""Notes of a Military Reconnoissance"" is a travelogue written by W.H. Emory, detailing his journey from Fort Leavenworth in Missouri to San Diego in California through the Arkansas, Del Norte, and Gila Rivers. Emory was a member of the US Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers, and his mission was to survey the land and gather information about the terrain, flora, fauna, and indigenous people. The book is filled with detailed descriptions of the...