movement. As a matter of pressing importance for the prompt organization and movement of this regiment, I have respectfully to refer to the commanding general its urgent need of clothing and camp and garrison equipage. The commanding officer of the district who preceded me has directed in some instances the issue of subsistence by the depot commissary at this post to companies and detachments of companies of this regiment on account of their pressing necessities. The same plan will be pursued when practicable and actually necessary upon requisi tion approved by the colonel commanding until the consolidation and organization of the regiment. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JUSTUS STEINBERGER, Colonel First Washington Territory Infantry, Comdg. District. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. JUSTUS STEINBERGER, San Francisco, Cal., May 12, 1862. First Infantry Washington Territory_Volunteers, Comdg. District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: COLONEL: The general commanding has directed one company of Colonel Cornelius' regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers left at Jacksonville, Oreg. Lieutenant-Colonel Maury has been telegraphed to that effect. I am, respectfully, your most obedient servant, R. W. KIRKHAM, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. R. F. MAURY, Oregon Volunteer Cavalry, Jacksonville, Oreg.: One company of the Oregon regiment will be left at Jacksonville. By order: R. W. KIRKHAM, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, W. H. RECTOR, Esq., Supt. of Indian Affairs in State of Oregon, Portland, Oreg.: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two communications of the 7th instant. The Indian chief John and son will be sent to you by the first opportunity. I have given orders for one company of Oregon cavalry to remain at Jacksonville. I have had several appeals made to me by the citizens of Jacksonville to leave a command there, but I declined to do so, as I was anxious to send Colonel Cornelius with his entire command to the eastern frontier of the State. I assured the people of Jacksonville that should any danger threaten them I would promptly send troops there. I do not believe there is any real danger from Indians at Jacksonville, yet, as there have been so many men withdrawn from that section of the country, I deem it proper to leave a company of cavalry there to give a feeling of security to the women and children, whose natural protectors are saving their country. With great respect, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have just heard from Major Drum. He was at Fort Yuma on the last day of April; had completed his inspection, and would leave the same day on his return to these headquarters, inspecting the troops near Los Angeles and San Pedro on his way. Colonel Carleton was at Fort Yuma, pushing his troops forward into Arizona. The major, after inspecting the troops, says: "The troops are all in fine spirits, and anxious for the movement eastward;" and further, “It has fallen to the lot of few men to take into the field so well instructed a body of volunteer troops as compose Carleton's command." With such men and officers, I look for a speedy re-establishment of our authority over Arizona and New Mexico. In Arizona it will be necessary to hold the country under a military governor until such time as the civil authorities can be reorganized. To-day I received a telegraphic dispatch from Governor Nye, at Carson City, Nev. Ter. The Indian disturbances at Honey Lake and that region of country have been quelled, and everything is quiet. Colonel Steinberger, First Infantry Washington Territory Volunteers, has reached Fort Vancouver with four full companies of his regiment, and assumed command of the District of Oregon. Colonel Lippitt, Second Infantry California Volunteers, commanding the District of Humboldt, is at work energetically, bringing those Indians under subjection. The country is a difficult one to operate in, and it will take time to collect all those Indians and place them on reservations. A large assemblage of Indians at the Owen's Lake country, some 300 miles southeast from here, rendered it necessary to send a force of three companies of cavalry from Los Angeles to protect our people and their property and chastise the Indians. The country generally is quiet and prosperous. The sympathizers with the rebels are careful to keep within the pale of the law. The season is more than a month later than usual. The snow on the Sierra Nevada Mountains is very deep, and certainly not before the middle of June will it be possible for Colonel Connor, with his troops and supplies, to cross over toward Salt Lake. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Maj. R. C. DRUM, Fort Yuma, Cal., May 13, 1862. Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: Please inform me without delay if by any treaty or convention any arrangement has ever been made, which is now in force, by which the U. S. military forces have a right to pass through any portion of the Republic of Mexico. If such an arrangement has been made, I beg you will forward to me by express an official copy of it. I have been endeavoring to accumulate supplies at Fort Barrett. To this end every wagon has been at ouce employed as soon as it reached here from the desert. I could not afford to have but force enough there to make all safe until this was done, as the remainder could be subsisted here cheaper in point of time and labor of trains than there. What may have appeared as a delay is really the gaining of time. I have received the general's kind and considerate letter in relation to the effort which has been made by some persons in Los Angeles to cast a suspicion on my loyalty and my integrity. So the general pays no heed to this I think I can well afford to be abused. If such men as these who have abused me had complimented me, I should at once have cast about to see wherein I had done some rascally act. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. HDQRS. ADVANCE GUARD, CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS, Lieut. BENJAMIN C. CUTLER, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dist. of Southern California, Fort Yuma: I wish to state officially my reasons for advancing upon Tucson in accordance with permission granted by the colonel commanding the district in official and private letters. It is my opinion that Tucson is the most available point for introducing supplies from Sonora; that none such can be looked for to be taken there until an authorized agent of the United States shall present himself with a sufficient force to protect them; that the infantry of my command will consume no more of our own supplies there than here, and that pasturage for cavalry can be found in that vicinity; that all information about the enemy discloses no risk to the command with which I move, nor to the sub-depot at this post under the protection of the troops that will be left here. