suggesting plans of operations, and to say in reply, by direction of the general commanding the department, that the proposed plans are generally approved. As it will be impossible to make any effective movement against the Indians until after the waters subside, the general desires you in the meantime to acquaint yourself with the condition of affairs in the district, of which you are expected to keep these headquarters constantly advised. The court requested has been ordered. In consequence of the absence of Captain Ketcham, the men of his company against whom charges have been submitted will not be tried before the court, but reserved for another, which will be ordered on his return to his post. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. J. C. SCHMIDT, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT of Oregon, Second Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Fort Hoskins, Oreg.: CAPTAIN: Your letter of the 27th ultimo was received a few days since. Your promptitude in repairing to the scene of trouble at the Siletz is entitled to high commendation, and it is to be hoped that it will have a good effect on the turbulent and disaffected of the Indians. Should you be able to get possession hereafter of the ringleaders named, it would be well to have them brought before the civil authority for trial. I am not authorized to furnish subsistence to these Indians, though they obviously require something of the kind. The means should be supplied by the Indian Department, and I presume that the agent at the block-house has made the necessary reports to the superintendent. The second detachment sent from Yamhill at your request should be returned to that post without unnecessary delay. As the box of ammunition you speak of is probably public property, it should be taken up on the ordnance return, with a statement showing how it came into your hands. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Infantry, Commanding District. Col. J. H. CARLETON, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, January 17, 1862. Commanding District of Los Angeles, Cal.: COLONEL: I inclose for your consideration a copy of a letter received yesterday from Mr. Clymer, superintendent of the Arizona Copper Mines; also a slip received by Mr. Yager from Sonoita. Considering the information valuable, substantiating, as it does, certain information received by Messrs. Hinton and Yager, which I forwarded to you on the morning of the 16th, I at once forward the inclosed. The steamer Cocopah, Captain Johnson, arrived here to-day at 3 p. m. with barley from the mouth of the river, the cargo of the schooner Lolita, which was shipped from San Francisco by way of Guaymas, information of the loss of a portion of which (by the steamer Republic) I also forwarded to you. The steamer brings 1,000 sacks of barley. The ordnance is on another vessel which was expected to arrive at the mouth of the river to-day. A portion of the gun carriages were thrown overboard, also ammunition, a full statement of which I also forwarded to you by the express which left here on the morning of the 16th. I also inclose a proposition from Mr. Yager to furnish the Government with beef-cattle for the Mojave expedition; also one for barley to be furnished at the several stations on the desert from San Felipe to Sackett's Wells; also a proposition from William Werninger to furnish hay and beef. If the contents of the several letters, copies of which I have sent you, are true (I have no doubt of it), the hay being cut and stacked at the general's will fall into their hands, as well as all the balance which Keene has or will contract for on that road, as well as White's wheat, unless there are troops to protect it. It is only reasonable to suppose that a force of the number mentioned would use or destroy anything which might be necessary to subsist troops on through that country. A large number of the men under Baylor are well acquainted with every inch of the country, and with all the people and their sentiments, and from the known sentiments of Ammi White, living at the Pima Villages, it is but natural to suppose that he would be one of the first victims, particularly as he is known to have a large quantity of wheat on hand, and they in want of it. I feel a good deal of anxiety to hear from him. Keene should be here, if nothing has occurred to him, from there on the 23d, and will bring reliable news, although I have no doubt but that Baylor with his command is in Tucson. If so, he will soon be informed of hay being provided at the different points on that road, and it would require but a detachment from him to destroy it without fear of being molested. A force of mounted men could come to the Colorado and annoy this post very much without my being able to prevent it with my present force of infantry. I have no fear of having to surrender it, although 1,000 is good odds. I will endeavor to give a good account of my stewardship. If they do come, they could also destroy the steamer on the way from the mouth of the river. I will send Captain Dresher down on her with a detachment of men to-morrow morning, with instructions to guard against any surprise whilst wooding or otherwise, as well as to protect the ordnance which the boat will bring up. The guns are now to this post invaluable, and at this critical juncture the loss of the gun carriages, sponges, and ammunition is unfortunate. If the colonel will excuse