probable increase of the number of Indian prisoners and the great num ber of general prisoners, some thirty or more now about to be tried for their lives, that Captain Akey has only some fifteen privates, more or less, for duty, all of whom are much needed in the field, I think myself bound to report another and a well-disciplined company for no other duty than to garrison this post to be also indispensable, and respectfully request that one may be sent here, if the exigencies of the service will permit, as soon as practicable. Being compelled to keep a portion of the mounted company here as a garrison, the detachment posted at Liscombe's Hill to furnish the necessary escorts and expresses was about half what was needed. The result is that, as reported to me whilst I am now writing, the horses of that detachment are fast breaking down from overwork; one of them has just died on the road. They will have to be relieved as fast as they give out by fresh horses from the stables here, which are still in a rather poor condition. To recall that detachment would be to leave our communications exposed, our supply trains without escorts, and settlements unguarded. The service these twenty-seven men are now rendering makes them equivalent to at least two companies of infantry. All the settlers agree that if the Hoopas and Klamaths should rise we would have a long and bloody war on our hands, and that whenever they do rise their first step will be to attack Fort Gaston, which has no defenses whatever, and peculiarly liable, from its location, to surprise. Deeming it of the first importance to prevent any such event and to hold these tribes in check until we have disposed of the hostile Indians in this neighborhood, and at the same time to quiet the alarm expressed on this point throughout the community, I have sent the two companies of Lieutenant-Colonel Olney's command to that post. Captain Johns will now be able to place detachments at so many points that all the movements of the Hoopas can be watched, and if not able to apprehend those of them that are said to be constantly leaving their valleys to take part in the present hostilities, will be at least able to verify the fact and to enforce at once such severe measures upon the leading men of the tribe residing around the fort as may be necessary to repress the evil. Captain Johns was here yesterday, and I gave him full verbal instruction on the subject. The two companies have left, each with its second lieutenant in command, the other company officers with Lieutenant-Colonel Olney having to remain here on the court-martial, which will last several weeks. The inclosed correspondence in relation to the shooting of two Indians by Lieutenant Flynn near Trinidad will explain itself. I have only to add that I am informed on good authority that the Indian spoken of as an old man was about thirty-five or forty years of age Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS J. LIPPITT, Col. Second California Vol. Infty., Comdg. Humboldt Mil. Dist. Col. F. J. LIPPITT, [Inclosure No. 1] Commanding Fort Humboldt: TRINIDAD, April 11, 1862. DEAR SIR: The undersigned, secretary of a public meeting held in this place on the 10th instant, submits the following recital of facts: That a company of twenty-five men under command of Lieutenant Flynn, a portion of the command stationed in Humboldt County, having under a circuitous march from that county, striking Klamath County at a point known as the Lagoon district, eight miles from this place, there succeeded on the 9th instant in killing one old man and wounding another belonging to a ranch occupied by three male Indians who have always been of an inoffensive character, living at least thirty miles from the theater of hostilities in Humboldt County, and belonging to a different tribe and speaking an entirely different language from those with whom the people of Humboldt are at war. At the public meeting called in consequence the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, with an additional one, that a copy be forwarded to BrigadierGeneral Wright and Colonel Lippitt: Resolved, That while our earnest sympathies are due to, and are held by the people of Humboldt County in the present Indian war which rages within her boundaries, yet we entirely deprecate and enter our public protest against the invasion of Klamath County by any of the citizens of Humboldt County or any military command stationed therein for the purpose of killing peaceable Indians; that such an act will only bring upon us all the horrors of an Indian war. Resolved, That a committee should be appointed to wait upon Lieutenant. Flynn and represent to him the madness and folly on his part of attempting the subjugation of 3,000 well-armed Indians by a force of twenty-five U. S. soldiers, and that we, the people of this vicinity, can by the same system we have heretofore used toward the Indians in the neighborhood exert and use the same control over them that we have ever had. Respectfully, yours, HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT, CLINTON WOODFORD, Secretary of a Public Meeting held at Trinidad: SIR: Before answering your letter of the 11th instant, transmitting a copy of resolutions passed at a meeting in Trinidad, I have waited to receive Lieutenant Flynn's official report of his scout. That report is now received, and it appears by it that Lieutenant Flynn has done no more than his duty. Under instructions from the general commanding the Department of the Pacific the troops under my command are now prosecuting a war against the hostile Indians in this district wherever they may be found. Lieutenant Flynn, while in command of a scout, was led to believe, from information received, that a band of some 200 hostile Indians had crossed to the southerly side of Redwood Creek and gone down to its mouth. He very properly went in pursuit of them. Before arriving there he saw three Indians going in that direction, very possibly, at least, to inform the others of his approach, and so enable them to escape. He very properly took them prisoners, and they having attempted to escape after being fully warned of the consequences, Lieutenant Flynn having no other means of stopping them, and in order to prevent, as he supposed, the entire defeat of the object of his expedition, as a good and faithful officer fired upon them, by which fire one of them was killed and another wounded. Whatever course may be adopted with regard to the peaceable Indians in this district, the citizens of Trinidad cannot expect any county boundary line to constitute a barrier to the pursuit of hostile Indians by the troops under my command. