very warm in daytime. Distance previous, 64 miles; distance to-night, 15 miles; distance in five days, 79 miles. The time is here called five days; that number of marches has been made, but the time between camps has been curtailed in order to travel by night hereafter. October 30.-Left Indian Well at 5 p. m. for New River Station; road a perfect level, over a barren, alkali plain, with a few patches of mesquite; dusty and heavy for wagons. At New River, old mail station, deserted. Deep well of inferior water; a lagoon within 400 yards now affords a supply, but would fail after a long spell of dry weather; it cannot be relied upon. This station is a precarious one for water. Weather very warm. Distance previous, 79 miles; distance to-day, 15 miles; distance in six days, 94 miles. October 31.-Left New River Station at 5.10 p. m. for the Alamo road heavy, over barren flat. The Alamo is another old deserted mail station; there is a well thirty feet deep, affording a supply of good water. Animals can now make use of a lagoon, half a mile southwest from the house. Within 350 yards of the house the road to Fort Yuma branches off to the left; the right-hand fork leads to the Mariposa ferry, thirty-six miles, and down the Colorado thirty miles from Fort Yuma. That route can be used to advantage by any one acquainted with the water lagoons, which are in thickets off the road and hard to find by strangers. Weather warm. Distance previous, 94 miles; distance to-day, 14 miles; distance in seven days, 108 miles. November 1.-Left Alamo Station at 4.50 p. m.; road inferior. Gardner's Wells (old mail station, but water has failed), nine miles; thence by same character of road and country to Salt or Seven Wells, and camped. Water plenty, but brackish; wood abundant. Weather warm. Distance previous, 108 miles; distance to-day, 18 miles; distance in eight days, 126 miles. November 2.-Left Salt Wells at 4 p. m.; nine miles to Cooke's Wells; first two miles and a half bad road. At Cooke's, water and wood good and abundant. Thence fifteen miles to Pilot Knob; camped on the bank of the Colorado at the foot of a mountain. From Cooke's the road is mostly good, through a mesquite flat, and latter part Indian gardens. Weather more pleasant. Distance previous, 126 miles; distance to-day, 25 miles; distance in nine days, 151 miles. November 3.-Left Pilot Knob at 1.30 p. m.; road follows up the River Colorado to Fort Yuma, distance ten miles. Road a good deal broken first three miles and a half; reached the fort at 4.30 p. m. Weather pleasant. Distance previous, 151 miles; distance to-day, 10 miles; distance in ten days, 161 miles. Itinerary from Camp Latham, near Los Angeles, to Camp Wright, near Warner's ranch, San Diego County. Distance, 140+ miles. Left Camp Latham at 11 a. m., October 16, and arrived at Camp Wright October 23, 1861, at 12 noon. Itinerary from Camp Wright, near Warner's ranch, San Diego County, to Fort Yuma, Cal. Distance 161 miles. Left Camp Wright at 7.30 a. m., October 26, and arrived at Fort Yuma November 3, 1861, at 4.30 p. m. J. R. WEST, Lieut. Col. First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Detachment. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 8, 1861. His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: I have the honor to request that you will forward on the 10th, 20th, and last day of each month to the Adjutant-General of the Army, for the information of this Department, a full report of the condition of the volunteer recruiting service in your State, setting forth the number of complete regiments for duty, the number nearly completed, and the number in process of organization. The names of the commanders and the arm of the service will be specified for each regiment. You are further desired to comply with any request of the Adjutant-General of the Army regarding the movement of troops from your State to any army in the field, and to regard the same as coming directly from the Secretary of War. SIMON CAMERON, Lieut. Col. R. E. DE RUSSY, WAR DEPARTMENT, November 8, 1861. Corps of Engineers, or the SENIOR OFFICER OF ENGINEERS AT SAN FRANCISCO, Cal.: You are hereby appointed the authorized agent of the United States to purchase or acquire "Lime Point," at the entrance of San Francisco Bay, Cal., for the erection of fortifications and other military purposes. You are authorized to offer $30,000 for the land, and if refused you will commence proceedings under the law for condemnation. THOMAS A. SCOTT, SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS, DEPARTMENT OF HOU PACIFIC 1 San Francisco, Cal., November 8, 1861. Col. Ferris Forman having received from the Governor of this State the appointment of colonel of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry California Volunteers will proceed to Camp Sigel and assume command of the regiment. By order of Brigadier-General Wright: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, SIR: The general commanding the department desires you to have an express sent from Warner's ranch to your headquarters informing you of the time the command from Yuma passes en route to San Diego. Upon the receipt of this information you will telegraph the same for the information of the general. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Maj. EDWIN A. RIGG, First Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. Camp Wright: MAJOR: Your note of November 6, instant, I received last evening. As soon as Colonel Andrews' command arrives from Yuma give the colonel all your wagons and your ambulance, if necessary, to move his command from Camp Wright to San Diego. Not one of Mr. Banning's wagons can be used for this purpose, as they must come on without delay to San Pedro. You will load Mr. Banning's train with the stores and property of Camp Wright and move that camp to Oak Grove, or to Temecula, if in your judgment, after having surveyed the country, the latter would be considered the best point, and direct your train to return with supplies from San Diego to the new camp, which, by the by, will retain its present name. Colonel Wright decided before he left Los Angeles that Mr. Banning's train must not go to San Diego, so use it to move your camp, provided you do not delay it. Have everything packed against it comes up. Respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., November 9, 1861. Lieutenant-Colonel BLAKE: (Care of N. L. Perkins, Folsom, Cal.) March your command to Benicia. RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. Maj. R. C. DRUM, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT Of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 9. 