During the expedition, Bruff kept extensive journals that recorded the details of the expedition's travels. He also made many drawings of the things he saw along the trail. He recorded his meeting with Colonel Benjamin Bonneville at Fort Kearny. He sketched Fort Laramie in Wyoming and Fort Hall in Idaho along with important geographic features like Chimney Rock in Nebraska. He also made drawings of numerous less important hills, canyon, river crossings, and hot springs. Bruff made many drawings of camp life and recorded grave markers he encountered along the trail.