qA | EXPLORATÍONS FROM A. D. 1852 TO A D. 1857. 
The profile of this route is engraved on a horizontal scale of 30 miles to an inch, and a 
vertical scale 39-4 times greater than the horizontal. Numerous illustrations accompany the 
quarto edition. This report was also published in House Doc. No. 129, 1st session 33d Con- 
gress, and was accompanied by a preliminary map on a scale of 50 miles to an inch, and 
profile on a horizontal scale of 15 miles to an inch, the vertical scale being 2,000 feet to an inch. 
A sketch of the portion of the route between the 104th and 110th meridian, on a scale of about 
16 miles to an inch, accompanies the report of the Secretary of War—Senate Ex. Doc. No. 29, 
1st session 29th Congress. 
This expedition was composed of Captain Gunnison, Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, 3d artillery; 
Mr. R. H. Kern, topographer; Mr. S. Homans, astronomer; Dr. J. Schiel, surgeon and geologist; 
Mr. F. Creutzfeldt, botanist; and Mr. J. A. Snyder, assistant topographer; with the necessary 
teamsters and employés. They were escorted by Captain R. M. Morris and Lieutenant L. S. 
Baker, and about 30 soldiers of the regiment of mounted rifles. "They were provided with 
sextants and artificial horizons, compasses, odometers, mercurial and aneroid barometers, and 
instruments for railroad surveying. Their supplies, &c., were transported in wagons. 
The main train left Westport on the 16th of June, 1853, and travelled over the Santa Fé 
road, while Captain Gunnison, with a small party, travelled up the Kansas river to Fort Riley, 
and, continuing southwest, joined the main party on Walnut creek. The whole expedition now 
proceeded up the Arkansas to the mouth of the Apishpa creek, where they left it and travelled 
southward up this branch. Leaving Apishpa creek, they took a route westward, crossed 
Cuchara ereek, struck Huerfano creek, and ascended it to the Sangre del Cristo Pass in the 
Sierra Blanca. By this Pass they entered the San Luis valley, lying at the head of the Rio 
Grande. Travelling northwest along the western base of the Sierra Blanca, they examined 
Roubedeau’s Pass, the Sandy Hill Pass, and another at the head of Homans’ creek, leading to 
the Arkansas. Leaving the San Luis valley, by way of Sawatch creek, they ascended this to 
one of its sources in Coochetopa Pass. Here, crossing the divide, they descended to Grand 
river, mostly through the valley of Coochetopa creek.. Finding it impossible to travel through 
the cafions of Grand river, they traversed the high and broken mesas south of them to Uncom- 
pahgree creek. This they descended to its mouth, and then following Grand river a short 
distance, crossed over to its northern side. Keeping generally at some distance from its 
banks, they journeyed westward until, after crossing Blue river, they left Grand river in 
about latitude 39°, on finding that its course would lead them too far to the south. Continuing 
their westerly course, they crossed Green rier a short distance below the mouth of White 
river, (the one which comes in from the west.) 
"Their examination westward was uninterrupted as far as the head of the San Rafael, where 
they were forced by the Wasatch mountains considerably to the south. They crossed this 
divide through the Wasatch Pass, and came upon a branch of the Sevier river. "They then 
descended Sevier river to Lake valley, turned south, crossed the Unkuk-oo-ap mountains south 
of the river, and rejoined it just below where it comes out of the gap through this range. 
Here the party was separated; Captain Gunnison, Mr. R. H. Kern, Mr. F. Creutzfeldt, Mr. 
William Potter, and eight men starting to examine Sevier lake on October 25. On the morning 
of the 26th they were surprised by a large body of Indians of the Ute tribe, and Captain 
Gunnison, Mr. Kern, Mr. Creutzfeldt, Mr. Potter, and four others were killed. Most of the 
papers and instruments were recovered. The expedition, the command of which thus devolved 
upon Lieutenant Beckwith, proceeded to Great Salt Lake city, where the winter was passed. 
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