me, I would suggest to him that shipping to Guaymas for reshipment to this post is, to say the least, a very uncertain course to pursue. No dependence can be placed upon the time that they will take to land goods at the mouth of the river, besides the danger of their being lost altogether. Aside from the uncertainty of their getting there, information of the character of her cargo, &c., can be sent to Tucson before the vessel could arrive there, and a party on the bank of the river could destroy her (steamer) with musketry. If shipments were made direct to the mouth of the river by steam, the day of her arrival could be calculated upon with some certainty. The steamer Cocopah left here on the morning of December 26 and has just returned, making twenty-two days that she has been gone, and only four days of that time has been running time. The balance of the time has been consumed at the mouth of the river on the lookout for the schooner. January 18, the steamer left here to-day at 11 a. m. for the mouth of the river. If all of the vessels expected there have arrived, the stores will have to be landed on the wharf or slip, which will detain her for a week. The hay which you directed me to have cut at Gila City, or We Lieu hauled there from a point above, will be ready in a week; also ten tons at Mission Camp, twenty miles above. I have made arrangements to send a man to Tucson, by way of Sonoita. He is indorsed to me by Mr. Hinton as entirely reliable. He is well known to Captain Johnson also, who speaks of him in high terms. His father lives at Sonoita, He will go there first to avoid being suspected of having been sent into that country, which will make a difference of one day in the time of travel. He has no fears of meeting with any difficulty in going into Tucson. He will communicate with Mr. Warner there, and bring back to me information of the number and movements of Baylor's troops. I have made arrangements for him to go on from here on an animal not belonging to the Government; the brand would detect him, or he would be suspected of having stolen it. From Sonoita he will take one of his father's horses. His route will not be by the Pimas. He knows the country well and will not travel by any regularly traveled route. For his services I have agreed to pay him $75, and would desire you to give me some authority for it. It will take him twenty or twenty-five days. I feel confident that this man will fulfill his mission, and that his report will be not from hearsay or rumor, but from actual observations. are very badly in want of express animals for scouting purposes. tenant Taylor leaves in the morning for Gonzales' Ferry to destroy a boat hid in that neighborhood, and also one three miles from the river and twelve miles below. The boat near Gonzales' is large enough to hold twenty men and the other ten. I have also information of there being several canoes or dug-outs farther down, which I have sent for the Indians to bring up. Pasqual, chief of the Yumas, will be here on Monday to see me. I will try and have him keep a sharp lookout on the river. I have instructed Captain Johnson to send a Cocopah from below into the Maricopa country to collect what information he can about troops moving in that direction. The two tribes, Captain Johnson tells me, are friendly, and that they can be depended upon. If I had trinkets and blankets at this post to reward Indians with for services it would be well. I, however, do not have the faith in Indian friendship that many have. It has been my experience with them in the Northwest-Sacs and Foxes and Sioux-to have them fear your power to make them true to you. Presents are very well to add to it. I am satisfied that an Indian only will be true, as a general thing, when they know you have the power to punish them, and in a quarrel like this between whites those who pay best can have their services. One of the chiefs of the Cocopahs, Captain Sun, their great fighting man, called to see me, and was very anxious to know if the Yumas were to go with the troops to the Mojave. They are bitter enemies of the Yumas, and in any fight where the Yumas were engaged would take sides against them. They have not forgotten their old feud, although friendly now. I have already informed you that Yager cannot furnish hay at the points designated, but will furnish what he can at Cooke's Wells and the Alamo. His men are now cutting for Cooke's Wells and he will commence hauling Tuesday next. On 21st he will deliver certain ten tons at Cooke's, and has but little doubt but he can furnish the same amount at the Alamo. Of course it will be hay that the animals can eat. We have had a great deal of rain here, and if it had continued would have washed away our quarters. The river is very high and still rising. The oldest inhabitant has not, of course, ever seen a winter like it here. Those who have lived here for ten years say that more rain has fallen this winter than in any other year during their residence here. The flat below the fort has been covered with water a great portion of the time. The trails and roads leading from the fort in every direction have been washed so that they are hard to recognize. I forwarded to you the description and price of Rhodes' cattle at Gila City; also a proposition from Yager. Fifty head of cattle for Yager left San Felipe on the 16th instant. Yager can furnish any number it he can have a reasonable notice. Whether Werninger