1861 Jefferson Davis and John Pope Map of Texas: Red River to the Rio Grande

Important government survey conduced by the order of Jefferson Davis to ascertain the Southern Route of the Pacific Railroad.

A large and interesting 1861 government map illustrating surveys performed by John Pope to ascertain the most efficient route for the Southern Pacific Railroad. As the title suggests, the map covers in some detail the lands between the Red River and the Rio Grande, extending, as such, from (roughly) Dallas, Texas to El Paso, Texas, and from the Oklahoma Border (Red River) to San Antonio. The map shows plains, mountain regions, emigrant roads, towns, military installations, and river courses. In addition, it notes, with some detail, the camp sites and passage of Pope's partly as they meticulously conducted the railroad survey. At the base of the map there is an elevation profile chart of the entire region.

This map was prepared at the order of Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War (and later Confederate President) by John Pope and his assistant Kenner Gerrard. The surveys were completed between 1854 and 1856, however, the document here was not published until Governor Warren issued his 1861 Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad From the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.

Cartographer

John Pope (March 16, 1822 - September 23, 1892) was an American military officer active in the middle part of the 19th century. Pope was born in Louisville Kentucky to a prominent family with close ties to future president Abraham Lincoln. He graded from West Point in 1842 and served in the Mexican American War before being appointed to the Army Bureau of Topographical Engineers. He served briefly under explorer John C. Fremont, but the two never really got along. During the American Civil War, Pope, now a Major General successfully led several campaigns in the Western Theater, including the strategic capture of the fortified Mississippi River Island No. 10, near New Madrid, Missouri. He was subsequently reassigned to the Eastern Front where he was less successful ultimately suffering a disastrous defeat in the Second Battle of Bull Run. Following the Civil War, Pope served briefly as Reconstruction Governor of the Third Military District (Georgia, Florida, and Alabama) and was eventually sent west for the Apache Wars. Despite having a brash argumentative manner, he argued for humane treatment of Native Americans and campaigned against the activities of the corrupt Indian Bureau. Pope retired in 1886 and died at the Ohio Soldiers Home in Sandusky, Ohio.   Further Details...

Source

Warren, K., Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad From the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, (Washington: George W. Bowman) 1861.    

Condition

Good. Typical toning and wear along original fold lines. Numerous verso repairs and reinforcements along fold lines and paper edge.

References

Rumsey 0693.049.