In order to trap these spies, a small party should be in ambush ahead of the infantry to stop every soul going that way. The cavalry should then march half a day apart until they get near Tucson, so that if they have spies on the trail they will run and tell half the strength of the command, not waiting to see the other half. If our force is shrewd, and knows the strength of the enemy in advance of them, which they ought, and doubtless will know from the Indians themselves, it would seem that it would be impossible for them to fail in taking Tucson. In case of success, every secession man in that town must be brought to Fort Yuma. The party, besides, must endeavor to catch Colonel Reily, if possible. He has gone down toward Hermosilla with twenty men. The instructions in relation to Brevoort are still in force. There must be no surrender. If the party is obliged to retreat, from falling in with an overwhelming force, they must fall back, fighting inch by inch until they get back. I am, major, very respectfully, &c., BEN. C. CUTLER, First Lieut., First Infty. California Vols., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, San Francisco, March 18, 1862. Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: On the 14th instant I had the honor to acknowledge (by telegraph) the receipt of your dispatch of the 12th* relieving MajorGeneral McClellan from the command of the military departments, excepting that of the Potomac, and directing that hereafter reports be made direct to the Secretary of War. A company of marines having been landed at the navy-yard, Mare Island, from the U. S. flag-ship Lancaster, the presence there of the thirty soldiers of the Third Artillery, as a guard, was no longer required. The detachment has accordingly been withdrawn to its proper station on Alcatraz Island. With the view of placing the city and harbor of San Francisco in the best possible state of defense in case of a foreign war, I have, as you are already advised, caused reconnaissance to be made and sites selected for the erection of field-works. I found that our greatest embarrassment was likely to proceed from the want of heavy guns, and I accordingly addressed a communication to Capt. W. H. Gardner, U. S. Navy, commanding the navy-yard at Mare Island, on the subject. My letter to Captain Gardner and his reply are both herewith inclosed. The eighty-nine guns which are placed at my disposal will materially aid us in making up the armament for the batteries. I propose to use every heavy gun I can command for the defense of this city and harbor. Although there are several points on the Pacific Coast that are exposed to capture by a hostile fleet, yet, in case of a war, San Francisco would first attract the enemy's attention. The loss of San Francisco and harbor involves also the loss of our navy-yard and our military arsenal at Benicia. In fact, it destroys for the time all our commerce on the Pacific. Hence this place should be made impregnable. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. *See President's war order, No. 3, March 11, Vol. V, p. 54. + See Wright to Gardner, March 12, p. 921, and Gardner Wright, March 15, p. 926. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FIFTH INFTY. CALIFORNIA VOLS., No. 7. Camp Latham, March 18, 1862. Lieut. Col. George S. Evans, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed at once via Fort Tejon and Tejon Reservation, Walker's Basin, to Owen's Lake, and inquire into the truth of the matter set forth in the letter of W. A. Greenly to Mr. Bishop (a copy of which is herewith inclosed).* Lieutenant-Colonel Evans will have for an escort Captain Winne, Second Lieutenant Oliver, and First Lieutenant French, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, and forty men picked from the three companies of cavalry California volunteers at this camp, and will leave Camp Latham for Owen's Lake Wednesday morning, the 19th instant. The party will take forty days' rations and 100 rounds of ammunition. Lieutenant Frink, acting regimental quartermaster, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, will furnish them wagons and teams for the transportation of Lieutenant-Colonel Evans' command. For the guidance of Lieutenant-Colonel Evans in the premises, I herewith inclose a copy of letter of instructions to me March 17, 1862, by Colonel Carleton, commanding the District of Southern California.t G. W. BOWIE, Colonel Fifth Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Camp Latham. Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, March 20, 1862. Commanding Southern District, Los Angeles, Cal.: COLONEL: I have the honor to inclose, for the information of the district commander, letter received this morning from Lieut. James Barrett, commanding detachment First Cavalry at Stanwix Ranch (Grinnel's). The colonel will find that my fears expressed in a former communication have been realized. Captain McCleave is a prisoner with his detachment of eight men; also Mr. White, of the Pimas, and his mill burned, and grain, it is reasonable to suppose, destroyed. I have ordered Lieutenant Barrett to keep a good lookout on the road, and if they should approach his post in any numbers to fall back on the reserve. I have also ordered Lieutenant Nichols, who has relieved Lieutenant Harvey, at Mission Camp, on account of the ill health of the latter, to throw his detachment forward, so that he will be near to support Lieutenant Barrett if required. Detachment of First Infantry, under Lieutenant Taylor, at Mission Camp, is near enough to render them assistance if required. The detachments of cavalry are now so quartered at the different stations between Gila City and Grinnel's that I receive dispatches from there in eight hours. I have instructed Lieutenants Barrett and Nichols that in the case of an equal number of their cavalry coming against them, to give them a fight and dispatch an express at once to me, in which case I can throw forward a howitzer to their assistance. My opinion is that they will approach in this direction very carefully, knowing, from the fact of meeting with Captain McCleave, that troops are on the road. I have employed the messenger I sent to Tucson. He is the Spaniard alluded to in Lieutenant Barrett's dispatch, and can be depended upon. He is intelligent and faithful. The post is in a very good state of defense, and I have no fears of being able to hold it against any odds that may approach it. I have understood since I made the requisition on Lieu tenant-Colonel West, at Camp Wright, that Captain Mead's company of cavalry had been ordered back to Camp Carleton, which is to be regretted, as I could use him to good advantage now. Rations and forage have been at Cooke's Wells, Alamo, and Indian Well since the 16th for seventy-five men and animals. Indian Well will require repairing. There should be one-half-inch lumber sent there, and a new well dug. The lumber we have not at the post. I will, however, try and get some here, and send a few men out to fix it up. The water beds will be ready for use on the 26th. Their capacity will be nearly 600 gallons each. Lieutenant Harvey has just arrived and reports the hay party getting along swimmingly. They are getting in fine hay. Mr. Noyes, partner of Mr. White, arrived last evening and thinks he will not go forward, having learned here of the destruction of their mill and other property at the Pimas. He has written to you by this express. Another company of cavalry will effectually block up the road between this post and Grinnel's, or beyond it, and will enable us in return to reciprocate. Although a whole staff would not compensate us for the loss of Captain McCleave, his anxiety about the safety of Mr. Jones, as represented by Mr. Grinnel, induced him to advance so far forward, and the result has been his capture. I have just learned from Captain Johnson that we can get lumber enough from the steam-boat company to fix the well at Indian Well. I will have the frame made here and sent out with men enough to dig a new one, which will furnish an abundance of water for any ordinary purposes or number of animals. Captain Johnson arrived last evening with his mechanics to build a new boat. He looks for it about the 1st of April, and expects to have it running in six weeks from that time. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major First Infantry California Volunteers, Commanding. Maj. E. A. RIGG, [Inclosure.] STANWIX STATION, March 19, 1862. First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. at Fort Yuma: MAJOR: The man King and the Spaniard just arrived here from the Pimas. They were at White's place. It was all burned. The captain and his party were captured by a party of about thirty some twenty miles this side of the villages, and tied hand and foot. White is also carried off. He was served in like manner. There was no fighting. The rebels returned to Tucson, and were not seen for ten days previous to the arrival of King and the Mexican, but while they were there the chief ran in and told them that the rebels were coming from Tucson. They started immediately, closely followed by the secessionists. They cannot tell how many, but they avoided them by taking the cut off. King knows the country well, and executed his mission well and faithfully. He made the trip there and back in sixty-four hours. There was a haystack burned up about twenty-three miles this side of the Pima Villages, which he supposes was furnished by White. There was no sign of any party having been any nearer this way. JAMES BARRETT, Second Lieutenant, First Cavalry California Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Col. GEORGE W. BOWIE, Los Angeles, Cal., March 20, 1862. Fifth Infty. California Vols., Comdg. at Camp Latham, Cal.: COLONEL: Have Captain Smith's company (B), Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, prepared for active field service according to the requirements of General Orders, No. 3, current series, from these headquarters. The articles of company property not needed on the march should be boxed up and turned in to the depot at San Pedro for storage. The company will be furnished with twenty rounds of ammunition per man and ten days' rations of subsistence. Orders for the movement of Company B will be sent to you in two days. Circumstances connected with the movement of troops in and from this district render it necessary that you should hold your whole regiment ready to take the field at an hour's notice. The companies remaining with you should be taught the skirmish drill, and be proficient in their target practice in the shortest time practicable. I shall not feel surprised to get an order for your whole regiment to go with me on an expedition now organizing under the general's direction. