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Union
Pass
Lieutenant
Sitgreaves followed a route that passed north of the San Francisco
Peaks, around the south side of Bill Williams Mountain, and then headed west along a corridor that would later be
roughly followed by US Highway 66. He crossed into the Sacramento
Valley through a pass in the Cerbat Mountains north of Kingman.
From there his guide led him across the valley to Union Pass.
Sitgreaves
describes the pass:
November
5, Camp No. 32.-- The approach to the mountains, before alluded to,
was by a gradual ascent, so that when we arrived at their base, there
did not remain much to be overcome. The pass was nevertheless
exceedingly rough, and bordered by overhanging crags, which it was
deemed prudent to occupy before advancing with the atajo.
We passed through, however, unmolested, and were at length cheered by
the view of the Colorado, winding far below through a broad valley, its
course for many miles being apparent from the large trees upon its
banks. The smoke of numerous fires in the valley gave evidence of
a large Indian population, and the sight brought a spontaneous cheer
from the men, who believed that this was to be the end of their
privations and the labors and anxieties of the journey.
After
reaching the Colorado River near Bullhead City and Laughlin, Sitgreaves
turned south along the river to Camp Yuma. -ed.
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