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INTRODUCTION. 21 
that crossed the valley and intercepted the view. A high distant range, through which the 
river apparently broke, was supposed to be at the mouth of the ‘‘Big Cafion,’’ which the 
Spaniards, in 1540, had visited at a place far above. 
The marvellous story of Cardinas, that had formed for so long a time the only record con- 
cerning this rather mythical locality, was rather magnified than detracted from by the 
accounts of one or two trappers, who professed to have seen the cafion, and propagated among 
their prairie companions incredible accounts of the stupendous character of the formation, 
and it became a matter of interest to have this region explored, and to lay down the positions 
of the. Colorado and its tributaries along the unknown belt of country north of the 35th 
parallel. The establishment of new military posts in New Mexico and Utah made it also 
desirable to ascertain how far the river was navigable, aud whether it might not prove an 
avenue for the economical transportation of supplies to the newly occupied stations. 
There was no appropriation that would enable the War Department to accomplish this 
service until the summer of 1857, when the present Secretary of War, having the disposition 
of a certain amount to be expended in field examinations, set apart a portion of it for the 
exploration of the Colorado, and directed me to organize an expedition for that object. 
To ascertain how far the river was navigable for steamboats being the point of primary 
importance, it was necessary first to make provision for this portion of the work. The com- 
pany employed in carrying freight from the head of the Gulf to Fort Yuma were unable to 
spare a boat for the use of the expedition, excepting for a compensation beyond the limits of 
the appropriation. A boat of suitable construction had, therefore, to be built on the Atlantic 
coast and transported to San Francisco, and thence to the mouth of the river. In order that 
the survey should be made at the worst and lowest stage of the water, I had been directed to 
commence operations at the mouth of the Colorado on the 1st of December. This left little 
time for preparation, considering that it was necessary to build a steamer and carry the parts 
to so great a distance. 
In the latter part of June I ordered of Reaney, Neafie & Co., of Philadelphia, an iron 
steamer, fifty feet long, to be builtin sections, and the parts to be so arranged that they could 
be transported by railroad, as the shortness of time required that it should be sent to Cali- 
fornia, via the Isthmus of Panama. About the middle of August the boat was finished, tried 
upon the Delaware, and found satisfactory, subject to a few alterations only. It was then 
taken apart, sent to New York, and shipped on board of the California steamer which sailed 
on the 20th of August for Aspinwall. Mr. A. J. Carroll, of Philadelphia, who had engaged 
to accompany the expedition as steamboat engineer, went out in charge of the boat. 
The transportation of the steamer was, to the parties concerned, a source of more trouble 
than profit, but the kind offices of the agents of the Panama Railroad Company, and of the 
‘captains of the steamships on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, united to the careful super- 
vision of Mr. Carroll, enabled the awkward mass of freight to reach San Francisco in safety 
by the first of October. 
Dr. J. 8S. Newberry was appointed physician to the expedition, and also to take charge of 
the natural history department. This gentleman had previously made extensive geological 
surveys in California and Oregon while attached to the party of Lieutenant Williamson, 
topographical engineers, in charge of the Pacific railroad surveys in those regions. 
Mr. F. W. Egloffstein, who had been attached to Frémont’s expedition of 1853, and had 
subsequently been employed with the party that explored the Pacific railroad route near the 
41st parallel, was appointed topographer. Messrs. P. H. Taylor and C. K. Booker were the 
astronomical and meteorological assistants. A gentleman belonging to the household of Baron 
Von Humboldt, Mr. Mollhausen, who had been a member of the exploring party of Prince : 
Paul of Wirtemburg, and also of Lieutenant Whipple’s expedition, received from the Secre- 
tary of War the appointment of artist and collector in natural history. 
