charge, but under the circumstances it could not be done. I finally concluded to employ him for one day, and sent Lieutenant Wellman with a proposition to that effect, but on his arrival at Oak Grove the train had gone, and as my instructions to him were not to follow unless he (Sanford) was but a short distance on the road from that point, I have missed the transportation and disarranged your plans, but from no fault of mine, as I conceive. Your orders not to employ, or rather to discharge, their train upon their arrival here, were positive, but the whole cause is the delay of your messenger. He has been nearly five days on the road, and reports having broken down several horses. Your calculation as to the time of arrival here of Colonel Andrews' command was exact, and twenty-four hours earlier arrival of the express would have found the train here, and our camp would now have been at Oak Grove, just where I want to be at this particular time if the information is correct which I have received from your informant. I will now have to remain here until our own train returus, which will not be before the 20th and perhaps not before the 23d, as it has been raining in torrents for several days. To day we have had a specimen of the climate on this ranch. While I am writing (9.40 p. m.) the rain is falling in torrents and the wind is whistling through the camp. If we have any tents standing in the morning I will consider ourselves fortunate. It will depend altogether upon the peg ropes and guys. It was reported to me to-day that the messenger stopped, unsaddled, and remained at Oak Grove for three hours. He must have pursued the same course at other places on the route. The horse he brought in here was entirely broken down, and I had to furnish him with another to proceed to Yuma. Your communication of the 15th instant came in this morning early, and as Colonel Andrews' command has gone on and you have been notified of it I will send him (expressman) back in the morning to Los Angeles. My officers are very busy getting their returns in shape, but without proper blanks it will be difficult for them to have them perfect. I forwarded the post returns to your headquarters a few days since, as well as our weekly return. For several days I had not paper enough in camp to make one out on, and finally had to consolidate. I had sent to Lieutenant Thompson, acting assistant quartermaster, San Diego, several times for some stationery, but he would not send it. I think from the reports of Acting Assistant Quartermaster Vestal, Wagon-master Peale, and Sergeant Wheeling, both he and Captain Roberts were anything but courteous. Major Haller sent me some, which arrived to-day by the ambulance from San Diego. Colonel West sent on the post ambulance with Mrs. Captain Dryer, and as I had no mules for our own I sent it on the San Diego ambulance with her, and by instructions from him will keep it here until I hear from him. I intend to send to Oak Grove a lookout for my friend, Mr. Showalter, and will stop him if I can catch him, or anyone else whom I know to be as deeply dyed a traitor as he is. He has not the excuse that some others have of being born and educated in the South. He is a Penn. sylvanian, and never lived in a Southern State in his life, and could have no sympathies of a family nature to excuse him, and I want to see him and a few more. If the party is as large as your informant thinks it is we may have an opportunity to expend some extra cartridges. I have an Indian prisoner here that I would like to have some disposition made of or receive some instructions in regard to him. He has killed several Indians lately, and the chiefs in council decided to hand him over to me for safe-keeping until they could hear from the superintendent of Indian affairs. I addressed a letter to Mr. Baker, supervisor of Indian affairs for the southern district, located at Los Angeles, but have not heard from him. I would like to know from you what disposition to make of him. The Indians have heretofore tried their own people, but they have learned that they have a new chief, and respectfully submit the case to him. At all events, I would like to be advised whether I should hand him back to his people for trial, or what to do with him. I was interrupted by a cry, "The hospital tent is down!" and found it partially true. By lashing and tying it was kept from coming down. We have had a stormy night of it. The guard tents have blown down. Officers' tents, kitchen tents, tent in which I had the ammunition, and a number of others were laid to the ground. It was a gale, and the rain came down in torrents. I think that I have never seen it rain harder. Our tents were all full of water. The men were cheerful and worked hard all night. The morning broke with but little change, excepting it did not rain so hard. The hills all around us are covered with snow. Ice was formed on our tents and ropes. We have had really a specimen of the weather I had reason to expect. I cannot get away from here until our train comes up. We managed to keep our sick from the weather by using all the blankets we could find, the men cheerfully going without themselves. As they were out all night and wet they had no use for them. It continues raining and hailing, but with less wind. We are preparing for another stormy night. It is impossible for the company officers to have all the returns ready that you require by this messenger. Their tents are wet, and writing or ruling is almost out of the question. I have directed them to forward to you letters of explanation. I hope this storm will blow over soon, or we will be in a bad fix. I called your attention in a former letter to you to Jones, of Company D, against whom charges were preferred by Lieutenant Martin. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. R. C. DRUM: EDWIN A. RIGG. LOS ANGELES, November 18, 1861. The regulars from Yuma left Camp Wright for San Diego on the 16th instant. JAMES H. CARLETON. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, San Francisco, Cal., November 18, 1861. (Received 25th.) Col. J. H. CARLETON, Los Angeles, Cal.: Colonel West will take command of the district. Send for him to come to Los Angeles. You will report here as soon as possible, without awaiting West's arrival. By order of General Wright: RICHD. C. DRUM, SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 57. Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 18, 1861. Companies B and I, Ninth Infantry, will embark on the steamer Pacific ou her return from the sound and proceed to San Francisco, Cal. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation for First Lieut., Third Artillery, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 300. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, November 19, 1861. 