HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, First Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. Dist. of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal.: COLONEL: I do not wish you to send out any new expedition to the Mono country until you shall have received reports from LieutenantColonel Evans, when you can exercise your own judgment in the matter. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, San Francisco, Cal., April 14, 1862. First Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. Dist. of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal.: COLONEL: In consequence of the continued Indian disturbances in the District of Humboldt I was compelled to withdraw the two companies of the Second Infantry at Santa Barbara, under LieutenantColonel Olney, and send them to re-enforce Colonel Lippitt. This will make it necessary for you to leave a company of the Fifth at San Diego. I have no reliable information as to the state of affairs either in Arizona or New Mexico, but I have no doubt of Canby's ability to sustain himself against any rebel force which may approach him. With the main objects of the expedition intrusted to your direction you are well acquainted, viz, to drive out or capture all rebels in Arizona and retake the forts in that country and New Mexico, now in possession of the rebels. Every exertion has been made to provide your troops with all necessary supplies. My design in the first instance was for you to advance from Fort Yuma with your own regiment and Shinn's battery, with five companies First Cavalry; but on the eve of your departure from Yuma you will be better able to judge of the propriety of adding a portion of Bowie's regiment to your moving columns, which you are authorized to do, if you think it proper. Do not hesitate about taking all the force you think necessary to accomplish the object in view. Wishing you all the success which your labor and zeal in making the necessary preparations so justly entitle you to, I am, colonel, very truly, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. First Lieut. JOHN HANNA, Jr., HEADQUARTERS, Fort Anderson, April 14, 1862. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Humboldt Mil. Dist., Fort Humboldt: LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that in obedience to your letter of instructions dated April 3, 1862, I have made a thorough examination of the ground at Simmons' ranch. The ground, or rather bench of the mountain, contains about six acres of gently sloping land, bounded on three sides by Redwood Creek and on the remaining side by a very steep and rugged mountain. The elevation above the waters of the creek at the present time is full seventy-five feet perpendicular, and at only one point is there sufficient slope to admit of reaching the water without sliding down the almost perpendicular bank. At this point the old Weaverville trail passes up the hill. The ground is covered with a dense and heavy growth of underbrush from ten to fifteen feet in height, sprinkled with heavy dead pines, the outskirts of the bench being pretty heavily timbered. A small space of one or two acres has been burned over, and the stumps of the brush stick out of and cover the ground from one to two feet in height. A small garden has been inclosed on the side hill and a small corral erected below it. A small dwelling and milk house once stood on the ground below the corral, the remains of each being now visible. A small spring, over half a mile up the mountain, formerly furnished water enough for the use of the family, but I do not think it would supply the wants of a company. During the latter part of summer it generally dries, as I have been informed. The building of a military post at that point would involve an immense expenditure of time and labor, to say nothing of the extra expense over the erection of one at the point where I am now encamped. To clear the ground sufficiently to pitch the tents of my command would take nearly the same amount of time and labor as it will to erect comfortable log barracks at this point, and to supply the command with water for a year, including the necessary conduit pipes from the spring, and the labor of a man and team hauling water after a road has been dug to the bed of the stream would go far toward completing an elegant set of officers' quarters at this point. The necessary article of water can be obtained at this point at all seasons of the year by carrying it up a dozen steps or by means of a common well pump. But little oak wood is procurable at that point, while at this place there is an abundance to be obtained, ready cut, for a very moderate sum. Timber for building purposes is the only article easier of access than at this point. There it can be procured in abundance from the outskirts of the tract; here it is necessary to haul it across Redwood Creek, which can be done with ease at low water. The pasturage at that point is not as abundant or accessible as at this place. The crossing at that place I could not very well determine, being on foot, but should judge from the looks of the stream that in high water it is as dangerous and impassable as at this point. Upon making inquiries of the packers and others who have been more or less in the habit of passing over this country for the last eight or ten years, I learn that the trail running past that place does not shorten the distance to Weaverville more than