Turnbull came in the schooner General Patterson, which was bearing stores for the fort.

When the Patterson arrived at the mouth of the Colorado, she was able to sail easily up the river for thirty-three miles because Turnbull was met by some of his men who had been left here to take soundings, and for the first time a vessel was sailing with some knowledge of the channel.

The river, however, was unusually high, which was an advantage.
The wide flatlands on both sides were inundated to a distance of fifteen miles.

The current ran at a seven- or eight-mile rate and was loaded with floating snags and tree-trunks to repel the invader.

In proceeding in a small boat to the fort, Turnbull, in a distance of 120 miles, found but two dry spots on the bank where he could camp.
A new steamer was soon afloat on this fickle and impetuous tide, the General Jesup, owned by Captain Johnson, who had now had three or four years' experience in this navigation had been awarded the contract for transporting the supplies from the mouth, to the fort.