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, Los Angeles, Cal., March 20, 1862. First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. at Camp Wright, Cal.: COLONEL: Soper's company may come via Temecula, and not go to Camp Wright. No cavalry will for the present move by the way of Camp Wright to Yuma. All wagons not absolutely necessary at Camp Wright must be sent at once to San Pedro. You were right in retaining the ambulance. The shoes which you have are all we have in store. I have written for 400 pairs of sevens, eights, and nines for Camp Wright. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 7. JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., March 20, 1862. As soon as steam-boat communication with The Dalles is re-established Company B (Fitch's), Fourth Infantry California Volunteers, will proceed to Fort Dalles and relieve the present garrison, Company A (Smith's), Second Infantry California Volunteers. When relieved Captain Smith with his company will proceed to and take post at Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter. The detachment at the Warm Springs Reservation will be relieved as soon as possible and join its company at this place. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation for these movements. A. CADY, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Infantry, Commanding District. HDQRS. SECOND REGIMENT TEXAS MOUNTED RIFLES, Captain HELM, Commanding Arizona Guards: SIR I learn from Lieut. J. J. Jackson that the Indians have been in to your post for the purpose of making a treaty. The Congress of the Confederate States has passed a law declaring extermination to all hostile Indians. You will therefore use all means to persuade the Apaches or any tribe to come in for the purpose of making peace, and when you get them together kill all the grown Indians and take the children prisoners and sell them to defray the expense of killing the Indians. Buy whisky and such other goods as may be necessary for the Indians and I will order vouchers given to cover the amount expended. Leave nothing undone to insure success, and have a sufficient number of men around to allow no Indian to escape. Say nothing of your orders until the time arrives, and be cautious how you let the Mexicans know it. If you can't trust them send to Captain Aycock, at this place, and he will send thirty men from his companybut use the Mexicans if they can be trusted, as bringing troops from here might excite suspicion with the Indians. To your judgment I intrust this important matter and look to you for success against these cursed pests who have already murdered over 100 men in this Territory. I am, &c., yours, with great respect, JOHN R. BAYLOR, Colonel Commanding Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Brig. Gen. GEORGE WRIGHT, U. S. Volunteers, March 21, 1862. Comdg. Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: The Secretary of War directs you to make the necessary preparations and disposition of your troops to protect emigrants and the Overland Mail Route from Indian hostilities and depredations. Report what you can do. Can Colonel Carleton have the immediate direction? Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, L. THOMAS, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Yuma, March 21, 1862. Commanding Southern District, Los Angeles, Cal.: COLONEL: The express for district headquarters had been made up and gone when your express arrived bringing communications from the colonel commanding. I have the honor to report that a party under the command of First Lieutenant Benson, First Infantry California Volunteers, started early this, morning to put the wells on the desert in good repair as far as Carriso Creek. I gave instructions to Lieutenant Benson to have a new well dug at Indian Well, and forwarded lumber for that purpose. I had already four barrels sunk and filled with water at Indian Well and the Alamo (each four). I have also the honor to report that the Indians alluded to at Indian Well have not been seen there, or in the neighborhood, for several weeks. I will see that they do not use the wells in future. But three horses of Company A, First Cavalry, are at this post. These are kept for express purposes between this post and Mission Camp. The hay which has been con |