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EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1843 To A. D. 1852. 61 
Colonel Johnston, in 1849, directed the construction of a road for the troops over the route 
discovered by Lieutenant Wm. F. Smith. From Leon spring he attempted, but without success, 
to find a more direct wagon route west, going north of the Limpia. 
On arriving at El Paso, Colonel Johnston and Lieutenant Bryan surveyed the vale of the 
Rio Grande to Dofia Ana, while Lieutenant ‘Wm. F. Smith examined the Organ mountains 
north to Salina de San AHN; and the Sacramento mountains, between the cañon del Perro 
and La Cienega. 
‘Colonel Johnston and party returned to the Pecos by the route that Lieutenant Bryan had 
explored through the Guadalupe Pass; thence they passed down the Pecos river to the mouth 
of Live Oak creek, from which point they examined the direct route to Fort Inge, across the 
heads of the San Pedro and Nueces rivers. During Colonel Johnston’s reconnaissance the 
roads were — with an odometer, and numerous observations were made with the 
sextant. 
Lieutenant N. Michler, in 1849, made a reconnaissance of the country from Corpus Christi 
to Fort Inge, along the valleys of the Nueces, Leona, and Frio rivers, for the purpose of opening 
a military road. 
Lieutenant Michler then examined the route from San Antonio to Fort Washita, passing 
through Austin, Navarro, Dallas, and Preston, and thence to the emigrant Crossing of the Pecos. 
The return route from Fort Washita lay up the Red river to the mouth of the Little Witchita, 
thence west to the Big Witchita, thence southwest to the Double Mountain Fork, thence to the 
Big Springs of the Colorado, and thence through the White Sand hills to the Pecos. From 
this point he returned to San Antonio over nearly the route previously explored by Lieutenant 
Bryan as far as the head of the Concho, where he struck southwest to the San Saba, and thence, 
by Forts Mason and Martin Scott, to San Antonio. The distances along the route from 
Fort Washita to the Pecos were chained. No mention is made of astronomical observations 
being taken on this journey. 
Captain R. B. Marcy, fifth infantry, had just ی‎ over the portion of the route from the 
Pecos to the Double Mountain Fork, and gave Lieutenant Michler information concerning it, 
"They both considered the Double Mountain Fork to be tributary to the main Brazos; but 
Captain Marcy's examinations in 1854 make it appear to be a branch of the Clear Fork of the 
Brazos. 
An examination w was 2 also made of the Colorado, with the view of i improving its navigation, 
by Lieutenant Wm. F. Smith, assisted by Messrs. E A. Howard and J. F. Minter. 
Lieutenant Whiting reconnoitred the route between San Antonio and Preston, via Freder- 
icksburg, Fort Croghan, Fort Gates, Fort Graham, and Fort Worth. This route was also 
examined by Lieutenant Bryan, Topographical Engineers. 
"The above items are mainly from the printed reports or maps. The following information in 
regard to the unpublished maps of the explorations in Texas, in 1850— 51, have been obtained 
from the officers engaged in the surveys. In the Topographical Bureau there are two maps, 
both incomplete, of these explorations; and each contains routes not upon the other. 
In January, 1849, Lieutenants Bryan and Michler, Topographical Engineers, examined 
Aranzas and Corpus Christi bays, and the road from Corpus Christi to San Antonia, via San 
Patricio and Calaveras. In February, 1849, they made a reconnaissance of the lower road from 
San Antonio to the crossing near Presidio de Rio Grande, via Fort eee and also of a road 
from the San Fernando Crossing to San Antonio. 
