Cooke's Peak, Hadley and Jose

By November 16 and 17, Colonel Cooke had led the Battalion to a marshy water hole that was given the name "Cooke's Spring" by one of his Lieutenants. They had arrived at the only reliable source of water between the Rio Grande and Rio Mimbres. Camped early after only a short march on the 17th, the men had opportunities to rest, hunt, explore and observe their surroundings and Cooke's scouts had a chance to evaluate routes to take. Several hardy souls climbed "Cooke's Peak", the highest elevation in southern New Mexico at 8,400 feet.

The Mormon Battalion continued westward (frequently lacking water and on short rations) and reached San Diego on January 29, 1847. Colonel Cooke congratulated his men noting "we have discovered and made a road of great value to our country."