From Presidio to the Pecos River

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The 1848 treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which concluded the Mexican-American War, called for a boundary determined by a joint commission. The segment along the Rio Grande from Presidio to the Pecos River proved particularly challenging, surveyed by two American teams: one led by M. T. W. Chandler in 1852 and another by Lieutenant Nathaniel Michler in 1853. Historically, our insights into these surveys have been limited to official reports and maps in the National Archives, largely unpublished. However, Orville B. Shelburne's discovery of Dr. Charles C. Parry's journal, the surgeon-botanist-geologist for Chandler's team, has significantly enhanced our understanding of the survey process. Parry’s firsthand account provides a detailed narrative of the surveyors' daily experiences, highlighting their scientific exploration amid adversity—being stranded in canyons without food or shelter, navigating wild rivers in inflatable boats, and facing the threat of Indian attacks. Shelburne's analysis of the original boundary maps against modern ones underscores the challenges posed by the terrain and equipment of the time. This work offers a compelling glimpse into the adventure, near disasters, and achievements of the surveyors as they documented the Rio Grande's course through the Big Bend region.