Teacher, Civil War veteran, scientist, and naturalist John Wesley Powell was driven by the idea of exploring the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers. In the winter of 1868-1869, he arranged funds, men, and equipment for a scientifically focused expedition sponsored by the Illinois Natural History Society. The party, led by Major Powell, included mostly frontiersmen and Civil War veterans: Walter H. Powell, George Bradley, John Sumner, Carmel Howland, Seneca Howland, Bill Dunn, Bill Hawkins, Frank Goodman, and Andy Hall. Their boats, Emma Dean, Maid of the Canyon, Kitty Clyde's Sister, and No Name, were designed to carry the men and a ton of gear and food. On May 24th, 1869, amid fanfare, celebration, and trepidation, they set out from a point about one-quarter mile upstream to explore the great unknown. Three months later, half-starved and worn out, Powell and five remaining men reached the Virgin River. Frank Goodman left the party in Utah; Bill Dunn and the Howland brothers left the group in the Grand Canyon and were killed by Indians on the South Rim. Far from satisfied, John Wesley Powell soon began planning a return trip two years later.