Aerial view into valley from Independence Rock, showing wagon camp. Inscriptions on rock are visible. Full caption reads: "View from the summit of Independence Rock - looking to the S.E. - exhibiting the Sweetwater River & mountains - the Washington City Comp.y corralled below, noon July 26, 1849"; Crossed out original caption reads: "S.E. View from the top of Independence Rock - Sweet-water river & c. & c. & c. and mountains"; Note on side rock reads: "Henry Austin M.D. John Bates Chs. G. Moxley J. Goldsborough Bruff, Capt. Washington City Company, July 26, 1849" Joseph Goldsborough Bruff is best known as a topographer, journalist, and artist of the gold rush era. Bruff was born in Washington, D.C., on October 2, 1804. He attended West Point from 1820 until his resignation in 1822. From 1827-1836 he worked as a topographical engineer, predominantly at Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. He returned to Washington, D.C., in 1837 and from 1838-1849 worked for the U.S. Bureau of Topographical Engineers. Bruff then organized the Washington City and California Mining Association, which he accompanied to California. While in California he produced extensive journals and drawings of the mining camp experience. In 1853 Bruff returned to Washington, D.C., where he worked in office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department until his death on April 14, 1889.
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