58 EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D 1843 To A. D. 1852. 
Captain Stansbury was assisted throughout by Lieutenant J. W. Gunnison, Topographical 
Engineers, and, during a portion of the time, by Lieutenant G. W. Howland, United States 
rifles. He was supplied with chronometers, sextants, barometers, odometers, theodolites, 
chains, &c. His last barometer was broken on the outward journey, a short distance west of 
Fort Laramie. The expedition consisted of eighteen men, five wagons, and forty-six horses 
and mules. 3 
The party started on the 31st of May, 1849, and travelled in a northwest direction over the 
usual emigrant road from Fort Leavenworth to the Platte river, near Fort Kearny, thence up 
the valley of that river and of the South Fork to the crossing which leads to the North Fork 
at Ash-Hollow. Thence they followed the right bank of the North Fork to Fort Laramie. 
Leaving this place, the train took the usual road along the foot slopes of the Black Hills, but 
frequent examinations were made of the river. At Deer creek they crossed (by a ferry) the 
north fork of the Platte, and thence on the usual emigrant road reached the Sweetwater 
river, which they traced to its source in the South Pass. Thence they followed the Big Sandy 
to its mouth, crossed Green river, and proceeded to Bridger’s Fort. 
At this point; being desirous of discovering a trail to the northern end of the Great Salt 
lake more direct than the emigrant road, Captain Stansbury despatched his train, under Lieu- 
tenant Gunnison, by the Mormon road to Salt Lake city, and on the 20th of August, accom- 
panied by ‘‘ Major James Bridger," left the fort. Following the Mormon road to the crossing 
of Bear river, and then this stream for six miles to the Medicine Buttes, he struck north- 
west across the mountains, and came upon the head of Pumbar's creek, a tributary of Weber's 
river. He attempted to follow it, but was prevented by cafions and precipices. Turning now 
to the northwest, up a branch of the Red Chimney Fork, he reached its head by a good road, 
and thence descended Ogden's river by a difficult path, which, after a mile, led him to so 
narrow and rugged a part of the valley that he was forced to leave it. Diverging to the north 
through Ogden's Hole, he crossed the range of mountains which divide Ogden’ s Hole (or 
valley) from Great Salt lake, and, taking the wagon road, reached Salt Lake city about the 
28th of August. His wagon train had arrived on the 23d. 
On the 12th September Captain Stansbury left Salt Lake city, and took the road roat 
the valley of Roseaux creek and Pannack river to Fort Hall. Returning by the same route to 
Bear river, he passed up through the gorge which this river makes in coming from the 
mountains, and explored Cache valley. 
On the 19th October he left Bear river with five men and sixteen pack mules, to make an 
exploration of the western shores of the Great lake. He travelled west to a mountain ridge 
forming a rocky promontory jutting into the lake, that caused him to turn south. Rounding the 
point, he travelled north along the western base of the same ridge, then west and south over 
an artemisia and sand plain, and finally struck for Pilot Peak. From this he turned southeast 
over the salt desert, and returned to Great Salt Lake city. This journey, which Bonneville's 
trappers failed to perform, was not effected by Captain Stansbury without great suffering and 
hardships. ; 
Lieutenant MR had meanwhile been engaged in surveying the Great Salt lake and 
Utah valley. His operations were, however, stopped by the cold weather i in the latter part of 
November. 
The survey was resumed as early as possible in the next year, and continued until August 
12, 1850. 