is responsible or not, I am not able to say, but Yager can do it. He is the only man on this river that can furnish largely of cattle. Owning San Felipe, he has the facilities for getting them here which others have not, and his conveniences here for herding, corralling, &c., are on a large scale. He is not disposed, either, to take advantage of sudden wants; for instance, he was advised to hold his hay at $100, but said no, if the Government wanted it, seventy tons, they could have it at the old contract price. I also inclose a statement of subsistence on hand after issuing on Monday, the 20th, for the following ten days. The prisoners, political, are all safe. I have received a note from Captain Gorley, dated at Sackett's Wells on the 16th instant. He was getting along very well. I will send as directed the teams back that come in with him, but I would call the attention of the colonel to the fact that the force here is much larger than ever before, and that the quartermaster has but two teams to provide wood with. The wood has to be hauled some distance now on account of the rain, and it is impossible to get along with them. I have one hauling hay, and should have two. The wagon hauling hay to Gila City can only haul three loads of hay in a week. With more teams much more could be procured. I also send return of ordnance and ordnance stores issued and remaining on hand ending on the 31st day of December, since which time there have been 4,000 rounds of ball cartridges issued to companies. From the return you will find that many articles are unserviceable and cannot be used. I also inclose a requisition for ordnance stores (much needed here) for your information. The inclosed return is a copy of my return forwarded to the proper department on the 2d day of January. If any use is intended to be made of these howitzers, it will be necessary to have my requisition filled. If you think you will require them, please forward the requisition. Lieutenant Nichols and Doctor Prentiss left here this morning for San Bernardino, with Doctor Dickey for guide. The doctor has lived in Tucson and knows that country well. He is a sound friend of the Government. I have letters on file here from General Sumner, in which his name is mentioned. He will go to Los Angeles to see you. As soon as he returns to San Bernardino I will have all the pack-saddles and harness put in good repair for you. I believe that I have now given you all the information that I have to communicate. Captain Gorley will arrive here on the 22d. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Maj. EDWIN A. RIGG:] [Inclosure No. 1.] EDWIN A. RIGG. ARIZONA COPPER MINES, January 9, 1862. MY DEAR SIR: Since I saw you I have been reliably informed by a gentleman whose veracity is indisputable, that Colonel Baylor, commanding the Southern troops at Mesilla, has appointed a resident of Tucson receiver of confiscated property, and has written to the latter place that he will march for Western Arizona with 900 troops for the purpose of confiscating all property not belonging to citizens of the Southern Confederacy, as soon as General Sibley arrived at the Rio Grande to his relief, which he anticipated in a few days after the date of his letter. My informant, whose name I am not at liberty to give, says that the citizens of Tucson are betting freely as to whether the troops will or will not arrive. As for himself he has no doubt of their intentions to come, as he saw Baylor's letter and is acquainted with the appointed receiver. I can assure you that my informant is a man whose word is reliable, but as I am precariously situated you will please be kind enough to not connect my name with the foregoing information, nor even the locality from whence you receive it, as myself and employés are the only ones here that are posted. The bearer of this knows nothing about it, nor do I wish him to. I send some letters to your care which I hope you will mail by the first express, and if there is any mail for me please send it by this man. If you have any papers that you can spare, I will take it as a lasting favor if you will send me a few. My respects to Captain Calloway, Mr. Kippen, and Yager. Most respectfully, yours, FRANK P. CLYMER, [Inclosure No. 2.] One thousand troops from Texas will arrive at Tucson in about two weeks. [Indorsement.] HALSTEAD. The above slip was sent to Mr. Yager in a letter dated December 17, 1861, at Sonoita. EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First Infantry California Volunteers. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Brig. Gen. G. WRIGHT, San Francisco, Cal.: Washington, January 18, 1862. GENERAL: In answer to your communication of December 10, I am directed to authorize you to modify the acceptance given Colonel Cornelius to include only four companies, should you deem the best interests of the service so require it. The Quartermaster-General, under present instructions, cannot purchase any more horses, but those left by the First Cavalry can be used for this regiment should you see fit so to direct. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. D. RUGGLES, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: Since my communications of the 9th and 10th instant I have been forwarding troops and supplies to the southern district preparatory to the advance of Colonel Carleton's expedition. At this moment it is utterly impossible for troops or supplies to move into |