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. R. WEST, Lieutenant-Colonel First Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. HDQRS. ADVANCE GUARD, CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS, Lieut. BEN. C. CUTLER, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dist. of Southern California, Fort Yuma: LIEUTENANT: The Apaches made a foray in this vicinity this morning and killed three Pimas. Captain Pishon's cavalry is looking after them, but I have little hopes of their coming up with them. The Pimas and Maricopas complain bitterly that the Apaches have firearms and that they can get none. If the colonel commanding can procure some arms for issue to them it would be of much benefit to us in our negotiations about supplies. The manta, calico, flannel, and drills arrived yesterday. About 30,000 pounds wheat have been taken in since, and nearly all outstanding credits redeemed. Yet there is no guarantee how long the flow of grain will continue, as there are no means of ascertaining how much they have in reserve. But when the new harvest ripens an abundance can be procured, say 400,000 pounds. Blue drills, blue and orange prints, red flannel, indigo blue drills, paints, beads, and tobacco, if furnished in the required quantity, will do all that is necessary for the supply of grain. Cattle are very scarce. I have only been able to procure six. The majority of the stock is poor, and they will not sell their work cattle. The condition of the flour mill here, and the little probability of being able to transport that at Tucson to this point to any great advantage, induces the suggestion to have a small mill sent for from San Francisco at once. A millwright to put it up could also, with such material as is to be found here, soon erect a horsepower. A shaft, large drum, and belts (leather) from San Francisco are all that would be required. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. R. WEST, Lieutenant-Colonel First Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. Brigadier-General WRIGHT, CARSON CITY, May 13, 1862-12.10 p. m. Commanding Pacific Coast: I understand the troops en route for this place are destined for Honey Lake. I have direct information from there that all is quiet. A fight there now will involve an Indian war throughout this Territory. Our Indians are all quiet, and I can keep them so if allowed to accompany the troops with presents. Strange troops among them unaccompanied by an agent of their department will, I fear, produce difficulty. Answer. JAMES W. NYE. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Maj. R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: If it shall prove that Pesqueira has made any bargains with an agent of the Confederate States to join the Southern Confederacy with the State of Sonora, I respectfully submit if it would not be a kind act to Mexico, now that she is embarrassed by her complications with the allied powers of Europe, to seize Sonora and hold it in good faith in trust for our neighbor, to be given up whenever the Central Government of Mexico claims it. Ethically we have the right, and I doubt very much if it is not our duty to do this. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. Capt. R. W. KIRKHAM, CARSON CITY, NEV. TER., May 14, 1862. Asst. Quartermaster and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., San Francisco: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that I arrived in Carson City this day at 12 m. The command is in excellent condition. I have made the following marches since the 12th instant: From Strawberry Valley to Billy Mac's, 17 miles; from Billy Mac's to Van Syckle's, 15 miles; from Van Syckle's to Carson City, 15 miles; [total], 47 [miles]. Upon my arrival at this place I found, much to my disappointment, that neither wagons, forage, nor provisions were in waiting for me. It appears that there is a misunderstanding on the part of the commanding officer at Fort Churchill as to the movements of my command. He expected me to pass Fort Churchill and take my supplies from that place, and with this understanding on his part he sent me one day's rations to this place. Upon learning these facts I immediately started an express to Fort Churchill, requesting the commanding officer at that post to forward my supplies as speedily as possible to this place. I am credibly informed that the Government has no six-mule teams, nor any other kind of teams for me in this vicinity. I will go to Fort Churchill to-morrow. I would be much pleased if the general commanding the department would give me permission to take one of the small howitzers at Fort Churchill with my command. From the little knowledge I have of Indian warfare I think good service could be done with one of them, if occasion required. In the event of not being able to obtain teams at this place I will be compelled to engage a pack train and crowd through to Susanville in three days (110 miles), and rely upon the generosity of Lieutenant-Colonel Babbitt to confirm my action. The general commanding instructed me to confer with Governor Nye and other leading citizens upon my arrival in the Territory. In obedience to these instructions I waited upon the Governor, and soon discovered that there were two parties in the Territory, to wit, the war party and the peace party. Governor Nye has urged upon me, and informs me that he has telegraphed the same in substance to the general, that the Indians are all peaceable, and will so remain if he is allowed to direct the business. If an attack is made upon any portion of them the entire Territory will be plunged into an Indian war, which will cause a great loss of life and property without securing any good result. He is very anxious to have me go to Pyramid Lake, he going with me, and there he will try to effect a meeting with the leading Indians, and by giving them presents, &c., secure a peace which will be permanent. He sets forth another fact which my own experience confirms, to wit, that the stealing time for the Indians is about gone by for this season. It is rarely that they disturb property in the summer when roots and berries are plentiful. Governor Nye also informed me that he had offered to muster into service a number of citizens of Honey Lake Valley and arm them, provided they would hold themselves subject to his orders. This they refused to do, desiring to have the arms and be allowed to fight upon their own responsibility, when and where they pleased. On the other hand it is urged by Mr. Isaac Roop and others (that the Indians] are very bad in that section of the Territory (Honey Lake Valley); that troops should be in that vicinity to protect the emigration, &c. If I may be permitted to make the remark here, I will say that the idea of having troops to protect the Humboldt route for the emigration this season will naturally cause the emigrants to travel that route, thereby greatly benefiting the town of Susanville and Honey Lake Valley. Unless all other routes into Nevada and California are protected by troops I infer that this portion of their argument falls to the ground. Such is in substance the results of my first interview with Governor Nye, and of conversations with Mr. Roop and others. I will be able to fully understand the whole affair upon my arrival at Susanville. I have in a former communication referred to the admirable manner in which Mr. Wyse, quartermaster's |