Navajo Expedition: Journal of a Military Reconnaissance from Santa Fe, New Mexico to the Navvaho Country Made in 1849

In 1849, the Corps of Topographical Engineers commissioned Lieutenant James H. Simpson to undertake the first survey of Navaho country in present-day New Mexico. Accompanying Simpson was a military force commanded by Colonel John M. Washington, sent to negotiate peace with the Navaho. A keen observer, Simpson kept a journal that provided valuable information on the party's interactions with Indians and also about the land's features, including important pueblo ruins at Chaco Canyon and Canyon de Chelly. His careful observations informed subsequent military expeditions, emigrant trains, the selection of Indian reservations, and the charting of a transcontinental railroad. Editor Frank McNitt discusses the expedition's lasting importance to the development of the West, and his research is enriched by illustrations and maps by artists Richard and Edward Kern. Military historian Durwood Ball contributes a new foreword. In 1849, the Corps of Topographical Engineers commissioned Lieutenant James H. Simpson to undertake the first survey of Navaho country in present-day New Mexico. Accompanying Simpson was a military force commanded by Colonel John M. Washington, sent to negotiate peace with the Navaho Indians. A keen observer, Simpson kept a journal that provided valuable information on the partys interactions with Indians and also about the lands features, including important pueblo ruins at Chaco Canyon and Canyon de Chelly. His careful observations informed subsequent military expeditions, emigrant trains, the selection of Indian reservations, and the charting of a transcontinental railroad. Editor Frank McNitt discusses the expeditions lasting importance to the development of the West, and his research is enriched by illustrations and maps by artists Richard and Edward Kern. Military historian Durwood Ball contributes a new foreword. In 1849, The Corps Of Topographical Engineers Commissioned Lieutenant James H. Simpson To Undertake The First Survey Of Navajo Country In Present-day New Mexico. Accompanying Simpson Was A Military Force Commanded By Colonel John M. Washington, Sent To Negotiate Peace With The Navajo. A Keen Observer, Simpson Kept A Journal That Provided Valuable Information On The Party’s Interactions With Indians And Also About The Land’s Features, Including Important Pueblo Ruins At Chaco Canyon And Canyon De Chelly. His Careful Observations Informed Subsequent Military Expeditions, Emigrant Trains, The Selection Of Indian Reservations, And The Charting Of A Transcontinental Railroad. Editor Frank Mcnitt Discusses The Expedition’s Lasting Importance To The Development Of The West, And His Research Is Enriched By Illustrations And Maps By Artists Richard And Edward Kern. Military Historian Durwood Ball Contributes A New Foreword. Santa Fe, August 15-Today, in consequence of information having reached headquarters of the concentration of the Utahs near Albiquin [Abiquiu], Orders No. 32 have been so far modified that Captain Ker's company of dragoons, now stationed at Albuquerque, and Captain Chapman's company of mounted volunteers, now stationed at the Placer, instead of moving on Jemez, are to proceed to Albiquin, and, in conjunction with Major Grier's company of dragoons and Captain Valdez's company of mounted volunteers, the whole under command of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Beall, effect, if possible, a peace with the Utahs in that quarter, or, failing in this, prosecute a war against them. Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 22 Muster Roll......Page 71 Foreword......Page 81 Orders No. 32......Page 92 The Journal......Page 94 Epilogue......Page 260 Appendices......Page 344 Sources......Page 363 A......Page 375 C......Page 376 D......Page 379 F......Page 380 G......Page 381 J......Page 382 K......Page 383 M......Page 384 N......Page 385 P......Page 387 R......Page 388 S......Page 389 U......Page 391 W......Page 392 Z......Page 393 Originally published: Journal of a military reconnaissance from Santa Fé, New Mexico, to the Navajo country. Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo, 1852. Presents Lieutenant James H. Simpson's journal chronicling his experiences surveying and exploring present-day New Mexico in 1849