to him. I did expect to leave here for Yuma, but would like to hear what disposition to make of them before I leave, unless Major Fergusson should come up. Yours, truly, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Camp Wright. First Lieut. B. C. CUTLER, First Infantry California Volunteers, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. [Inclosure No. 2.] CAMP WRIGHT, Oak Grove, San Diego County, Southern California, COLONEL: I take advantage of Señor Sepulva, Ramon Carrillo's brother-in-law, to inform you of the capture of the Showalter party, Showalter with them. The party consists of sixteen men, each man armed with a rifle and pair of revolvers. They gave us a hard chase, but we finally captured them. They parleyed, but finally concluded not to resist, although against the advice of Showalter. The names of the parties are: T. A. Wilson, Tennessee; W. Woods, Missouri; Charles Benbrook, Kentucky; William Sands, Tennessee; T. L. Roberts, South Carolina; R. H. Ward, Mississippi; T. W. Woods, Virginia; J. M. Sampson, Kentucky; S. A. Rogers, Tennessee; J. Lawrence, Arkansas; William Edwards, Arkansas; Levi Rogers, Alabama; Henry Crowell, Pennsylvania; William Turner, Georgia; Dan Showalter, Pennsyl vania; A. King, Tennessee. I took two of the party on the 27th near this post, viz, E. B. Sumner, F. N. Chum. They were the advance party. Eighteen in all. I am now examining them, and will send you by express that will leave here to-night some time full particulars. They now regret that they did not resist. If they had they would have given us a hard fight. There is no doubt but every one of them is a rank secessionist, and are on their way to lend aid and comfort to the enemy. I would like to know as soon as possible what to do with them. They have pack-mules and are well fitted out, and a desperate set of men. I will send you, as I have stated, a full account of all the facts by an express that will leave to-night, or perhaps not until the morning. I am under great obligations to Francisco O'Campo for my success. It is reported that some eighty-one more are getting ready and on the road. I will keep a good watch for them. Very respectfully, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First Infantry, Commanding Camp Wright. P. S.-They were captured at daylight on the morning of the 29th at John Winter's ranch, near San José Valley. Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, E. A. R. First Infantry California Volunteers, Los Angeles, Cal. HDQRS. DETACH. FIRST INFANTRY CALIFORNIA VOLS., Camp Wright, Oak Grove Station, San Diego County, Southern California, December 4, 1861. COLONEL: I have the honor to report to you that on the morning of the 27th of November, 4 a. m., Mr. Cable handed me a note which he had 3 R B-VOL L, PT I received from E. M. Morgan, at Temecula, requesting him to hand an inclosed letter to E. B. Sumner, who had arrived at this place with Mr. J. J. Warner, a copy of which I inclose. Sumner had not arrived with Mr. Warner here. He and his companion had stopped at the Dutchman's. I sent out early to look after Sumner and companion, and they were reported coming in at 10 a. m. As soon as they arrived here I had them arrested. The letter to E. B. Sumner gave me good reason to suppose that he and the man traveling with him were the advance of a party that I have been looking for. After the arrest of Sumner and the man with him, I ordered Lieutenant Wellman, with bis detachment of cavalry, to proceed to Temecula and arrest and examine the party of eighteen alluded to in the letter to Sumner. On his arrival there, as per instructions from me, the party had moved on, taking a trail from Temecula to avoid our camp. Lieutenant Wellman, however, discovered the trail they had taken and followed it up, sending an express to me. I ordered Capt. H. A. Greene, of Company G, to proceed with his company to the Valley of San José and there detach twenty men, under command of Lieutenant Smith, of Company G, to look after the valley-several trails come down into this valley-and to take the balance of his command and go on to Santa Isabel (O'Campo's). At the same time I sent a note to Mr. O'Campo to send an express through on the trail to Temecula. At 12 midnight he sent me an express that they were at Mr. Winter's, on the trail, and as soon as they moved in the morning I would be informed of the direction they took. At daylight on the morning of the 29th the Indians reported them on the move to San José Valley. I immediately sent off Lieutenant Vestal, with twenty men from Company D, to close another trail that came out in the valley, but at about 11 a. m. Lieutenant Wellman reported to me the capture of the whole party at daylight in the morning. His report I inclose to you, and would beg leave to say that to the industry of Lieutenant Wellman and men are we indebted for our prisoners. There are nineteen in all. I have examined them all, and send copies of their statements to you; also the oath of allegiance I administered to them. I have had no particular form of oath, and drew one to suit myself. I could find nothing about them that would go to show what they really are. Their ostensible destination is Sonora. I had concluded to discharge them, and informed them that I would, but Lieutenant Wellman has just returned from another scout. His report you will please find inclosed, as well as a diagram* of the trails branching off from the main trail. You will perceive that there are many of them. He intercepted many letters, copies of which, or rather the originals, I send you, which, in my opinion clearly proves that a regular organization exists, and that this party, with a few exceptions, is in it. I .think there are a few of them who are honest in going to Sonora for mining purposes, but that they have been drawn into this organization. From the fact