1. Brig. Gen. George Wright, volunteer service, is assigned to the command of the Department of the Pacific. He will retain in his com mand the Ninth Regiment of Infantry, which is now under orders transferring it to the Eastern coast. Maj. R. C. Drum, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 19, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: I have the honor to report that Companies B and I, Ninth Infantry, are now leaving the post to embark on the steamer Pacific for San Francisco. Captain English's command, from Camp Pickett, and Captain Woodruff's, from Fort Steilacoom, are now on board. This completes the withdrawal of the Ninth, except the two companies from Colville and the detachment with Lieutenant Mullan. I have received no official information in regard to the movements of these commands, but do not anticipate their arrival here until some time in the ensuing month. The companies of the First Cavalry will commence arriving here to-morrow, and may be expected to be in time to take the steamer of the 27th. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, A. CADY, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Infantry, Commanding District. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, San Francisco, November 20, 1861. Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.: I SIR: On the 16th instant I had the honor to acknowledge (by telegraph) the receipt of Major-General McClellan's dispatch of the 13th. I have recalled Colonel Carleton from his command in the southern district, and as soon as he arrives I shall organize his command of at least one regiment, for the protection of the Overland Mail Route. have conferred with Mr. Louis McLane, the agent, as to the most suitable point to locate the troops, in order to afford the required protection. He suggests Simpson's Park, Ruby Valley, and Camp Floyd as the best positions to occupy. The first is 326 miles from Sacramento, Ruby Valley 98 miles from Simpson's, and Camp Floyd is 217 miles in advance of Ruby Valley. The weather for many days past has been tempestuous in the extreme, and the snow on the mountains is reported as very deep, and it may be next to an impossibility for the troops to cross over with their necessary supplies. Were it not for the starving condition of the Indians, no fears need be entertained of their committing any depredations. Twenty thousand dollars' worth of provisions, annually distributed to the friendly tribes along this section of the route, would save the Government vast sums of money. The contracts made last summer for the transportation of our supplies from this place to Ruby Valley were at the rate of about $400 per ton; and at this season it will cost much more. Everything is quiet on this coast; nothing of importance has transpired since my communication to the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated on the 16th instant, a copy of which was forwarded to the Headquarters of the Army. I have removed the Third Infantry California Volunteers from Stockton to Benicia Barracks. Four companies of this regiment are already at their stations; the remaining six have been organized, and are progressing favorably in recruiting. Clothing for all the troops in the department is being made here. Very soon the supply will be ample and of a superior quality, at a reasonable rate. On the 9th I inspected the troops at Fort Point, one company, Third Artillery, commanded by Brevet Major Austine, and on the 13th I inspected the troops at Alcatraz Island, two companies, Third Artillery, commanded by Major Burton. It affords me pleasure to report that I found the troops in high order. The armament of the fort, although incomplete, was found in handsome condition, and ready for any emergency. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. JAMES P. MARTIN, San Francisco, Cal., November 20, 1861. Seventh Infty., Comdg. Co. D, Sixth Infty., Fort Bragg, Cal.: SIR: The general commanding the department directs that you will march your company to Mendocino and be prepared to embark without delay on the return of the steamer Columbia from Crescent City. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. A. CADY, Seventh Infantry, Commanding District of Oregon : SIR: I am directed by the general commanding the department to say, in reply to your letter of the 9th instant, that such supplies as can be furnished from Fort Vancouver without detriment to the service may be issued to Colonel Cornelius or the quartermaster of the Oregon regiment. This, of course, does not include horses or horse equipments. If Colonel Cornelius desires to be furnished with clothing for his regiment he will make a requisition on the deputy quartermaster-general at these headquarters, when the general will give the necessary directions for having the clothing made in this city. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. O.: GENERAL: I have this day forwarded to you by steamer a return of troops of this department. It is made up of the latest reports we have received. My troops are occupying a vast extent of country, extending from Yuma in the south to Colville in the north, a distance of about 2,000 miles over the route usually marched. The severe snow-storm in the mountains has completely blocked up the mail route east; and it will probably be several days before they can resume their regular trips. In the meantime I shall avail myself of the telegraph and the tri-monthly steamers to communicate with headquarters. Colonel Seawell sailed on the steamer to-day with three companies, Sixth Infantry. At San Diego he will receive five additional companies. Major Lovell, Tenth Infantry; Major Flint, Sixteenth Infantry, and Brevet Major Andrews, Third Artillery, I have placed on duty with Colonel Seawell's command. The last steamer from Oregon brought down two companies of the Ninth Infantry, and on the steamer now due I expect five more companies of the same regiment. They will all go East on the steamer of the 1st of December. The companies from Forts Dalles, Walla Walla, and Colville may be looked for by the 10th of December. Lieutenant Mullan has 100 good men of the Ninth Infantry as escort to the Walla Walla and Fort Benton wagon-road expedition. An order was sent early in October for those men to join their companies, since which we have heard nothing from them. The last general order I have received from your office was No. 89, of 11th of October, a single copy only. I have not yet received the Revised Army Regulations. I would suggest that in sending out books and large packages, the ocean route be used. Quiet pervades the Pacific Slope. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. Lieut. BENJAMIN C. CUTLER, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, November 21, 1861. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Southern Dist. of California, Los Angeles: LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report as follows upon the crossings of the River Colorado at points adjacent to this post, and upon the measures that I have adopted for their security: I found upon assuming command that Mr. Yager had a ferry at Pilot Knob, ten miles down the river. The boats used at that point have by my orders been brought to the post, and are under my control. Mr. Yager's main ferry is still one mile below the post. At that point I have constantly kept a picket guard of thirteen meu, under charge of an officer, and no one |