The Arizona sentinel., 1878-02-23
Yuma in 1S54--H.
(By Lieut.. ". Nichler.)

Fort Yuma is well located fol
 defense against Indians; the only
 point (Sierra Prieta) commanding
 it is beyond the reach ot arrows
 It affords a distant and fine view
 of the surrounding country. n
 the very interesting repot ot
 Major Heintzleman, July, 1853, hc
 says: "The post is on the site c I
 Presidio established about seven
 ty-seven years ago by the span.
 iards. Padre Pedro Garce came out here with a San Gabr q In: dian and reported this favorable
 position for a mission. TT 9 next year he and Padre KinO ca ne out
 with troops and established 8 mis- sion at the junction, and Jose
 Maria Ortegas, son of Don Fran cisco Ortegas captain of the expe- dition of the diScOverers of Alta California, founded the PresidiO. The position is described as be- tween the Sierras of San Pedro and San Pablo"
 Our camp lay opposite the mili- tary post, on the left bank of the Colorado, between the Plutonic ridge on the east and a low range of sand and gravel hills, called the Yuma hills, on the west; these latter end abruptly at the waters edge, no trace of them being seen on the opposite side, and extend south to the base of the Sierra Prieta. They were interesting from the beautiful specimens of quartz found upon them, among which were moss and fortiGcatiOn agates, chalcedomy, Jasper, opals, and various fine pieces of petrifac- tions of mezquite, cottonwood and indigenous plants, and one of palm wood. Seven miles and a half by the river, below the post, is another high, prominent and isolated hill called Pilot Knob, similar in general appearance and formation to those spoken of. The boundary line runs tangent to the southern base of this butte; an iron monument formerly marked the line near this place, on a high knoll :; but it has been broken into a thousand pieces by the Indians.
 Twelve miles above Yuma a spur of the Sierra del Gila, a mass of angular, igneous rocks, sets into the Gila river; its bearing is northwest and southeast, and it extends as far as the eye can see. From the base of this mountain extends out toward the Colorado, below Yuma, a level plain of grav- el and sand, in breadth from twenty to fifty miles, and stretch ing far south until it mingles with the hillocks of white sand which define the eastern shore of the Gulf of California. It limits the bottom lands, sometimes touching the river and agaln re- cedes, leaving a fertile tract of several miles in width. The latter IS from two to ten feet above the surface of the water, and the for mer rises in bluff banks from twenty to forty feet in night. The plain is perfect desert, marked by an entire absence of water and destitute of vegetation, save some few stunted plants the creosote bush and the whipstock cactus, the natural growth of such barren localities, only add to the gloomy sensation produced by the scorch- ed sterility spread out to view, with jagged ridges of hills lying in the back ground. The bottom land on the California bank of the Colorado is bounded by similar plain, which extends south and west to the base of the mountains of lower California.
 Standing on the top of the Si- erra Prieta Gin Yuma) you have a magnificent panorama of the high peaks, rugged sides and angular outlines of the mountain ranges