 In early 1859 , Raynolds was charged with leading an expedition into the Yellowstone region of Montana and Wyoming to determine , " as far as practicable , everything relating to ... the Indians of the country , its agricultural and mineralogical resources ... the navigability of its streams , its topographical features , and the facilities or obstacles which the latter present to the construction of rail or common roads ... " . The expedition was carried out by a handful of technicians , including photographer and topographer James D. Hutton , artist and mapmaker Anton Schönborn , and geologist and naturalist Ferdinand V. Hayden , who led several later expeditions to the Yellowstone region . Raynolds 's second @-@ in @-@ command was lieutenant Henry E. Maynadier . The expedition was supported by a small infantry detachment of 30 and was federally funded with $ 60 @,@ 000 . Experienced mountain man Jim Bridger was hired to guide the expedition . 
