COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, NAVY-YARD, Mare Island, Cal., February 1, 1862. Brig. Gen. G. WRIGHT, U. S. Army, Commanding Department of the Pacific: SIR: Your letter of the 30th ultimo is received informing me of a conversation held with Major Leonard, who recently visited this yard, on the subject of the guard of artillery now stationed here. The guard as they are, without an officer, are, as you say, of very little, if any real service in the protection of the public property, but as they were ordered here at the request of the Honorable Secretary of the Navy, I must beg leave to decline any recommendation as to the removal of the detachment from the island. I am satisfied, however, that a force could be placed upon the island in sufficient time for all purposes of its defense. With great respect, I have the honor to be, general, your most obedient servant, W. H. GARDNER, Commandant. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, No. 4. San Francisco, Cal., February 3, 1862. I. Maj. Hiram Leonard, U. S. Army, is hereby appointed provostmarshal for the city of San Francisco. II. A detachment of two subalterns and twenty-five men will be detailed from the Second Cavalry, at Camp Alert, and quartered in this city, to act under the special orders of Major Leonard. The deputy quartermaster-general will cause quarters to be prepared for the detachment, as well as stables for the horses. III. All soldiers visiting this city, either on pass or under special orders, will immediately report at the office of the provost-marshal. By order of Brigadier-General Wright: Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, February 4, 1862. First California Volunteer Infantry, Comdg. Southern District, New San Pedro, Cal.: COLONEL: I have the honor to report to you that from information received here I had reason to suppose that parties disloyal to the Government would attempt to cross the Colorado River somewhere in this vicinity on the 28th of January. I had information of one more being in the neighborhood of the Algodones. The information was given me by an Indian. On the 31st of January I sent First Lieutenant Hargrave to look for him. He found him near Pilot Knob and arrested him. His name is Haywood Dickey, formerly a deputy sheriff of San Joaquin County, Cal. After examining him and taking his statement I concluded to detain him. A copy of his statement I inclose to the district commander for his disposition (see Appendix A). Also respectfully ask for instructions in reference to him. I also inclose copy of oath administered to him (see Appendix B), and statement of Indian (see Appendix C). Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First California Volunteer Infantry, Commanding Post. APPENDIX A. Statement of Haywood Dickey. FORT YUMA, January 31, 1862. My name is Haywood Dickey. I was born in Tennessee (Knox County), a few miles below Knoxville. Left Tennessee on the 21st day of April, 1850, for California. Arrived in San Francisco on the 20th day of August, 1850. Since that time lived principally in Stockton. My business has been teaming, and for some years was deputy sheriff of San Joaquin County, under John O'Neil. I had been so nearly the time specified. John O'Neil went out of office on the 1st of October, 1861. I then left Stockton to go to Texas by way of Los Angeles and Fort Yuma. At the Monte, near Los Angeles, I heard of the arrest of the Showalter party and changed my notions. I then started for San Diego. Ithen concluded to go to the mines, forty miles from San Diego, across the line into Lower California. From there I went to see Governor Moreno for the purpose of procuring provisions. He had none, or had none to spare. I struck across from there to Indian Well, on the desert. An Indian guide (Yuma) came with me. The Governor gave me some flour, perhaps five pounds. I arrived at the camp of the Yumas on the 27th. I came on horseback that far, and left my horse with the Indians (an Indian called Antonio). From there I went to Yager's hay camp, and was employed by him or his foreman. The only reason why I stopped was that I knew I could not get through. I intend to go home as soon as I can. I saw one of the Showalter party that you did not get. I saw some of them at San Diego. The names of them I do not know, although I had some conversation with them. I know personally Showalter, King, Wilson, Woods, Benbrook, Sands, Roberts, Ward, Woods (both of the men by the name of Woods), Sampson, Rogers, Edwards, Lawrence, Rogers (both of the Rogers), Crowell, Turner, Sumner, Chum, and I would have started within two days to overtake them if I had not been taken ill. I left Stockton with a man by the name of William Holland, Ward, who is now here, Jim Moss and Hopkins, James and Henry, and two of the Ayers, Jim Dunlap, and three others whose names I have forgotten. My sympathies are with the South sure, and if I am compelled to fight I will take that side. I do not think that the Government can stand divided. I am twenty-eight years old on the 9th day of March, 1862. I do not think that the State that I was born in had any right to secede, or rather, I do not know whether the State had or had not, but my sympathies