SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No. 18. Los Angeles, Cal., December 4, 1861. In compliance with instructions from the commander of the Department of the Pacific, Maj. David Fergusson, First Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed without delay to Camp Wright, near Warner's ranch, and assume command of that post, receipting to Maj. Edwin A. Rigg, First Infantry California Volunteers, for all public property pertaining thereto for which he is accountable. By order of Colonel Carleton: BEN. C. CUTLER, First Lieut., First Infantry California Vols., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. Lieut. BEN. C. CUTLER, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, December 4, 1861. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Southern Dist. of California, Los Angeles: LIEUTENANT: Colonel Carleton's short note of November 25 reached me on the 2d instant. I cannot move until Major Rigg reaches here, which I expect will be on the 7th instant. Unless I get a countermand you may expect me at Los Angeles on Monday, 16th instant. Meanwhile, if I am in command of the district, you will please conduct your correspondence in my name, according to your best judgment. Perhaps it would be well to inform the department commander by telegraph when I shall probably reach the district headquarters. Yours, respectfully, &c., J. R. WEST, Lieut. Col. First Infantry California Vols., Commanding Post. Lieut. B. C. CUTLER, Los Angeles: HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, December 4, 1861. DEAR SIR: When this reaches you, if I am virtually in command of the district (the recollection of previous disappointments prevents my being confident), you will dispatch Hadji Ali, after one day's rest, with an express for Camp Wright, with instructions to turn over his charge to an expressman from this post, who will meet him there. You will be particular to see that all letters and newspapers for this command and that at Camp Wright are procured from the express and post offices, and that they be properly sent to their respective destinations. Many letters for Camp Wright and San Bernardino come all the way through here and have to be sent back. As I shall meet Hadji Ali at Temecula, I expect you might send by him any important communicatione addressed to me, also my private letters. Be good enough to see that a letter directed to my wife, sent herewith, is supplied with a proper express envelope to carry it through. I have nothing but old ones. Yours, very truly, Open all business letters addressed to me. J. R. WEST. J. R. W. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Brigadier-General WRIGHT, U. S. Army, Commanding, San Francisco: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 22d ultimo. If you will give me an order, or rather cause the commandant at Fort Churchill to deliver to me, as Indian superintendent, such supplies as may be necessary to meet the immediate necessities of the Indians, I will take charge of their direction in such manner as to be entirely satisfactory, and undertake to insure peace with all the tribes in this Territory. All they require is the occasional distribution throughout the winter of such provisions as you have at the fort. I entertain no doubt whatever of the propriety and necessity of this move, and just as little that both the Department of War and of Indian Affairs will be satisfied with the efforts made to insure peace and happinesss among the Indians. If you desire me to do so I will willingly share the responsibility with you, and in my letters to my Department will fully explain and set forth that there was no other course to pursue. To march troops over the mountains and easterly at this season of the year, and especially to transport supplies, would be the next thing to impossible. With the arrangements you are undoubtedly prepared to make, I will guarantee protection to both the telegraph and overland mail lines until spring, when both troops and transportation can find an easy passage over the suows of the Sierras. My Indian agent is now out among the Pah-Utes, and reports all quiet, but a great necessity existing for food. Such directions as you may think proper to give shall be faithfully carried out. I am grateful that you are keeping a good lookout for the secession element. It requires it. I am trying to do so here, and have thus far succeeded in keeping it under subjection. I have at the present time twenty soldiers from the fort guarding the jail in this place to prevent the rescue of a most desperate and bloody villain-a leader of that tribe, and one who wakes up all their energies to extricate. Doubtless Captain Rowe, who promptly responded to my call, has reported to you the facts, and I hope he will be sustained in his efforts to second me in sustaining the laws and putting down this secession propensity for butchering every one who dares to be a Union man. I should have replied to yours earlier, but have been afflicted with rheumatism to that extent that I could not write. I shall at all times be happy to aid you in any way in endeavoring to hold the great Western slope true to the old Constitution and Union, and aid her along the pathway of her destiny. I am keeping one of the Indian agents who belongs at the Humboldt until I hear from you. With kindest regards and best wishes for your success, I remain, truly, yours, JAMES W. NYE. While writing I am interrupted by the arrival of the agent from the Shoshones' country, who reports all quiet there. J. W. NYE. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS, DEPARTMENT, Oal., December 3, 2 1861. * 3. The following regular troops will, should they arrive in time, embark on the steamer of the 11th instant, under the command of Maj. A. J. Smith, First Cavalry: Companies C, E, H, and I, First Cavalry; Companies B and C of the Fourth and D of the Sixth Infantry. Sur geons Brown and Hasson and Assistant Surgeon Quinan will accompany the troops on the 11th instant. