APPENDIX A. 
Letters relating to the Progress of the Survey of the Route near the 38 th and 39 th 
parallels, in charge of Captain Gunnison. 
I.—Letter dated June 20,1853, Camp, Shawnee reservation, from Captain Gunnison to the Secretary of War, indicating the 
line which will be followed in crossing the Plains. 
II.—Letter dated August 22,1853, Camp, Utah creek, near Fort Massachusetts, from Captain Gunnison to the Secretary of 
War, reporting the progress of the survey. 
III.—Letter dated August 22,1853, Camp, Utah creek, near Fort Massachusetts, from Captain Gunnison to Colonel J. J. Abort, 
reporting the progress of the survey. 
IY.—Letter dated September 20,1853, Camp No. 70, Grand river, Utah Territory, from Captain Gunnison to Colonel J. J. 
Abert, reporting the progress of the survey. 
Y.—Letter dated September 23,1853, Camp 72, Bitter creek, Utah Territory, from Captain Gunnison to Colonel J. J. Abert, 
forwarding a rude copy of the field-work of the survey. 
VI.—Letter dated October 29,1853, Camp, near Fillmore, Utah Territory, from Lieutenant Beckwith to Colonel J. J. Abert, 
reporting the progress of the survey, requesting instructions, and indicating future operations. 
I .—Letter dated June 20, 1853, Camp, Shawnee Reservation, from Captain Gunnison to the Sec¬ 
retary of War, indicating the line which will be followed in crossing the Plains. 
Camp, Shawnee Reservation, 
June 20, 1853. 
Sir : I have the honor to say that I have organized my party for the survey assigned to my 
command, and, with the escort under Brevet Captain Morris, propose to proceed along the 
Smoky Hill, until necessary to deflect from it, nearly as possible in a direct line, to the mouth 
of the Huerfano. This will give a new exploration a part of the way, and very desirable to 
meet the views of those advocating the route, and, I hope, it will not much delay me. It will 
also be useful for the new fort on the Republican, in order to know whether a short route to 
Santa Fe may be taken across to the Arkansas. I submit the following names as assistants on 
the survey: 
Dr. James Schiel, surgeon and naturalist. 
Sheppard Homans, astronomer. 
The gentleman engaged as civil engineer was taken ill at Elmira, New York, and has not yet 
joined ; but I hope he will yet be able to reach us, as our marches, for a few days, will be short. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, 
J. W. GUNNISON, 
Captain Topographical Engineers. 
Hon. Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War. 
II. —Letter dated August 22, 1853, Camp, Utah Creelt, near Fort Massachusetts, from Captain 
Gunnison to the Secretary of War, reporting the progress of the survey. 
Camp, Utah Creek, near Fort Massachusetts, 
August 22, 1853. 
Sir : Availing myself of your permission to keep you acquainted with my progress on the 
survey, I have the honor to say that my party has crossed the first great range of the Rocky 
mountains jsafely and easily to the valley of San Luis. 