are for the South. My opinion is that a portion of Showalter's party intended to go on to join the Confederate Army. Ward told me that he did not intend to go farther than Van Dorn, in Arizona or New Mexico. I am willing to take the oath of allegiance. HAYWOOD DICKEY. APPENDIX B. Copy of oath administered to Haywood Dickey, at Fort Yuma, January 31, 1862. I, Haywood Dickey, do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign; and that I will bear true faith, allegiance, and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution, or law of any State convention or legislature to the contrary notwithstanding. And further, that I do this with a full determination, pledge, and purpose, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever; so help me God. Witness: HAYWOOD DICKEY. FRANCIS S. MITCHELL, First Lieutenant and Post Adjutant. Sworn to before me this 31st day of January, 1862. EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First California Volunteer Infantry, Commanding Post. APPENDIX C. FORT YUMA, January 30, 1862. Marto La Cruz was born at the Algodones, on the Colorado River. My father was a white man; what nation I do not know. Was taken prisoner by the Cocopahs and sold to an Englishman by the name of William Hardy, who took me to Lower California (La Paz), where I lived eighteen years. I am now twenty-five years old. Mr. Hardy died two years ago, after which I returned to my people (the Yumas), where I have resided ever since. The Governor of Lower California (Moreno) sent for me three months ago. He gave me papers authorizing me to have bad white men, Texans principally, from crossing the Colorado River, and to advise him of any parties crossing into Lower California; that they stole his animals. He gave me papers to the head chiefs of the Cocopahs and Yumas, and told me that good men would go to the ferry at Fort Yuma to cross, but bad men would want to cross below there. I met a man who told me that he had friends taken to Fort Yuma; that he was from Texas, and that he wanted to fight to get even. The Governor of California told me to bring him to the ferry at Fort Yuma; that if he was a good man he could cross there, and if he was not that he should not cross anywhere. I gave the man my papers, to keep them dry, but he said he lost them and could not get them back. His horse gave out, and he heard of a party of Mr. Yager cutting hay near Pilot Knob. He left his horse with the Indians and he went to the hay party, and I came to the fort to report it. Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, February 4, 1862. Commanding District, New San Pedro, Cal.: COLONEL: I received a letter from Maj. D. Fergusson (commanding Camp Wright, dated January 30) on the 2d instaut, in which he says that Mr. Tibbetts informs him that as many as forty or fifty men armed and mounted passed his house during the last six or seven weeks; seventeen passed on the 9th of January. The major adds: "They avoided this road and San Diego, and probably got over some trail leading into the desert beyond Carriso Creek." They were heard of by parties living on the coast road all along from Los Angeles to San Luis Rey, but that none has sufficient patriotism to report it in time. Tibbetts says he was afraid of his life, being the only Union man in his neighborhood. I fear parties are leaving Visalia and Mariposa without being detected by the proper authorities. I think that it is practicable for men of enterprise to cross the river during the usual stages of water. Should the river be high yet, it is likely the last party is down below you from thirty to sixty miles. This must be a portion of the party that Mr. Clark telegraphed about. I do not think they have crossed yet, and will keep a sharp lookout for them, and if possible capture them. I will send the Indians out to watch for them at once. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First California Volunteer Infantry, Commanding Post. HEADQUARTERS, Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, Fort Yuma, February 4, 1862. First California Vol. Infty., Comdg. Dist., New San Pedro, Cal.: COLONEL: I would respectfully call your attention to the fact that the charges against twelve general prisoners have not been received here, viz: Privates Glancy, Carey, and Murphy, Company B, First California Volunteer Infantry; Jones, Miller, Finley, Sergeant Stedenfeldt, of Company D, First California Volunteer Infantry; Fitzgerald, Company G, First California Volunteer Infantry; McCormick, Company I, First California Volunteer Infantry; Blankenship and Whitaker, Company F, First California Volunteer Infantry; and also Hastings, of Company D. The charges are here against Dwyer, First Cavalry, but the prisoner has not arrived. I also inclose, for the consideration of the district commander, statement of Alvin Sanders (see Appendix D), an American citizen en route to Los Angeles from Sonora. The steamer Cocopah, Captain Wilcox, arrived here yesterday from the mouth of the Colorado, bringing sixty tons of stores, principally barley and coffee. One package of ordnance stores only has arrived. Nothing has been heard of the guns or the steamer Republic's freight, except some barley and flour, of