REPORTS OF FIELD WORK 
17 
called Las Animas River), in Colorado, on July 24, 1820. The larger company 
descended the valley of the Arkansas, and did not enter New Mexico. A party 
comprising ten men, including Major Long, William James, botanist and geologist, 
and Titian R. Peale, proceeding southward in search of the headwaters of Red River, 
entered New Mexico at the head of Major Long’s Canyon, a few miles southwest of 
the present town of Trinidad, Colorado, on July 27. Still traveling southward, they 
struck Mora River, descended its valley to its junction with the Canadian and 
followed this eastward into Texas. It is impossible to trace the route with certainty, 
and in consequence the exact date when the party passed out of New Mexico can not 
be determined, but it could not have been earlier than the 10th or 12th of August. 
Assuming this, the notes relating to New Mexico occupy pages 75 to about 100 of 
Volume 2 of the official account of the expedition, compiled by Edwin James from 
the journals of Major Long and other members of the party. (Account of an 
expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains, two volumes and Atlas, 
Philadelphia, 1823.) 
1841. William Gambcl (1819P-1849). 
At the suggestion of Thomas Nuttall, a trip in the western United States was 
undertaken by William Cambel for the purpose of making botanical and ornitho¬ 
logical collections. No itinerary of the trip has ever been published and Gambol's 
own references to his wanderings are very vague. While his route is uncertain, his 
journevings seem to have occupied about four years, beginning with a trip across 
the Plains, in which he crossed the Arkansas and Cimarron Rivers in June, 1841, and 
arrived at Santa Fe in July. This indicates that he entered New Mexico over the 
regular Santa Fe Trail. lie spent part of July and August at Santa Fe and went 
thence to [Littlel Salt Lake. His specimens he refers broadly to the “Rocky Moun¬ 
tains of the Interior,” but he mentions crossing the Green River in September and 
was at [Little) Salt Lake in October, so that he probably went from Santa Fe through 
northern New Mexico, crossing the Green River near its mouth. 
Some of his notes were published before he completed his trip, as: Descriptions of 
Some New and Rare Birds of the Rocky Mountains and California (Proc. Acad. 
Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, pp. 259-262, 1843). A more extended report was made on 
his return, as : Remarks on the Birds Observed in Upper California, with Descriptions 
of New Species (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, pp. 25-26, 1847, and pp. 
215-229 r 1849). 
1845-1846. James William Abert (1820-1897). 
In the fall of 1845, Lieutenant (later Major) James W. Abert made a trip of 
exploration through northeastern New Mexico. He left Bent’s Fort, on the Arkan¬ 
sas River in Colorado, the middle of August and entered New Mexico through Raton 
Pass, August 24. Striking there the headwaters of the Canadian River, he followed 
down this stream and crossed into Texas, September 5. He published an account of 
this trip under the title: Report of the Expedition Led by Lieutenant Abert on the 
Upper Arkansas and Through the Country of the Comanche Indians, in the Fall of 
the Year 1845: Journal of Lieut. J. W. Abert from Bent’s Fort to St. Louis in 1845 
(29th Cong., First Sess., Sen. Doc. VIII, No. 438, pp. 1-75, 1846). 
The following year Lieutenant Abert went with Lieut. W. H. Emory as far as 
Bent’s Fort on the Arkansas. He remained there on account of sickness but finally 
started September 9, 1846, for Santa Fe. His route led up Timpa Creek, across to 
the Purgatory, up that stream to Raton Pass, which was traversed September 19, 
through Mora, September 23 and Las Vegas, September 24. Crossing the Pecos at 
San Miguel, September 26, he went up stream to Pecos City and reached Santa Fe 
September 27. 