ten miles; that it was not abandoned on account of the Indian dangers alone, but because it was without accommodations of any kind, and above all, because it did not pay. The trail leading via Liscombe's Hill, Minor's, and Hoopa Valley, is the only one that can be traveled by freight trains and passengers between Humboldt Bay, Hoopa Valley, Salmon River mines, New River, and the intermediate points, and with the exception of being some ten miles longer, is equal in every respect to the trail through to Weaverville by way of Simmons', which leads over the mountains and strikes the Trinity River above Hoopa Valley in the vicinity of Willow Creek. If Fort Anderson is removed to Simmons' ranch, the Hoopa Valley trail passing here from Arcata will in a measure have to be abandoned, to the great detriment of the large number of inhabitants at Hoopa Valley, Salmon River, and New River mines, and the numbers of people engaged in trading with and between those places. The only way of approaching that location from this side is over an immense landslide, full sixty rods across, or by going upon the mountain and coming down to it from above by the Weaverville trail. By order of Captain Douglas: P. B. JOHNSON, Second Lieutenant and Post Adjutant. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY OREGON VOLUNTEERS, General WRIGHT, Portland, Oreg., April 14, 1862. Commanding Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: Herewith I forward a communication from Lieutenant-Colonel Maury for your consideration. His views in regard to the requirement of a military force in Southern Oregon, as far as my knowledge extends, are correct. The two last companies mustered by Lieutenant-Colonel Maury being so near full, and being composed of good men well mounted, I would urge upon you (the matter being in your discretion) to increase the regiment to seven companies. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. R. CORNELIUS, Colonel First Cavalry Oregon Volunteers. [Inclosure.] CAMP BAKER, JACKSON COUNTY, OREG., March 27, 1862. Col. G. WRIGHT, U. S. Army, Commanding Department of the Pacific: SIR: On account, no doubt, of the threatening appearance of Indian affairs in Washington Territory and Oregon there are rumors that the troops now in this part of the State are to be removed north. In consideration that this might be the case in an emergency, I deem it my duty to represent to you our condition. The eastern frontier of Southern Oregon is occupied solely by Indians, though it contains large valleys susceptible of cultivation as well as extensive range for stock. If there should be war with the Indians north, the probability of which is unquestionably great, it will involve the Indians south. They are well aware that two-thirds of our citizens will leave for the northern mines, and anxious at the same time, naturally, to commit depredations upon the settlements. This will leave Jackson County especially exposed, and offer inducements to make equal cause with the Indians of the north as well as to commit depredations (which will necessarily lead to war) on their own account. Aside from any predisposition of these Indians for hostilities, they may find aggravations from the fact that their country will be extensively prospected and traveled over by parties going to Salmon River mines, or those of Humboldt River, who, through thoughtlessness or recklessness, may provoke hostilities from which the innocent are always the greatest sufferers. Without being able to obtain positive evidence of the fact, I am satisfied that they have accumulated this winter a large amount of ammunition. In connection with this I ask respectfully to suggest that a military establishment east of this valley has been for a long time necessary to the promotion of the interests in every respect of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Its importance under present circumstances is largely increased. It will lead to the peaceable development of a large tract of agricultural and mineral district now unoccupied with but little additional cost to the Government. Troops in that direction would be convenient enough to attend to any emergency that might arise from the present disturbed condition of the country. In this end of the State we are about evenly divided as to the national issue. On account of the agitations consequent upon our coming elections, as well as those that may occur from possible reverses to the national arms, our condition cannot be foretold. Under the instructions from Adjutant-General's Office of September 24, 1861, after consultation with the gentlemen embraced in them, I proceeded to organize four companies in the southern part of the State. Two were promptly filled in this county. The severity of the winter postponed for some time the necessary steps for the organization of the other two. Good substantial citizens were selected in the adjoining counties, who immediately applied themselves to raise the other two. The continued severity of the weather, with much local opposition, prevented their completion before the receipt of your order reducing the regiment to six companies (it was forwarded promptly to the parties concerned). On the 24th of February forty enlisted men were mustered in for one of these companies, and on the 12th March fifty for the other-between these dates and the receipt of your order. I am informed that they number about seventy each enlisted men. It will be a severe disappointment to those who have worked under many disadvantages, now that they have nearly the required number, after their efforts and outlays, to be left out. If the requirements of the service and your duty will allow it, I respectfully ask a favorable consideration for them; that is, that they may be allowed to fill these companies, thus making the seventh of the regiment. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. F. MAURY, Lieutenant-Colonel First Cavalry Oregon Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, San Francisco, Cal., April 15, 1862. Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, Comdg. District of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal.: COLONEL: The general commanding the department directs me to write you that he has read carefully and with deep interest the voluminous correspondence received by last mail regarding affairs in your district. The zeal and activity displayed by Colonel West and Major Rigg warrant the conviction that they are not to be overreached by any parties of rebels. All the supplies asked for have been ordered. Neither the quartermaster's nor the subsistence departments have yet received funds, but they are expected daily, and possibly may reach us in time to go on the next steam er.* I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. W. KIRKHAM, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT, Maj. R. C. DRUM, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Department of the Pacific, U. S. Army: MAJOR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the general commanding the department, dated April 7. I feel much * Some unimportant matter here omitted. encouraged by the expression of confidence it contains, and shall do my best to merit a continuance of it to the last. Since my dispatch of April 9 no new outrages by Indians have been reported. Some three or four of them have been killed by the troops and about forty taken prisoners, the greater part of them women and children. I have detachments posted at the most exposed points, and have organized a regular system of escorts and daily expresses between the various posts and this point, by which the most infested routes through the hostile country are kept constantly scoured-a system which brings all of us in constant and rapid communication with each other and affords protection incidentally to the settlements and trains along the routes. But to do this I have had to use up nearly all of Captain Akey's mounted company (the only one left at this post), leaving him but a handful of men to guard the Indian prisoners and some twenty general prisoners and for all the usual garrison duties. I have just been informed, moreover, of the capture at Fort Gaston of two of the deserters of Company K, Second Infantry California Volunteers, and expected capture of the other seven. They will have to be brought here at once for safekeeping, increasing by so many the number of general prisoners. I therefore hope that my telegraphic request per Weaverville of the 13th instant for one company to be sent to garrison this post will be granted. The company sent should be full and well disciplined. As at present advised, I shall send Lieutenant-Colonel Olney and his command immediately to Fort Gaston, not only to keep the Hoopas and Klamaths in check, but to enforce such severe measures as I may have to adopt there at once. It seems certain that some, if not all, of the Hoopas are engaged covertly in the present hostilities. The Indian killed by Captain Douglas on the 6th instant has been recognized as one of their chiefs. 3 p. m.-An official report has just come in from Captain Johns of the capture of six of the deserters from Company K by Lieutenant Anderson, Company D, Third Infantry California Volunteers, and a detachment of the garrison at Fort Gaston, accompanied by Lieutenant Hubbard, Company K, Second Infantry California Volunteers. Captain Johns gives high praise to the whole party for their zealous exertions, "marching for thirty-six hours without sleep or rest in a severe storm over one of the worst trails in that country." One of the six escaped, but will probably be recaptured. April 17.-In regard to the amount of additional force required, I can now speak definitely. Besides the company needed to garrison this post, two other companies will be the minimum force required. These, together with the three now in the field, will suffice to keep the Indians in check, and at the same time to be making some progress in subduing and capturing them. The Indians have virtual possession of the whole country up to within a few miles of the bay. I mean by this that no man would now venture to travel any where beyond this limit without a strong escort, and that all the settlers, except the few to whom I have sent or am sending detachments, have been driven into the bay, as many of them killed as were not able to escape, and their property destroyed. How rapid will be our progress with the re-enforcement now requested it is impossible for me to say, but every addition of force beyond this will, of course, expedite matters proportionally. I wish to be understood as reporting an immediate re-enforcement of three companies (besides Colonel Olney's command)-one to garrison this post, the other two for the field-to be, in my opinion, indispensable. I have the honor to transmit herewith a description of the site of Fort Lyon, with a |