Sumner to secure the quiet and peace of the District of Southern California have thus far produced the most happy results. When I left Los Angeles on the 15th instant everything was perfectly quiet, doubtless attributable in a great measure to the presence of our troops at the various points. After the withdrawal of the regulars there will remain in the southern district of this State a regiment of infantry and a bat. talion of cavalry, fifteen companies in all, the whole commanded by Col. James H. Carleton, an experienced officer, and well acquainted with that country and the inhabitants. The progress of events in the southern section of that State, as well as in the adjoining Territories, will be carefully observed, and an additional force promptly advanced if necessary. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding Department. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, San Francisco, Cal., October 21, 1861. Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. : GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of your communication dated on the 24th ultimo, and addressed to Col. Thomas R. Cornelius, Hon. B. F. Harding, and R. F. Maury, esq. The District of Oregon, and indeed the whole Department of the Pacific, have been stripped of all the clothing we had to supply the volunteers now in service, and there are no arms suitable for cavalry service remaining in store. We are now making clothing of all kinds by contract in this city; it will be of an excellent quality, and cost but little more than the clothing received from the East. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Colonel Ninth Infantry, Commanding. SAN FRANCISCO, October 21, 1861. His Excellency JOHN G. DOWNEY, There is no authority to receive volunteers for the artillery. E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, San Francisco, October 21, 1861. Comdg. Southern Dist. of California, Los Angeles, Cal.: SIR: The colonel commanding the department desires the troops at San Bernardino and Los Angeles under orders for the East to be concentrated at New San Pedro certainly by the 1st proximo. These troops will sail on the next steamer from this port, and it is desirable that everything should be in readiness for embarkation. Mr. Wentworth, superintendent of Indian affairs, wishes to visit several of the Indian tribes living on or near King's River, and will call upon you for an escort, which, if practicable, the colonel desires you to furnish, The colonel thinks a small mounted escort will be sufficient. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS, Camp near San Bernardino, Cal., October 21, 1861. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U. S. Army, Headquarters Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: Yesterday three companies of cavalry (California volunteers), aggregate 272, reached this place for duty in this section of the coun try. To-day Companies A, D, and F, Fourth Infantry, aggregate 169, will leave this place for San Pedro, Cal., in obedience to department orders. So soon as transportation shall be furnished I shall leave this post with Companies G and K, Fourth Infantry, and Company E, Ninth Infantry, for San Pedro, Cal., in obedience to department orders. I applied to district headquarters several days since for transportation, and am looking daily for its arrival. Respectfully, your obedient servant, W. SCOTT KETCHUM, Major Fourth Infantry, Commanding. HDQRS. FIRST CAVALRY CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, Camp Carleton, October 21, 1861. Commanding Los Angeles District, Los Angeles: MY DEAR COLONEL: I arrived here yesterday morning about 12 o'clock, being the fifth day after leaving Camp Latham. I found it necessary, in order to follow your instructions about avoiding the Cocomungo Desert, that I should camp on the Santa Aña River about ten miles from San Bernardino on the night of the fourth day. My camps throughout the march were favorably located with plenty of fuel and good water, and my men arrived at Camp Carleton, with a few exceptions, in fine condition and good spirits. On my arrival at Major Ketchum's camp I found it necessary to camp temporarily in the same inclosure with him. This I deemed advisable in consequence of my being unable in the short time I had before the arrival of my command to look out a suitable permanent camp-which when I have made the selection of will bear the above name-as well as to be near him, that I might with greater facility receive the supplies he may have left to turn over on his departure for San Pedro, which he designs making in two detachments, one of which left this afternoon intending to pass over the Cocomungo Desert to-night; the remaining three companies leave here on the return of the train. Major Ketchum came to the conclusion of moving as above because, as he stated, there was not sufficient transportation for his six companies. I have endeavored, in accordance with your instructions to ascertain the exact amount of supplies Major Ketchum will be able to turn over to me, but as yet have not been successful. His acting quartermaster informs me he thinks about ten days' rations, five of which were drawn this morning, the five days' rations which I started with being out last night. The train which left here to-day will not probably return in less than ten days, and unless they make a good trip not so soon. Would it not be well to start me supplies by other wagons, for in case the train does not return in ten days I will be obliged to go into this market and purchase, which I would rather avoid. Doctor Dickey, whom I expected to find in the employ of Major Ketchum, was not in his camp. The major was without a surgeon, being unable to agree upon the pay with Doctor Dickey. I had an interview with the doctor this morning. He will only agree to remain in camp on the same pay as assistant surgeon. I could not employ him to visit here once per day at a less price. What shall I do about it? He consented to visit camp every morning at 9 o'clock to attend to those men who really require medical service until I heard from you, at the rate of $50 per month, which is the usual price, as you are aware, for daily visits. Major Ketchum has a very good flag-staff which he will leave. As this is the headquarters of the First Cavalry, will you not send me regimental colors? I hope you will as soon as possible send the saddles left by the three companies now with me, as whispers are already circulated among the men that they are to be turned into infantry. That is the only thing I fear for a serious breach of discipline. I hope, therefore, you will not only send my saddles on the return of the train, but that the horses will be soon forthcoming also. Should I be again ordered on a five or ten days' march before they are mounted I fear the consequences. Of course no exertions would be spared by myself, but should anything like a general mutiny occur, overboard I go, whether my fault or not. For God's sake do not leave me long with this only cause of danger hanging over my head. Captain Singer left the pistols belonging to his company at Camp Latham in charge of Captain Fritz. Please send them by return of train. I now have 4,000 rounds Sharps carbine cartridges, 11,000 rounds rifle, and 11,000 rounds pistol. Major Ketchum took great pains to give me all the information in his possession relative to the people in this part of the country, together with written information received at headquarters in San Francisco a long time since, all of which shall receive my immediate attention. I will keep you informed of all that takes place here. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD E. EYRE, Major First Cavalry California Volunteers. 2. Col. A. J. Smith, Second California Cavalry, will detail a company of his regiment to be in readiness to proceed to Fort Crook on the 26th instant. Upon the arrival of the volunteers the present garrison will comply with paragraph 3 of General Orders, No. 23. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to report that I have been ordered to relieve Col. George Wright, Ninth Infantry, in the command of this district. My address is Los Angeles, Cal. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Adjutant-General THOMAS, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: There has been established a new camp, garrisoned by four companies of First Infantry California Volunteers, near Warner's rauch, on the road hence to Fort Yuma, Cal. It is called Camp Wright, and is commanded by Maj. Edwin A. Rigg, First Infantry California Volunteers. The companies are Company D, Capt. Hugh A. Gorley; Company E, Capt. Thomas L. Roberts; Company F, Capt. Washington L. Parvin; Company H, Capt. Henry A. Greene, First Infantry Čalifornia Volunteers. Please send to that camp and those companies blank post returns, blank company returns, and such other blank rolls, returns, books, orders, &c., as are necessary. The nearest post-office is San Diego, Cal. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, Cal., October 22, 1861. Maj. RICHARD C. DRUM, U. S. Army, Assistant Adjutant-General, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: I last evening received a telegram from you in these words: "The troops at Fort Yuma will sail from San Diego as directed on the 1st of November. By order," &c. The commander of the department, General Wright, is aware that it will be impossible for the troops at Yuma to be relieved and reach San Diego by the 1st proximo, so I conclude the telegram is incorrectly reported here; that the original reads "as directed on the 1st of October." I have reports of great scarcity of water on the desert. I have sent an express to Colonel West and to Colonel Andrews, with letters in relation to the passage of the desert, copies of which I herewith inclose. Would it not be well to send down, say, ten more teams? This would save the necessity of hiring transportation in all ordinary movements of troops, or for post purposes. The mules could be kept as cheaply here, perhaps, as above, and if they are on hand, and not required in the upper country, I would like to have them, but not if they have to be purchased. Respectfully, &c., JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 1.] HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Lieut. Col. JOSEPH R. WEST, En route to Fort Yuma: I have received and forwarded Captain McMahon's resignation, but it was not made in form and should have been directed to the general commanding the Department of the Pacific. (See paragraph 1647, Revised Regulations of the Army.) Leave the captain in arrest at Camp Wright, if he would prefer staying there to going on with his company, until orders in his case are received from department headquarters, provided he forwards through you his resignation, as required. Otherwise let him go on to Fort Yuma. I send you the Revised Regulations. Observe Article III and Article XXVI. Have your officers and non-commissioned officers recite their tactics, commencing at the beginning of the first volume and going through, seriatim, both volumes. Report at the end of each month the progress you have made. It will be important that you at once send forward a party, even if they make forced marches, to clean out the wells. Perhaps Carrillo and his men and Dean can do this. To be certain that you have not too many men and animals at a watering place at one time, you had better cross the desert by companies, each one day behind the other. Send word ahead to Colonel Andrews, that he may at once detach one of his companies as fast as yours, one by one, arrive. The companies meeting you can, if you have an understanding with Colonel Andrews, so overlap their marches with yours as not to bring two companies at the same water at once. You had better go with the advance company, that you may send back words of advice to those in the rear. All this is to be done only in the event that the waters on the desert have disappeared and the wells become filled. Should this not be so, of course your troops can keep together. I feel great anxiety that your men make the march without suffering. Better march mostly by night from Vallecito on. Great forecast and care must be exercised by yourself in this matter. Have the men drink heartily before setting out on a march and husband their canteens of water. I desire you will report to me all the details of how you managed this matter and give me your views as to the best method for troops to cross the Yuma Desert. Do this after you have become established at Yuma. Hadji Ali, the Turk who takes this letter to you, can give you much information. Make use of him as an expressman to Fort Yuma. Send him back as soon as you yourself have arrived there. Respectfully, &c., JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. NOTE.-Since writing the foregoing I have ordered Colonel Andrews to send a company of infantry to help clean out the wells, commencing on the east side of the desert. So let Hadji Ali, the expressman, go on without delay. [Inclosure No. 2.] J. H. C. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Lieut. Col. GEORGE ANDREWS, Commanding Fort Yuma, Cal.: COLONEL: I am informed that the wells upon the Yuma desert have become filled with sand and require cleaning out. |