the arrival of which I have already informed Colonel Carleton. I started the three wagons back to Camp Wright (that came with Captain Gorley's detachment) yesterday morning. Since the overflow I have experienced some difficulty in getting a sufficient quantity of wood for the post. The wagon not being able to get the wood on the flat, I am now having wood boated down the Gila River. A short time, however, will dry up the roads so that wood can be hauled. I have had all the pack-saddles and aparejos put in order as directed by Colonel Carleton. I would also respectfully call the attention of the district commander to the fact that there is no clothing at the post. The command is very much in want of pants and blouses. Many of the men, from the fatigue duty they have been obliged to perform during the high water, carrying wood, moving the quartermaster's and commissary stores, are almost naked. The water works have been repaired and are again in working order. The recruits have been dropped from the companies to which they were attached, and are commanded by Lieutenant Mitchell as directed. The health of the command is good, and their drills progressing as instructed by the colonel commanding. I have had the howitzers, carriages, &c., overhauled and repaired, and to the best of my ability carried out all my instructions to the letter. I entertain some fears that the small vessels on which we shipped the guns have met with some accident. Nothing had been heard from them when Captain Wilcox left the mouth of the river. I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First California Volunteer Infantry, Commanding Post. P. S.-I inclose, as directed by the colonel commanding, statement of political prisoners in answer to letter addressed to commanding officer at Camp Wright by R. R. Dickey, dated at San Bernardino, December 2, 1861, in reference to horses in their possession; also letter from R. H. Ward, directed to the Hon. J. N. Ward, Merced County, unsealed, for his disposal. E. A. R. HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT, Maj. R. C. DRUM, U. S. Army, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Pacific: MAJOR: Since my former letter the routes have become still more impracticable. It has been raining almost without intermission, stopping for three or four days only to cover the mountains and fill up the ravines with snow, in some places to a very great depth. We are here literally on jail limits, some two or three miles in extent, almost as completely cut off from the world-nay, from the rest of my districtas if we were on some desert island. Of course I have had but little news from the interior. I have heard of an instance of Indian depredations upon stock, and of the supposed murder by Indians of two or three white men on Eel River. Since my arrival I have had no news from Fort Bragg, the small garrison at Fort Seward, nor from Fort Ter-Waw, to which I wrote up for a report, by the way of Crescent City, when the steamer was here before. The only news I have had from Fort Gaston is a letter from Captain Johns, of the 5th of January, received by me on the 14th, asking rather urgently for arms and provisions, and speaking of expected Indian difficulties. On the 15th I sent him a supply of both, including subsistence for his command of forty-six men for sixty days, with an escort of eight men. The supplies were packed on mules at Arcata (the terminus on the bay of the trail to Gaston), where they had been stored for some time under a contract with an experienced and energetic train conductor. For the particulars of the contract with him I refer you to Acting Quartermaster Swasey's report to Colonel Babbitt by this mail. The conductor expected to make the trip to Gaston, which is only about forty miles from Arcata, in about four days. Instead of that when last heard from, two or three days since, they had not been able to get farther than the Redwoods, some ten or twelve miles from Arcata. In the direction of Fort Seward the route must be still worse. Five or six weeks ago, when the cavalry came down from there, their only means of crossing some of the streams was by felling some lofty tree near the bank long enough to reach across, on which the men and the entire baggage were passed over, while the animals were made to swim. As it has rained almost incessantly since then, it would seem to be impossible at present to send any supplies to that point from here, even if a mounted messenger could get through. Two or three days since some citizens of Hydesville arrived here on foot, the trail being in such a condition that they would not venture to take the journey on horseback. Hydesville is on the route to Fort Seward, about twenty-two miles from here, and the trail to it has been hitherto much more constantly traveled than any other in the county. From information obtained from different sources I am decidedly of opinion that Fort Seward should be abandoned. It is situated about eighty miles from here, near the boundary of Mendocino County, on the farther side of Eel River. To reach there it is necessary to cross several streams, which in the winter season become roaring mountain torrents; but the most important objection |