10 
INSTRUCTIONS FROM .THE WAR DEPARTMENT. 
also fell, of the scientific gentlemen of the party, Mr. R. H. Kern, an accomplished topographer 
and artist, and Mr. F. Creutzfeldt, botanist. Of the performance of his duties by my late com¬ 
mander, associate, and friend, it may not be proper that I should speak; yet I take pleasure in 
giving expression to the admiration of all their associates commanded by each of these gentle¬ 
men, in his respective department, up to the time of his death, by the active, faithful, and ener¬ 
getic performance of his duty. And we were in a position, encountering together as we had for 
so long a period, the labors, fatigues, privations, and exposures incident to an undertaking in 
which, from day to day, every quality of the mind and heart of one’s associates is thoroughly 
developed, in which you, Sir, are well aware that the strongest ties of esteem and friendship are 
formed and cemented; and in severing the ties thus formed, not only has this exploring party, 
and the department of science to which each was attached, suffered a severe loss, but the country 
itself has reason to mourn the loss of such experienced and energetic officers and citizens. 
Besides these, Mr. Wm. Potter, a citizen of Utah Territory, a resolute and determined man, who 
had joined the party as guide but a few days before the disaster, was killed, together with one 
employ 6, John Bellows, and three private soldiers of the escort, belonging to the regiment of 
Mounted Riflemen. 
The following extracts from your orders and instructions, above referred to, will explain the 
duties assigned to this party: 
“Under the 10th and 11th sections of the military appropriation act of March 3, 1853, directing 
such explorations and surveys as to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a 
railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, the War Department directs a survey 
of the pass through the Rocky mountains, in the vicintiy of the headwaters of the Rio del Norte, 
by way of the Huerfano river and Coo-che-to-pa, or some other eligible pass, into the region of 
Grand and Green rivers, and westwardly to the Vegas de Santa Clara and Nicollet river of the 
Great Basin, and thence northward to the vicinity of Lake Utah on a return route, to explore the 
most available passes and canones of the Wahsatch range and South Pass to Fort Laramie. 
“The following instructions relative thereto are issued for the government of the different 
branches of the public service: 
“I. The party for this exploration will be commanded by Captain J. W. Gunnison, Topo¬ 
graphical Engineers, who will be assisted by First Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, Third Artillery, 
and such civil assistants as the Secretary of War may approve. 
“VI. The party being organized, will collect the necessary instruments and equipments. It 
will then repair with the utmost despatch to Fort Leavenworth, and with the escort proceed to 
the Huerfano river, making such reconnoissances from the Missouri river as will develop the gene¬ 
ral features of the country, and determine the practicability of a railroad across the plains, and 
its connexion with the eastern lines of commerce. 
“ The more minute reconnoissance will continue up the Huerfano into the San Luis valley, and 
thence through the most eligible pass to the valley of Grand river, and westwardly to the vicinity 
of the Vegas de Santa Clara, and thence, on the most advisable route, either along the Nicollet 
river, or to the west of the ranges of mountains bordering that stream, into the basin upon the 
route to the Great Salt lake; thence to Utah lake, and through the Timpanagos canon or other 
passes, and across the Weber and Bear rivers, by the Coal basin, to Fort Laramie. 
“ Competent persons will be selected to make researches in those collateral branches of science 
which affect the solution of the question of location, construction, and support of a railway com¬ 
munication across the continent, viz: the nature of rocks and soils—the products of the country, 
animal, mineral, and vegetable—the resources for supplies of material for construction, and means 
requisite for the operation of a railway, with a notice of the population, agricultural products, 
and the habits and languages of the Indian tribes. Meteorological and magnetic observations, the 
hygrometrical and electrical states of the atmosphere, and astronomical observations for deter- 