that the men who are all bound for Sonora are Southern men is suspicious, for where good mines are good miners will go without respect to section. Under the circumstances I have concluded to hold them prisoners until directed to release them by my superior officer. You will see that Showalter only desired to get over the line, and then if interrupted or interfered with to make the best fight they could. You will also find our late comptroller of State, or rather Mr. Brooks, who will vacate the office, is as deep in the mire as they are in the mud. Colonel West sent on two men with Lieutenant *See p. 45. Hunter to take the ambulance back which he sent through with Mrs. Dryer, and directed me to send it back on the 3d; that he had written to you to have an express meet it here. I will leave this morning at 7 o'clock on my way to Yuma, and, as directed, leave the command to next in rank. I wish Major Fergusson were here. I have stirred up a hornet's nest, and hear of releasing the prisoners by force if not otherwise released. This is of little consequence. They cannot release them, and if I could be here would hope they would attempt it. I had Morgan arrested. He gave the cavalry also a long chase. I would respectfully suggest to the colonel that at least one full company of cavalry should be here. It is twenty miles or more to Temecula from here, and to take the trail from there to either outlet it counts up fifty miles around, and no barley or hay on the route. Grass is good and plenty, but the cavalry have no time to turn out their horses. I cannot close this without testifying to Lieutenant Wellman's merits as an officer, and to the good behavior of his men. He is fast earning the name of the fox hound. He has had two long scouts, and in both instances fulfilled his errand. I will leave here at 7 a. m., leaving Camp Wright commanded by Captain Gorley, Company D, First Regiment California Volunteers. The prisoners I have instructed him to hold until he receives orders from yourself or Colonel West. I will endeavor to replace Colonel West with credit, and unless odds are much against us I think we will give a good account of our stewardship. Trusting that my acts will meet with your approbation, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, EDWIN A. RIGG, Commanding First California Volunteers, Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. CABLE: [Inclosure No. 1.] TEMECULA, CAL., November 27, 1861. DEAR SIR: You will please deliver the inclosed letter to Mr. Sumner, the gentleman that came to your place with Mr. Warner, and tell him to hurry up, and oblige, Yours, truly, E. M. MORGAN. P. S.-Please deliver immediately at any expense. [Sub-inclosure.] TEMECULA, CAL., December 30,* 1861. FRIEND SUMNER: We arrived here this evening and were sorry to find you gone, for various reasons. I have hired a man to go after you, and I want you to start back as soon as he gets to where you are, and also bring Mr. Chum with you, and look sharp that he don't play you some trick. He is a bad man for us, and we want him back as soon as possible. There are eighteen of us here. Say nothing to him about what I have written, but tell him we want men, and we are going another road. I have no time to write more. Yours, truly, T. A. WILSON. *Evidently mis-dated, but so in copy on file. I. T. A. Wilson says: [Inclosure No. 2.] I was elected foreman of the party traveling with me for the purpose of selecting camping places and the like; any further than this I have no control over them; designed going to Sonora and spending a portion of the winter, and then proceeding to my home in Tennessee; have an aged mother living in Tennessee, whom I wish to see; have no intention of taking up arms against the Federal Government; perfectly willing to take the oath of allegiance. Served eighteen months in the U. S. Army in Mexico; will never take arms against the Government of the United States; am not acquainted with all the men belonging to the party; a portion of them I never saw until they joined the party at El Monte; did not know that Showalter was coming until I saw him at the Monte; had no preconcerted arrangements to meet Showalter or any other party; am twenty-nine years of age. T. A. WILSON. Lieut. C. R. Wellman states that Wilson did not object to coming to camp; said he was perfectly willing to be examined, and to take the oath of allegiance, but would abide the decision of the party; did not see any impropriety in their being required to undergo an examination. I certify that the above is correct. C. R. WELLMAN, Second Lieutenant, First Cavalry California Volunteers. II. William Woods says: I am from Clay County, Mo.; have lived for the last three years in Los Angeles County, Cal.; came to California in 1850; have lived the most of the time in Sierra and Plumas Counties, except the time that I lived in Los Angeles; lived in Sierra County from 1852 to 1854. Was engaged in mining; lived with a man by the name of Carpenter in Los Angeles; left Los Angeles alone; joined the party at El Monte; knew a portion of the party were at El Monte when I left Los Angeles; my sympathies have heretofore been with the South, baving been born there; if I were in Missouri and obliged to take sides it is hard to say which side I would take; have no objections to taking the oath of allegiance; am thirty years of age. III. Charles Benbrook says: WM. WOODS. Am from Simpson County, Ky.; left Mariposa County on the 26th day of October, 1861; lived in Mariposa County since August, 1850, when Sands and myself left Mariposa together; left Mariposa with the intention of spending the winter in Los Angeles; when I got to Los Angeles I found a party was forming to go to Sonora, Mexico, and joined it; was acquainted with Wilson before I started; he had left Mariposa some time before I left; had no idea of meeting Wilson