1853 Cavalry Quest for a Southwest Railroad Route

Highlights and excerpts from the actual 1853 report submitted by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson to the Congress of the United States of America regarding his Cavalry Corps of Engineers exploration and survey beginning in San Francisco and searching the mountains of Southern California, including Walker's Pass, Tejon, Tehachapi, Mojave, San Gorgonio Pass, Palm Springs, Warner's Pass, Yuma, San Diego and back to San Francisco. It details the instructions given for the search from Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, the men included in the quest, their equipment and a nearly day by day description of the land, the people, and the happenings of the party. A very unique read. These highlights are taken from the complete and lengthy report kept on file by the U.S. Geological Society.