, Ist session 31st Congress. The map is on 
a scale of an inch to a mile, and exhibits the windings of the river from Matamoras toits mouth. 
SURVEY OF A ROAD FROM vie SMITH TO SANTA FE, BY LIEUTENANT J, H. SIMPSON, TOPOGRAPHICAL 
ENGINKERS, 1849. 
The report of this survey forms Senate Ex. Doc. No. 12, Ist session 31st — and is 
accompanied by a map of the route, in four sheets, on a scale of one inch to ten miles. The 
survey was made with chain and compass, checked by astronomical observations made with a 
sextant and chronometer. 
Lieutenant Simpson left Fort Smith about the middle of April. The party travelled by what 
is called the upper wagon road, along the head of Sans Bois creek. Thence, crossing the heads 
of Gaines’ and Coal creeks, (the two branches of the south fork of Canadian,) they struck the 
main Canadian river at Shawneetown, opposite Edwards’ old trading-house. Thence, keeping 
along and over the bluffs bordering the south side of the Canadian as far as Rocky Dell creek, 
they gradually diverged southwest from the river to the Tucumcari Hills. Continuing west, 
they crossed the Gallinas some ten miles above its mouth, struck the Pecos at Anton Chico, trav- 
elled the usual road to Galisteo, by the way of Cañon Blanco and the Lagunas, and thence north 
to Santa Fé. 
RECONNAISSANCE IN THE NAVAJO COUNTRY, BY LIEUT. J. H. SIMPSON, TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, 1849. 
Lieutenant Simpson’s report of this expedition forms part of Senate Ex. Doc., No. 64, 1st 
session 31st Congress, and is accompanied by a map of the route pursued, on a scale of an 
inch to ten miles. 
This expedition, the object of which was the chastisement of the Navajo Indians, was under 
the command of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Washington. Lieutenant Simpson was 
assisted in his duties by Messrs. E. M. Kern and R. H. Kern, and was provided with a sextant 
and chronometer for astronomical observations. 'The whole command left Santa Fé on the 
16th August, 1849, and crossed the Rio Grande at the pueblo of San Domingo. From San 
Domingo they travelled a little north of west to the pueblo of Jemez, on the river of the same 
name. Remaining here a few days to perfect their arrangements, the line of march next lay 
up the Cañon de Peñasco. Travelling on the Navajo trail, they crossed the Rio Puerco and 
Cafiada de Piedra de Lumbre. Leaving the last tributary of the Gulf of Mexico at the head 
of the Cañon de Torrejon, they reached the waters flowing to the Gulf of California, by cross- 