on the trip; I left Kentucky when I was a boy; came to California in 1849 from Texas; do not like to take the oath of allegiance if it can be avoided; have never held the doctrine that any State has a right to secede; will never take arms against the Government of the United States under any circumstances. IV. William Sands says: CHARLES BENBROOK. I am from Mariposa; came to California in 1849; lived ten years in Calaveras County; I was born in Wilson County, Tenn.; came to California from Memphis, Tenn.; Charles Benbrook left Mariposa with me; we started to go to Sonora, Mexico; were going to Sonora to better our condition; my sympathies are with my people; if I were in Tennessee I can't say which side I would take in the present war; do not think that one State alone has any right to secede; am willing to take the oath of allegiance; am forty years of age. V. T. L. Roberts says: WILLIAM (his x mark) SANDS. I was born in Fairfield, S. C.; left there when a boy; came to California in 1860; came from Placer County to this place, via Los Angeles; stopped in Los Angeles about four months; went to San Francisco with the intention of taking the steamer for Guaymas, Mexico; waited two weeks for the steamer, and finally concluded to go through by land; was going with the intention of going into business if the country suited me; had not made up my mind whether I would return to San Fran cisco or to my native State, in case Sonora did not suit me; my sympathies are with the people of the South, but would not like to see them break up the Government; am sincerely opposed to taking up arms against the Government; am also opposed to taking up arms against my own people; do not like to take the oath of allegiance because I might thereby be compelled to take up arms against my own people; will, however, take it if it is required; am thirty years of age. VI. R. H. Ward says: T. L. ROBERTS. I am from Jackson, Miss.; came to California in 1852; for the first ten months in California I lived in Santa Barbara; then lived in Tuolumne till 1856; since that time I have lived in Merced County; a man by the name of Holland started with me from Merced; Holland has gone on overland to the Atlantic States; was acquainted with Benbrook and Hamilton before starting from Merced; when I started it was my intention to go to Arkansas; when I got to Los Angeles I gave up the notion of going to Arkansas, and was about starting back to Merced when I heard of this party forming to go to Sonora, and made up my mind to go with it; thought of staying in Sonora a year or two, and then either returning to California or to Arkansas; was not fully determined to which State; I am conditionally a Union man; I do not believe in the right of any State to secede; all my sympathies are with the people of the South; all my people are in the South; am perfectly willing to take the oath of allegiance; never thought of taking up arms against the Federal Government; I consider the seceded States as a portion of the United States; am twenty-seven years old. VII. T. W. Woods says: R. H. WARD. I am from Bedford County, Va.; have been in California since July, 1852; came from Missouri to this State; I left Placer County with the intention of going to Sonora, Mexico; T. L. Roberts and a man by the name of Southwick started with me; had heard a good deal of Sonora as being a good country for mining; thought of prospecting for mines; I am a Union man, and always have been; don't believe any State has a right to secede; am perfectly willing to take the oath of allegiance. T. W. (his x mark) WOODS. VIII. J. M. Sampson says: I was born in Louisville, Ky.; came to this State in 1850; lived in Placer and El Dorado Counties a considerable portion of the time since I have been in this State; lived in Mariposa County three years; started to go to Mexico by water; heard of a party forming to go by land and joined it; I am a Union man; have no objection to taking the oath of allegiance; am thirty-five years old. IX. S. A. Rogers says: J. M. SAMPSON. I am from Warren County, Tenn.; came to California in 1854; came from Alabama to this State; have resided in Sacramento County since I have been in this State; loft Sacramento with the intention of going to Sonora, Mexico; my brother, who is now here, started with me; I was engaged in gardening in Sacramiento County; knew of no party forming at the time I started from Sacramento; had no definite object in view in case Sonora did not suit me; wanted to go to the Atlantic States as soon as the present difficulty was settled; I am not an unconditional Union man; am willing to take the oath of allegiance; my object in leaving the country was to avoid having anything to do with the present troubles. X. William Edwards says: S. A. ROGERS. I am from Arkansas; came to California in 1854; have resided principally in Mariposa County until within the last two years, which time I have resided in Mono and Carson Valleys; came from Mono to this place in company with J. Lawrence; left Mono with the intention of spending the winter in Los Angeles, and then returning to Mono; met some acquaintances at Los Angeles who were going to Sonora, Mexico, and concluded to go with them; expected no difficulty in getting to Sonora, unless it should be with Indians; was going to Sonora prospecting, and if I found nothing there that suited me to return to California; have mining claims at Mono; my people are residing in Arkansas; am a Union man; do not believe in the right of secession; am willing to take the oath of allegiance; am twenty-two years old. XI. James Lawrence says: WILLIAM EDWARDS. I am from Washington County, Ark.; came to California in 1853; am twenty-three years of age; came to California when I was fourteen years old; have resided most of the time in Mariposa County; am a miner by occupation; came from Mono to this |