348 INCIDENTS AT THE 
we hastened to get our wagons, mules, tents, camp 
equipage, provisions, etc., ready in order to take the 
field as soon as possible. 
While these arrangements were in progress, I sent 
a messenger to Santa Fé, with a letter to Colonel Sum- 
ner, commanding the troops in that military division, 
with a request that another company might be fur- 
nished me for an additional escort. This, on consul- 
tation with the army officers, was deemed actually 
‘necessary. Our present escort had ‘been greatly 
reduced by desertions and sickness, so that there were 
less than forty effective men. We were now about to 
enter into the particulars of the serious difficulties which ,took place 
between the Principal Astronomer, Colonel Graham, and myself, imme- 
diately on his arrival, growing out of his extraordinary and inexcusable 
delay of more than nine months from his appointment, in reaching the 
field of operations, and of his assumption afterwards. Never, in the 
whole course of my life, have I been placed in so trying a position. But 
such were my instructions, and such my responsibilities as head of the 
Commission, that I must either maintain this position, or, in succumbing 
to the demands of Colonel Graham, make myself and the Chief Surveyor, 
Mr. Gray, subordinate to him, es all power and control on the mem- 
bers of th the Commission, and become a mere nullity. I preferred 
Congress, Ist Session—and vated inmy Dispatch to the Hon. Sec- 
retary of the Interior, No. 21, page 433 of the same document. 
