Sketch of rock formations and trees between Niobrara and White rivers Topographical engineer’s uniform The Colt Whitneyville-Walker Pistol 1842 musket Not all those who went to West Point before the Civil War remained in the army, but those who did played key roles in the eastern Indian wars and the War with Mexico (1846–1848). They also helped explore the new lands west of the Mississippi and build the nation’s roads. West Pointers led many of the expeditions westward, explorations part military reconnaissance, part scientific exploration, part treasure hunt. They surveyed and mapped the land, gathered information, identified potentially valuable resources, collected specimens, and wrote reports. The military posts they established often became the nucleus of towns and cities. Whether as army officers or civilian engineers, West Pointers built America’s roads and canals, bridges and railroads. They also transplanted major features of military organization to the new railroad corporations and pioneered mass production. In these activities and others, West Pointers helped lay the groundwork for America’s economic development, intellectual growth, and territorial expansion—engineering, exploration, and war. NEXT The Western Reconnaissance West Point graduates expanded the boundaries of the United States. Follow their routes as they surveyed for railroads, explored new territories, and mapped the growing country. View Explorations
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