El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-19
San Antonio. December %. 1S49.

San Antonio. December %, 1S49.
Cseneral:-I have the honor to report
that. in the beginning of June last,
was ordered by Brigadier General Har-
ney. then commanding this department.
to organize two typographical parties
for service between this place and Ell
Peso del NOrte-one, to which / was di-
rected TO attach myself. ito direct the
nsrch of the third infantry to Ell
Paso." by the route discovered by Lieu
tenants Whiting and Smith-the other,
to examine that just reported by Major
N.aighbOrs Lieut.. Bryan was detailed
for the latter duty. and directed to join
for il a party of twenty-five or thirty
men. mounted and armed. The in
str,lctions given by me; to govern him
until we should meet on the Rio Grande
were superseded by others issued from
the department headquarters after l
left San Antonio. Lieut.. Smith. the
senior subaltern, was attached to the
other party. on account of his knOwl-
edge of the other route. r. A. Howard,
Esq. surveyor, myself. and about TWEEN
ty laborers. required to make a practi-
cable road for our provision wagons.
with Captain Kings company first in
fantry as escort. made up the party
Captain King was directed, in orders
received on the way from department
W tSCoit SdPt- TiChNh ;
party from Ell Paso.
Lieut.. Bryan set out from San An
tonic on the 14th of June. and reached
tbe>Rio Grande. near Ell Paso. on the
s9th of July His route is delineated
on the accompanying sketch. His very
favorable report is appended. He re-
manned near the post E t Dona Ana until
/ reached Ell Paso. when he reported to
me.
The other party commenced the duty
assigned to them on the 18th of June.
at the point where Wool road crosses
the Rio Frio, and did not complete it
until the Sth of Sept. though assisted
a greater part of the way by large
working party detailed from the battal-
ion of infantry by Major Van Horne.
The road is generally excellent. with
abundance of grass and fuel The itin-
erary appended will show what The sup
ply of water is. For a minute descrip-
ton OF the route / respectfully refer
you to the report of Lieut.. w. F. Smith
which / herewith submit. The road
marked out for the battalion of the
third infantry deviates little Tin but
two places from the prescribed route
in both cases. to avoid labor and delay.
time being very important to the troops
who had their arrangements for winter
ton. This consideration justified me,
I thought. in departing from the letter
of my orders. The first deviation is be-
tween the lower ford of the San Pedro
and the Pecos; the other is approaching
the Rio Grande. avoiding several rug
ged mountain passes. by keeping out
side of the mountains near the river,
and below the Eagle mountain.
While recruiting the teams for the
return march. the valley was surveyed,
from the lower end of the island. below
Ell PasO to Dona Ana. by Lieut.. Bryan,
Mr.. Howard. and myself; while a re-
was mad eby Lieut.. Smith
TO ASCERTAIN if there is an available
pass i}n the Sacramento mountains. His
report is among the accompanying pa
pers.
On the 18th of October, the. party of
twenty-five men, besides two Delaware
engaged e--Yu - got o. =