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Show ' • • INSTRUCTIONS, AND EXPLANATORY REMARKS. .... ,..,... . \VASIIINGToN, Septembe,. J, 1847. To Col. J. J. AnERT, Chief of tlte Co'rps of Topograpl"ical Engineers: Sul: The foll owiug order was recei vet! by me June 5th, 1846: ]3 unEAu OF ToPOCRAPilTCAL ENGINEERs, JVasl~·ingt.on , l 'Une 5, 1816. S1n: You will repair, without delny, to Fort Leavenworth, and report yourself and party to Colonel Kearny, 1st dragoons, as Jield and ·topographical engine rs of his command. In addition to yourself, the party will consist of- First Lieutenant Warner, now at Washington; Second J..Jieu·tcnant A bert, do. Second I;ieulenant Peck. Lieutenant P eck is at \Vest Point, but he has been ordered to repair to t. Louis, and report to you at that place. 'hould Colonel 1 carny be at St. Louis, which you 'vill ascertain on passing through that place, you will report to hi.m at 't. Louis. Although orc-lercd to report ns field and topographical engineers, under the regulations, you will not consider the e in the light of exclusive dutic., but will perform any military duty whi ch shall be assigned to )'OU by Colonel 1 carny in accordance with your rank. Sbo ul d Co lone! Kearny have m oveu on the prairie with his command, you will make C\ cry cifort to overtake him. Respectfully, sir, your obedient . crvant, J. J. ABERT, Colonel Top ogntpltical Engineers. To Lieut. \¥.H. ENony, Top. Eng. Anticipating that the routr of Colonel Kearny s ommand would be through unexplored r gions, your ~uggrstions required, that in all cases where it did not interfere with other and more immediate military demands of the Rcrvi ce, the attention of myself, and the officers assigne<l to duty with me, shoul<l be mployed in collecting data which would give the government some idea of the regions ira ver ·eel. ·. The column comman<lcd by Colonel 1 carny, to whi ch we were attached, sty led "The· Army of the \V e t," to march from Forl Leavenworth, wa. d stined t o s trik' a blow at the norther!'l proTinces of Mexico, more especially N w Mexico and Califorma. It was supposed we would barely reach Fort Leavenworth in time to join tne army, and but twenty-four hours were allowed us |