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. By order of Brigadier-General Wright: General WRIGHT: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. SAN FRANCISCO, December 5, 1861. (Care of Captain McAllister, U. S. Army, Benicia, Cal.) Dispatch from Major Rigg reports the arrest of Showalter and seventeen others. RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 6, 1861. FRANCIS J. LIPPITT, San Francisco, Cal. : SIR: Your communication of August 16, requesting the acceptance of your regiment of infantry, has been received. This Department does not consider it expedient to accept your regiment for service in the East whilst so many nearer to the field of action are anxious to be enrolled for active duty. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, THOMAS A. SCOTT, FORT AT FORT POINT, CAL., December 6, 1861. Maj. R. C. DRUM, U. S. Army, Assistant Ádjutant-General, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: Pursuant to instructions from the headquarters Department of the Pacific, of December 5, 1861, I have the honor to report as follows: On the receipt of the telegraphic dispatch at the headquarters District of Oregon, directing the recall of the escort on duty with Lieutenant Mullan's wagon-road expedition, an order to that effect was written and addressed to the commanding officer of the escort to Lieutenant Mullan's wagon-road expedition. At the same time an order was written notifying the troops in the district to hold themselves in readiness to be relieved by volunteers, and a copy addressed to the commanding officers of Forts Walla Walla and Colville The above orders were then inclosed with a letter of instructions to the commanding officer of Fort Walla Walla, directing him to forward the communications for Colville and Lieutenant Mullan's escort by express. The above package was then inclosed to Captain Whittlesey, commanding Fort Dalles, Oreg., with instructions also for him to forward it by express to Walla Walla, it having been reported that communication by water between The Dalles and Walla Walla was very uncertain. I do not recollect the date of the orders, but think the dispatch reached Vancouver four or five days subsequent to its date. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. C. WILDRICK, First Lieutenant, Third Artillery. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 6, 1861. Act. Asst. Adjt. Gen. B. C. CUTLER, Los Angeles, Cal.: Open all letters addressed to commander of district, and carry out the instructions until arrival of West. By order: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington: SIR: I have made satisfactory arrangements for protection of Overland Mail Route without sending troops over a route now impracticable -full particulars by mail. I propose to send Colonel Carleton with his own regiment and the First Battalion of Cavalry with a battery of artillery to re-open the southern mail route-recapture Forts Buchanan, Thorn, Fillmore, and Bliss. The expedition to move as soon as practicable, via Yuma. The troops are ready and anxious. Guaymas should be occupied, army and navy co-operating. I have the force to hold the whole country this side of the Rio Grande. Please answer by telegraph. G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, * * * * * 2. Captain DeMerritt's company, Second [California] Cavalry, will remove from Benicia Barracks to the arsenal, where quarters will be provided. Captain DeMerritt will report to Captain McAllister, Ordnance Corps. * By order of Brigadier-General Wright: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No. 20. I. In compliance with instructions this day received from the headquarters Department of the Pacific, the commanding officer at Camp Wright will detach one company of infantry from his command and direct that it proceed without delay to Fort Yuma, and report for duty to Maj. E. A. Rigg, First Infantry California Volunteers, commanding that post. Los Angeles, Cal., December 7, 1861. First Lieut., First Infty. California Vols., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. ALBEMARLE CADY, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, Comdg. District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: SIR: On the arrival of the two companies of the Ninth Regiment of Infantry at Fort Vancouver, the general commanding the department desires you to designate one of them to proceed to San Juan Island and relieve the artillery company stationed at Camp Pickett. The general desires the company selected for San Juan to be sent on the steamer leaving this port on the 17th instant. When relieved by the infantry company, Company D, Third Artillery, will, as the steamer returns, embark for San Francisco. On its arrival here it will take post at Alcatraz. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, COMMANDING OFFICER, Camp at or near Oak Grove: SIR: The general commanding the department desires you to hold and keep securely guarded the state prisoners, Showalter and party, until further orders. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHARD C. DRUM, Lieutenant Cutler will forward this by express to the officer having the prisoners in charge. Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I beg leave to submit to the consideration of the Generalin-Chief the proposition to recapture the forts in Arizona and New Mexico by a command to move from the southern district of this State, with the exception of a battery of light artillery, which I am now organizing. All the troops required for the expedition are in the southern district. I have ordered a company of the Ninth Infantry, regulars, to relieve the company of the Third Artillery at San Juan Island; the latter to come to the harbor of San Francisco. A company of the Third Artillery will be designated for the battery. We have the guns, horses, and equipments all ready, being those left here by Company C, Third Artillery (late Ord's battery). I have now in Southern California the First California Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Carleton; the First California Volunteer Cavalry, a battalion of five companies, |