Made during Mexican rule in Texas for John Beales, who through partnerships acquired 70,000,000 acres of land and gained the title of Texas' largest land king, Alexander LeGrande's survey covered about 2,000 miles in west Texas, the Oklahoma Panhandle, and eastern New Mexico, then south to the 32nd parallel. Hardship and tragedy plagued LeGrande's party, and after attacks by Indians he abandoned the survey. Although the first exploration here is usually credited to Capt. R. B. Marcy of the U.S. Army, LeGrande's work came years earlier.