NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY-FORT READING. 
59 
former coarse, and struck across the hills to Beaver creek, which we found flowing in a small 
canon. We then crossed a rocky plain to Liver creek, where we encamped. The hills may be 
avoided by keeping nearer the hank of the Sacramento. 
“ July 21.—As far as Battle creek we found the road pretty rough. At first it crossed a ridge, 
which might he avoided, with some rock cutting, by passing around the bluff. The rest of the 
road to the Fort was good, a few short, steep slopes excepted.” 
Fort Reading is situated on the northern hank of Cow creek, a little stream which discharges 
itself into the Sacramento, about a mile and a half below the post. There are dry, elevated plains 
northwest, and a steep bluff conducting to a higher plateau, east of the Fort. The buildings are 
mostly made of adobes ; but some are of wood. The locality is unhealthy in the summer, on 
account of the prevalence of fever and ague. 
We were courteously received and hospitably entertained by Major F. 0. Wyse, 3d artillery, 
and the other officers stationed at the post. The escort here joined us. It consisted of Lieut. 
H. G. Gibson, 3d artillery ; Lieut. George Crook, 4th infantry, commissary and quartermaster 
of the expedition ; Lieut. J. B. Hood, 2d cavalry ; and 100 men, twenty being dragoons, and 
the remainder artillery and infantry soldiers. Mr. J. Daniels was quartermaster’s clerk, and 
Mr. J. B. Vinton pack master of the escort. 
Various causes of delay prevented Lieut. Williamson from continuing the survey until the 
twenty-eighth of July. Dr. J. F. Hammond, United States army, the surgeon of the Fort, 
very kindly volunteered to have a series of barometric observations taken at the post, during 
the continuance of the field work. Lieut. Williamson accordingly left one of the barometers 
in his charge. His observations proved of very great value in the subsequent computation of 
altitudes upon the route, as is fully explained in the chapter of this report devoted to that 
subject. 
At the recommendation of Major Reading, Lieut. Williamson employed as guide and scout 
an old hunter, named Bartee, but usually known as “Old Red.” He proved a valuable ad¬ 
dition to the party. 
July 28.—To-day we left Fort Reading, and began our journey towards the wild region east 
of the western chain of the Sierra Nevada. Lieut. Crook, with the foot soldiers and the escort 
train, had left Fort Reading two days before our departure, and encamped at McCurnber’s 
Flat, distant 30 miles from the post. Lieut. Williamson, being detained by necessary business, 
sent forward his train this morning, and started about noon to follow it with his assistants, ac¬ 
companied for a short distance by Dr. Hammond. We crossed Cow creek at a good ford, where 
the stream was about 50 feet in width, and then abruptly ascended to a level plateau, elevated 
about 200 feet above the Fort. We travelled 3.5 miles over this plain to the crossing of Bear 
creek, a branch about 30 feet in width ; and then began a gradual ascent. The road soon 
entered a thick pine and oak forest, varied by occasional clumps of manzanita bushes. Grizzly 
bears are often found in this vicinity. Our train had taken a wrong road, and we were com¬ 
pelled, in consequence, to encamp without blankets or cooking utensils, near the small rancho 
of Mr. Asbury. A rather cold and uncomfortable night was spent by most of us. 
July 29.—To-day we started early, and continued our course through a thick pine and fir 
forest, many trees of which bore long, graceful bunches of black and light colored mosses, with 
an occasional bough of misletoe. We crossed two small streams, the first, Ash creek, about 
ten feet, and the second, Mill creek, about twenty feet in width. The water of the latter was 
very cold, its temperature being 41° Fahrenheit, while that of the air was 79° Fahrenheit. 
