Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 2, Pt. 4

APPENDIX A.-DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION.
soldiers of the escort. You had better keep the mounted men scouring the country for a mile
or two on each side of the route you pursue, that no chance of finding water be lost.
The quartermaster and commissary of the expedition will supply you with two light wagons,
with eight mules each, and provisions for ten days, for the use of your party. Six water-kegs
will be filled here and carried with the party, and I cannot too strongly impress upon you the
necessity of economizing this supply of water. Two kegs will be amply sufficient to supply all
the absolute necessities of the party for five days, at least; and in case of being three days
without water, or the failure of your mules-for the want of it, the remaining four kegs can be
distributed among them. The other precautions for preserving the strength and efficiency of
your animals are as- well known to you as to myself.
Upon your return to this camp, you will please furnish me a ith a written report of your
expedition.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. POPE,
Brevet Capt. T. E., Commanding Exploring Expedition.
Capt. C. L. TAPLIN,
-4ssistant on Survey.
This day we (for the first time since starting) became aware of the vicinity of the Indians.
About sundown we perceived the prairie on fire about two miles from camp, up the river; the
wind blowing from the northeast, and directly towards us. As the grass and weeds were dry,
and the wind strong, the flames rushed onward with great rapidity. Instant and prompt measures were taken against this appalling danger. The prairie was fired round the camp, from
the river to the creek. We were thus in a triangle, the Pecos and Delaware being the sidesthe belt of prairie we had burned, the base. There can be no doubt whatever that this was an
act of the Indians, as we could clearly see the plain fired in many and different~directions at the
same time. The fire swept on round the camp, and crossing the creek some hundred yards
above us, and seizing the dry grass on the right bank, illuminated the whole plain during the
night. Happily, our energetic proceedings defeated the designs of the Apaches. On the first
intimation of danger, the animals and stock were driven into camp-the former tiedtothe
wagons, the latter well guarded. It is intended to adopt this precaution every night while we
remain here, and also to increase the guard over them while they are grazing in the daytime.
No observations made this night; the sky cloudy and hazy. They were taken for the time
during the day.
Same Canmp-Friday, March 10, 1854.-Lieutenant Garrard, accompanied by a party of five
mounted men left camp at half-past 7 o'clock a. m., in pursuance of the following instructions:
CAMP AT FALLS OF RIO PECOS, MOUTH OF DELAWARE CREEK,
March 9, 1854.
SIR: You will please proceed from this place, by the route we have just traversed, to the
spring in the canon near the high'peak of the Guadalupe mountains; and having descended to
the valley of the Salt lakes, you will examine the western and southern faces of the low range
of hills which extend to the south and east from the high point of the Guadalupe range. It is
generally believed that a practicable and nearly level pass can be found to the head of Delaware
creek, by passing to the south of these shills; and should you be successful in finding such a
pass, you will please return by it to this camp.
Should you prove unsuccessful in finding a pass better than the one at present in use, you
will please examine the valley of the Salt lakes towards the southeast, to ascertain whether a
good route cannot thus be found to the Pecos, which shall strike the river at a distance south of
this point, not to exceed sixty miles.
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