. Doo REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, COMMUNICATING, In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, Captain Simpson's report and map of wagon road routes in Utah Territory. FEBRUARY 26, 1859.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia. FEBRUARY 28, 1859.—Report in favor of printing submitted and referred to the Committee on Printing. MARCH 2, 1859.-Report in favor of printing the usual number submitted, considered, and agreed to. WAR DEPARTMENT, February 22, 1859. SIR: In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant, I have the honor to transmit, herewith, a report from the Chief Topographical Engineer, communicating a copy of "the report and map of the wagon road routes extending from Bridger's Pass to City Rocks, in Utah Territory," recently transmitted by Captain Simpson, of the Topographical Engineers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, JOHN B. FLOYD, President of the Senate. BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, SIR: I have the honor of transmitting herewith a copy of the report and map of Captain J. H. Simpson, corps of Topographical Engineers, of the wagon road routes from Bridger's Pass to City Rocks, in Utah Territory, called for by a resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant. Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, J. C. WOODRUFF, Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, * From mouth of Timpanogos cañon to divide between the Timpanogos and Silver Opening and construction of the road, inclusive of instructions and orders...... Comparison of new and old route between Camp Floyd and Fort Bridger....... "A." Geological Report, by Henry Englemann........... "B." Itinerary of new wagon route from Camp Floyd to Fort Bridger "C." Itinerary of a wagon route from Camp Floyd to Short-cut Pass..... Report by Captain J. H. Simpson, corps of Topographical Engineers, of reconnaissances, &c., in the Territory of Utah, in the months of August, September, and October, 1858, under instructions from Brevet Brigadier General A. S. Johnston, U. S. A., commanding the department of Utah. OFFICE OF TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF UTAH, These Camp Floyd, Utah Territory, December 28, 1858. SIR: I have the honor to submit below a report of the several reconnaissances and labors I have been engaged in since August 19, the date of my reporting for duty, at these headquarters. are a reconnaissance and opening of a new wagon route from Camp Floyd to Fort Bridger, and an exploration over a portion of the Great Salt Lake desert, in order to the melioration and shortening of the great northern emigration and post route to California. For a brief synopsis of the report I refer you to the table of contents. Accompanying the report will be found a map illustrative of the routes explored. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. SIMPSON, Captain Corps of Topographical Engineers. Brevet Major FITZ JOHN PORTER, Assistant Adjutant General. On the 24th of August last I had the honor to receive the following instructions: HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF UTAH, Camp Floyd, Utah Territory, August 24, 1858. SIR: With a view of ascertaining the practicability of opening a wagon road to Fort Bridger, the commanding general directs that you proceed to morrow to examine the route to that place known as the Provo or Timpanogos route. It is represented that the main obstacle to success has been overcome by the Mormons opening a road some eight miles up the Provo river. Little, however, of the features of the country beyond are known, except through Lieutenant Beckwith's report, (a copy of which is furnished to you,) so that your attention will be principally directed to the facilities and difficulties presented by the remaining portion of the route for the movement of trains (pack and wagon) and bodies of troops, camping places, as well as the resources of the country for fuel, grass, and water. From the mouth of Morin's Fork (White Clay creek) and the sources of Yellow creek, the commanding general wishes you to push your examinations to the main Salt Lake road, that, if found practicable, and your excursion meets with success, connecting roads may be opened, and, if necessary, the old road, in part, used. Also, as soon as you cross the Muddy, he wishes you, instead of immediately taking the road due east to Black's Fork, to see if you cannot easily ascend to the table land and go direct to Fort Bridger by the south end of the large buttes west of that place. The commanding general will be pleased to have your observations directed to the comparative heights of the ridges over which you will pass, that you may form some idea of the practicability of the route, late in the fall and early in the spring, for bringing pack animals and herds of cattle into this valley. You will probably find parties of Ute Indians in the vicinity of Kansas prairie. As some of them visit that portion of the country in winter and early in spring, you may obtain much informa tion of the nature of the winters in these mountain valleys. An escort of one officer and twenty men will accompany you, supplied with fifteen days' provisions on pack mules. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain JAMES H. SIMPSON, F. J. PORTER, Assistant Adjutant General. Topographical Engineers, Camp Floyd, Utah Territory. Consequent upon the above were issued the following orders: Special orders, No. 41. HEADQUARTERS 2D DRAGOONS, Camp Floyd, August 24, 1858. Pursuant to instructions from the headquarters of the department of Utah, of this date, requiring one officer and twenty men as escort to Captain James H. Simpson, Topographical Engineers, charged with examining the Provo route to Fort Bridger, a detail will be made of one sergeant, one corporal, and eighteen privates from the command, for said purpose. The command will take fifteen (15) days' provi sions. Brevet Second Lieutenant Samuel W. Ferguson is assigned to com. mand the escort. First Lieutenant J. P. Holiday, regimental quartermaster, will furnish the necessary pack animals. By order of Lieutenant Colonel M. S. Howe. G. A. GORDON, First Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant 2d Dragoons. In obedience to instructions I left Camp Floyd August 25, Lieu. tenant S. W. Ferguson, 2d dragoons, in command of a detachment of twenty dragoons, accompanying me as an escort, and the necessary provisions, blankets, &c., being carried on ten pack mules. We took with us no tents. I have already, September 3 and September 30, reported to you briefly the character of the route projected by me, under the instructions of the general commanding, but proceed now to give a more detailed description of it. The reconnaissance was made in eighteen days, the party returning to Camp Floyd September |