134 
COLUMBIA RIVER. 
passed were of spruce trees, some of which were of large dimensions; 
the lesser plants were principally Vaccinium, Ledums, and some 
candleberry-bushes (Myrica). 
On the 27th they reached the Flying-Fish, then in Baker’s Bay, and 
were taken over to Astoria. 
Mr. Eld received, on his arrival at Astoria, my orders to repair 
with his party to Vancouver; where, being furnished by Mr. Birnie 
with a large flat-bottomed barge, he set out to join me at that place, 
which he reached on the 31st August. 
I cannot refrain from expressing the satisfaction I felt at the manner 
in which the service was performed, and deem it my duty 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 especially due to Passed Mid¬ 
shipmen Eld and Colvocoressis, and Mr. Brackenridge, for their devo¬ 
tion to the service in which they were engaged. 
Orders were immediately given for them to join the over-land ex¬ 
pedition to California, under Lieutenant Emmons, who was just about 
proceeding to the Willamette Valley, where his party had been orga¬ 
nized, 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, 
Passed Midshipman Eld, 
Passed Midshipman Colvocoressis, 
Assistant-Surgeon Whittle, 
Doughty, Seaman, 
Sutton, “ 
W altham, “ 
Merzer, “ 
Sergeant Stearns, 
Corporal Hughes, 
Private Marsh, 
Private Smith, 
T. R. Peale, Naturalist, 
W. Rich, Botanist, 
J. D. Dana, Geologist, 
A. T. Agate, Artist, 
J. D. Brackenridge, Assistant Botanist, 
Baptist Guardipii, Guide, 
Tibbats, 
Black, 
Warfields, 
Wood, 
Molair, 
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 
