142 COLUMBIA RIVER. 



to make known to the country the commendable perseverance with 

 which this party persisted in completing the duty assigned them, 

 regardless of inconvenience, privation, and discomfort. This tour 

 forms a part of the operations of the Expedition that I look back 

 upon with pride and pleasure, and I feel that my thanks are es- 

 pecially due to Passed Midshipmen Eld and Colvocoressis, and Mr. 

 Brackenridge, for their devotion to the service in which they were 

 engaged. 



Orders were immediately given for them to join the over-land 

 expedition to California, under Lieutenant Emmons, who was just 

 about proceeding to the Willamette Valley, where his party had 

 been organized, with our own force and the settlers and trappers 

 who were engaged to accompany it to California. After the party 

 was collected, it consisted of — 



Lieutenant Emmons. T. R. Peale, Naturalist. 



Passed Midshipman Eld. W. Rich, Botanist. 



Passed Midshipman Colvocoressis. J. D. Dana, Geologist. 



Assistant-Surgeon Whittle. A. T. Agate, Artist. 



Doughty, Seaman. J. D. Brackenridge, Assistant Botanist. 



Sutton, " Baptist Guardipii, Guide. 



Waltham, " Tibbats. 



Merzer, " Black. 



Sergeant Stearns. Warfields. 



Corporal Hughes. Wood. 



Private Marsh. Molair. 



Private Smith. Inass. 



Those who joined the party for a safe escort, were Mr. Walker 

 and family, consisting of his wife, sister, three sons, and two 

 daughters ; Burrows, wife, and child ; Nichols, with Warfields' 

 wife and child. 



The whole party numbered thirty-nine, with seventy-six animals, 

 forty-four of which were private property. 



Lieutenant Emmons at first found much difficulty in organizing 

 his party, on account of having to deal with persons who had little 

 or no regard for the promises they made, or the engagements they 

 entered into. This feature of character proceeds both from a desire 

 to obtain more money, and a want of stability of purpose. Many 

 difficulties were encountered by him in consequence of the change 

 of his route to California, which very many of those who were to 



