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 : 
John R . Bartlett, 
Andrew B. Gray, 
Col. John McClellan, 
Lieut. J. G. Strain, 
Lieut. A. W. Whipple, 
Capt. E. L.-F. Hardcastle, 
Commissioner. , 
Surveyor. 
Chief Astronomer. 
TJ. S. Navy. 
Assistant Astronomer, 
do. do. 
The latter officer remained in California, to finish the 
demarcation of the line between the mouth of the 
Bio Gila and the Pacific, and did not join the parties 
which accompanied me. For the programme of the 
Commission, 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- 
