Soldier Joker: The 1849 Surveys

George Horatio Derby 1823-1861 aka John Q.Phoenix, aka Squibob Lieutenant Topographical Engineers of the United States Army. He surveyed and mapped the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys in 1849. This volume combines Derby's cartographic and literary skills his 'day' job. Derby observed and described first hand the events, people, and places of the early California Gold Rush. He surveyed Camp Far West, described Sutter's Hock Farm, stayed at Johnson's Crossing, and stood on the North Butte of the Sutter Buttes. He was at Coloma, Jamestown, Mormon's Island, Cordua Bar, and Rose Bar in 1849 and illustrated the gold mining process as it was occuring. He mapped the courses of the Feather,Yuba, Bear, and Sacramento Rivers. He viewed and described the emigrants in 1849 as they arrived in California. His humorous writings as John Phoenix and Squibob were based on first hand experiences surveying the Yuba-Sutter area. This was ten years before Mark Twain arrived in California.