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. J. LIPPITT, Colonel Commanding Second California Volunteer Infantry, Commanding Humboldt Military District, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Capt. GEORGE F. PRICE, Comdg. Co. M, Second Cav. California Vols., Camp Alert, Cal.: CAPTAIN: I have lately received reports of Indian difficulties at or in the vicinity of Honey Lake, and deeming it necessary to send some troops to look after affairs in that quarter as well as the country around Pyramid Lake, I have ordered your company designated for this duty. The quartermaster's department has made arrangements for your transportation from this place by steamer to-morrow evening as far as Sacramento, and from that place you will march via the Placerville route to Carson City. An agent of the quartermaster will accompany you and furnish everything necessary for the movement. An order has been sent to the commanding officer at Fort Churchill to send to Carson City in wagons subsistence for your command for one month. After receiving your supplies I desire you to move with your command to Susanville, on Honey Lake, or to such point as you may deem your presence necessary. The main object of sending you is to restore peace between the white people and the Indians. Should you capture any of the latter who have been guilty of murder, robbery, &c., execute sum. mary justice on them. I have generally found that by hanging a few of the worst Indians peace and quiet is soon restored. My instructions to you must necessarily be of a general character. Knowing your activity and zeal, coupled with a knowledge of that country, I take great pleasure in confiding to your judgment and management the entire business. Consult with Governor Nye and the leading citizens whom you may fall in with, and report frequently to these headquarters. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. STEAMER PANAMA, Near San Francisco, April 26, 1862. General WRIGHT, U. S. Army, Commanding Department of the Pacific: SIR: I take the earliest opportunity to lay before you the inclosed copies of letters addressed to Governor Pesqueira, of Sonora, Mexico, by the rebel General H. H. Sibley and his next in command, Colonel Reily. Please forward after your perusal to the State Department at Washington. I also deliver you important extracts of letters + from reliable persons at El Paso, made and forwarded by our very worthy * For first inclosure see Sibley to the Governor of the State of Sonora, December 16, 1861, p. 766; and for last inclosure see Escalante to Moody (inclosure of the letter from Waterman to Wright, April 7), p. 988. + See Robertson to Wright, April 18, p. 1012. and efficient consul at Mazatlan, R. L. Robertson. Our loyal citizens in the northern States of Mexico, especially Sonora, deem it of great importance our Government should prevent the exit of the rebels into Mexico; at least to have an armed vessel at Guaymas to guard against any of their contemplated demonstrations at that important harbor. With the greatest respect, I have the honor, general, to be, your most obedient servant, FARRELLY ALDEN, Ex U. S. Vice-Consul. [Inclosure No. 1.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NEW MEXICO, C. S. ARMY, His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF THE STATE of Sonora: H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier-General, C. S. Army, Comdg. Army of New Mexico. [Inclosure No. 2.] HERMOSILLO, SONORA, MEXICO, March 14, 1862. His Excellency Señor Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, Governor of the State of Sonora, Republic of Mexico: The undersigned has the honor to inform Your Excellency that I am here, having a communication to you from Brig. Gen. H. H. Sibley, of the Army of the Confederate States of America, and commanding the Army of New Mexico. In obedience to orders received at Fort Thorn, on the Rio Grande, I was proceeding to Ures, but am happy to find Your Excellency in this city. The undersigned would be pleased if Your Excellency would designate a time when you would give me a personal interview, so that I might present you with my letter of credence from the general, and at the same time deliver the communication with which I have the honor to be intrusted. I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest consideration and respect, most respectfully, yours, JAMES REILY, [Inclosure No. 3.] HERMOSILLO, SONORA, March 15, 1862. His Excellency Señor Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, Governor of the State of Sonora, Republic of Mexico: The undersigned has the honor to call the attention of Your Excellency to an article headed "Mysterious proceedings in the South," in a newspaper published at San Francisco, Cal., styled The Herald and Mirror, and dated February 14, 1862, and circulated in this city. The undersigned most respectfully requests to be informed if His Excellency credits the falsehood stated in said article? If His Excellency the Governor credits the falsehood, the undersigned most respectfully requests that he be at once informed what action has been taken in the matter by himself or the General Government. Has General Wright the privilege to occupy Guaymas with Federal troops? The undersigned most respectfully requests an early reply to this note to the communication of General Sibley, and the return of this newspaper inclosed. With sentiments of highest consideration and respect, Colonel, C. S. Army, First Regiment, Army of New Mexico [Inclosure No. 4.] HERMOSILLO, March 17, 1862. His Excellency Señor Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, &c., Sonora: The undersigned presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor of Sonora, and informs him that the undersigned would be gratified to pay a brief visit by the diligence to-morrow to Guaymas. The undersigned requests to be informed if His Excellency has any objection to his visiting Guaymas, as the undersigned is unwilling to do anything contrary to the wish or policy of His Excellency the Governor. With sentiments of great consideration and respect, [Inclosure No. 5.] C. S. Army. HERMOSILLO, SONORA, March 18, 1862. His Excellency Señor Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, &c., Sonora, Republic of Mexico: The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt ou yesterday of His Excellency's two notes, one directed to Brig. Gen. H. H. Sibley and the other to myself. The undersigned requests His Excellency to issue him a passport for himself and escort, and also his letter of recredence to General H. H. Sibley, C. S. Army, commanding Army of New Mexico. The undersigned is sincere in the expression of the wish that nothing will occur to obstruct the present friendly relations now existing between the Confederate States and the State of Sonora. The undersigned most respectfully requests the return of the newspaper styled The Herald and Mirror, of date February 14, 1862, which he had the honor to inclose to Your Excellency. I have the honor to be, with sentiments of highest consideration and respect, respectfully, yours, JAMES REILY, [Inclosure No. 6.] HERMOSILLO, SONORA, March 24, 1862. His Excellency Señor Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, Governor of Sonora, Mexico, at Ures: The undersigned has the honor herewith to inclose the letter of credence from General Sibley, C. S. Army, by which the undersigned *See inclosure No. 1. |