1861. * Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: On the 7th instant I was called on by Messrs. Cornelius, Maury, and Harding, of the State of Oregon, who exhibited to me a letter of instructions from the Adjutant-General, by which I learned that they were authorized, as colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and quartermaster thereof, to raise a regiment of mounted troops for the defense of the frontier. The authority conferred on these gentlemen is ample for all purposes necessary, and any failure in raising this force (and I found them by no means sanguine of success) may be ascribed to causes familiar to the commander of the department. I gave them such information and advice as I best could, and assured them of my readiness to aid them to the full extent of my power and means. As authorized by the letter of the Adjutant-General, I mustered them into service informally and administered the oath of allegiance. They had received no blanks of any necessary kind, and will require those for mustering in, both of field and staff, and of the companies, which I have to request you will forward to me at once for them. Mr. Harding is made the mustering officer, and from what I learn of him the duties will be faithfully and carefully performed. There was considerable disinclination on his part to take the position conferred upon him, arising both from the state of his health and of his private affairs, and he was finally induced to act temporarily, on the suggestion that his services. were essential to prevent à falling through of the whole matter. My advice to these gentlemen, in conclusion, was to look about and select such careful, faithful, and energetic officers as might be suitable for the companies, and wait a few days for further instructions. I will endeavor to furnish them with such regulations relative to volunteers, &c., as I can obtain from the published orders in my possession. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, A. CADY, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Infantry, Commanding District. Col. H. E. MCCULLOCH, HEADQUARTERS, La Mesilla, Ariz., November 10, 1861. Commanding Department of Texas, San Antonio, Tex.: SIR: I have nothing new to report as to the movements of the enemy. My spies report that there are sixteen companies at Fort Craig and three within thirty miles of the fort, and that every effort is being made to enlist the Mexicans, who are much divided on the subject of making war upon Texans or of taking any part in the war at all. There exists, too, disaffection among the regular troops, who have not been paid, many of them for one year and a half. There is a large train at Craig and quantities of supplies are being hauled there. All this would indicate that the enemy intend to make a move of some sort. I shall have them watched closely, and, should they come down, I have my supplies at Bliss, and transportation ready to move it down to Quitman or Davis, if necessary. I shall, with my mounted force, push to Santa Fé, and hold the country until the arrival of General Sibley. A party of citizens from California, who have joined my forces, report great excitement in Southern California. They know of no troops marching See September 24, p. 632. for Arizona, but say that Fort Yuma is being strongly re-enforced. I am convinced that a strong force stationed in Western Arizona would enable us to get hundreds of good Southern men, well armed and mounted, who are anxious to join our cause, and this would enable us to watch Sonora, and prevent United States troops from crossing that State, and, what is of importance, open communication with Guaymas and other posts on the Pacific, where we must, of necessity, get most of our supplies. I will keep you advised of all matters here, and act as circumstances may direct. I have the honor to be, respectfully, JOHN R. BAYLOR, Colonel CARLETON: LOS ANGELES, November 11, 1861. DEAR SIR: For the past three days I have been confined to my room and to my bed, or 1 would have visited you at Camp Latham. Parties are, I am informed, passing here en route east toward Texas. One party of about twenty left here on Saturday or Sunday, and another small party arrived yesterday, as I am informed. Some of the men have acquaintances in this city and have endeavored to get them to join their party. I think it would be a good plan if some reliable person could be induced to join them, and go with them as far at least as Fort Yuma. Some of these men are still in town, and more are expected in a day or two. I now think there is cause to fear an attack on Fort Yuma. If my health will permit I will go out to your camp in the stage to-morrow morning. Yours, J. J. WARNER. 12 m.-I have this moment learned that Showalter is now in this city. I have accordingly opened this letter to apprise you of the fact. J. J. W. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. A. CADY, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, Comdg. District of Oregon, SIR: In reply to your letter of the 1st instant, wherein you state the disposition made of the volunteer force under your command, I am directed by the general commanding the department to say that your action is approved. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. A. CADY, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, Comdg. District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: SIR: Captain Whittlesey's letter* with inclosed petitions having been submitted for the consideration of the general commanding the * See Logan to Whittlesey, October 18, p. 665. |