382 INCIDENTS AT 
October, and the whole line to the mouth of the river 
by the 4th of March, 1853, if no unforeseen obstacle 
was placed in the way. 
There yet remained to be completed that portion 
of the line on the parallel of 32° 22’ north latitude, 
which was to extend west three degrees from the Rio 
Grande; and thence north to the Gila. Of this line 
Lieutenant Whipple, while acting as chief astronomer, 
had surveyed and laid down with great minuteness 
about one half, and had also determined and marked 
its western termination. I now directed the same 
officer to organize a party, and as soon as the train could 
be got ready to take the field again, to resume and com- 
plete the survey of the line referred to, in the same 
manner in which he had begun it. 
‘The next step was to prepare for the return of my- 
self and party, to rejoin Major Emory at Eagle Pass 
(Fort Duncan). More wagons had to be procured for 
Lieutenant Whipple’as well as for myself; and all those 
that had come through from California required more 
or less repairs. The harness, tents, and camp equl- 
page too required a thorough overhauling; as the con- 
tinued wet weather and constant marching had told 
severely on every thing. I was so fortunate as to find 
mechanics here, who were at once employed and set — 
to work. In the mean time the mules had to be 
brought to a condition fit to undertake as long a jour- 
ney as that they had just completed. They were, 
therefore, given rations of corn and sent to the moun- 
tain near, where there was grama grass in abundance. 
But they had become so thin, that many weeks would 
be necessary, under the best care, to bring them up. 
