we 
6 NEW YORK 
from one end of the line to the other. To do all this 
required four full parties, two of them being. astro- 
nomical and two surveying. The Commission was 
therefore organized accordingly. Its chief officers, 
when the re-organization took place, after my appoint — 
ment, were as follows: ' 
Joun R. Bart Lett, Commissioner. 
Anprew B. Gray, Surveyor. 
Con. Joun McCue tay, Chief Astronomer. 
Lieut. J. G. Strain, US. Navy. 
Lrevt. A. W. WHIppte, Assistant Astronomer. 
Carr. E. L. F. Harpcastre, do. do. 
The latter officer remained in California, to finish the — 
demarcation of the line between the mouth of the © 
Rio Gila and the Pacific, and did not join the parties — 
which accompanied me. For the programme of the — 
Jommission, as organized in Washington, in July, 1850, 
see Appendix C. 
On the third of August following, or about six — 
weeks after my appointment, the outfit, subsistence, — 
etc., were so far ready, that the whole Commission, — 
excepting Lieutenant Whipple, Colonel Chandler, one — 
of the first assistant engineers, two of the assistants, — 
and myself, embarked on board the steamer Galveston, — 
at_ New York, and set sail the same afternoon for New | 
Orleans and Indianola, Texas. The whole party, em- ‘ 
bracing officers and men, which embarked, numbered — 
one hundred and five persons, taking with them pro- 
visions for six months. An escort “of United States — 
soldiers, under Colonel Craig, consisting of 3d Infant — 
