[JULY 9, 1862.-For Canby to Carleton, relating to operations, &c., see Vol. IX, p. 682.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: My latest dates from the Department of Oregon are to July 1, when all was quiet, and my latest dates from General Carleton are of June 18, which I inclosed yesterday to you, with certain other papers. The expedition has thus far been a perfect success. Our army, with all its supplies, has advanced and passed many deserts without loss of men or property. Arizona is recovered and now held under martial law, awaiting for the re-establishment of the civil powers, and the Column from California is advancing eastward to co-operate with the forces in New Mexico. In preparing the expedition under General Carleton, as well as the one under Colonel Connor, for the protection of the mail route, we have been compelled to make large purchases, principally of mules and means of transportation; but I can assure the Department that in all cases the greatest economy consistent with the good of the service has been practiced. The great difficulty is to guard the public interest over such a vast extent of country, with many small posts, some a thousand or more miles distant. However, the losses which the Government will sustain in this department, I am happy to say, will be small, and but a small portion of that can be set down to the unfaithfulness of officers or agents. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. Maj. R. C. DRUM, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: Capt. S. S. Marsh, Second Infantry, commanding escort for the military road to Fort Benton, reports that he will reach Fort Walla Walla on the 15th instant. Lieutenant Hughes states that the day he left that post (the 1st of July) he saw the expressman just in from the Bitter Root Valley, who said that Lieutenant Mullan left Hell Gate on the 23d of May, for Fort Benton, with the intention of returning from that point, working this way in the completion of the road. There appear to have been no Indian troubles in the Bitter Root Valley. Much delay must occur at Fort Walla Walla in paying off his employés, and in resting and recruiting his command. If Captain Marsh, under your instructions of the 4th of June, attempts to returu to Lieutenant Mullan, he can not reach the Bitter Root Valley until the middle of September, when he must soon return to escape the snows of November. Under these circumstances, I respectfully recommend that your instructions of the 4th of June be countermanded, and that said command be ordered to join their respective companies. I shall probably assume the responsibility, very reluctantly, of detaining the command to await your reply, especially as the additional transportation he brings will be very valuable at the present moment at Fort Walla Walla. Your dispatches from Lieutenant Mullan no doubt give you all the facts. No letters from him for these headquarters arrived by this express. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, BENJ. ALVORD, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District. Capt. S. S. MARSH, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., July 10, 1862. Second Infty., Comdg. Escort to Military Road Expedition, CAPTAIN: Is there any Indian trouble, or prospect of any, in Bitter Root Valley? If Lieutenant Mullan can prosecute his work the remainder of the season in safety, it would be very hard to send your command (under the instructions of 4th of June) back to Bitter Root after so long an absence. You would scarce have a breathing spell after reaching Bitter Root Valley in September, for you would soon have to return to escape the snows of November. If I was a department commander I would be able to countermand the orders of 4th of June from headquarters Department of the Pacific. Write me freely (directing to the acting assistant adjutant-general at these headquarters), giving your views as to the necessities of Lieutenant Mullan. Would he be embarrassed if I should countermand the order? As he is supplied with a copy of that order, he may make arrangements founded on your return. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, BENJ. ALVORD, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, San Francisco, Cal., July 11, 1862. Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: On the 7th instant Brig. Gen. Benjamin Alvord assumed command of the District of Oregon. The condition of affairs in the district is highly satisfactory. Inclosed herewith is a copy of a communication, dated on the 3d instant, from Col. Justus Steinberger, First Washington Territory Infantry, the predecessor of General Alvord. The activity and zeal displayed by Colonel Steinberger and the admirable arrangements he has made to maintain the peace and quiet of the district, and to afford protection for the approaching emigration, in accordance with the instructions I had given him, deserve my warmest praise, and I take great pleasure in commending him to the consideration of the Secretary of War. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. *See p. 3. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. BENJAMIN ALVORD, U. S. Volunteers, Comdg. District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: GENERAL: The department commander desires you to relieve Lieutenant Hughes, Ninth Infantry, from duty at your headquarters and direct him to proceed to Fort Walla Walla and assume the duties of acting assistant quartermaster and commissary at that post. Lieutenant Hughes will be instructed to send in estimates for repairing or constructing quarters for six companies, four of cavalry and two of infantry; the buildings to be ready for occupation this fall. Forage for the public animals will also be procured. In making these expenditures, the general requires the strictest economy. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, Brig. Gen. BENJAMIN ALVORD, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District of Oregon: SIR: Your favor of the 8th instant, soliciting information from the files of this office concerning the outrages committed by the Snake Indians upon the emigrants near Salmon Falls in the fall of 1860, was received yesterday. In reply I have to say that the records of this office do not furnish the information which you desire, or which would materially assist you in your expedition. There is, however, residing in this city Mr. Joseph Myers, one of the survivors of that terrible tragedy. I have had a personal interview with Mr. Myers, and he feels confident of his ability to identify some of the Indians engaged in the massacre wherever he should see them. One in particular he describes as being of medium size, rather slim, blind in one eye, with long hair, generally pulled down over the blind eye, with considerable beard, especially on the upper lip; another one of rather low stature and very fleshy. The Indian first described came to their camp on Rock Creek, beyond Salmon Falls, and followed the train until the attack was made, and remained during the entire fight. Mr. Myers and family were present during the entire attack, traveling in the night and fighting in the daytime. He is well prepared to give you full information on many points, and I am confident would be of great service to the expedition. He expresses a willingness to accompany the military, provided arrangements can be made for the support of his family during his absence. He is in indigent circumstances (having lost his all on that occasion), with a wife and six children to support, five of whom were with him when the outrage was perpetrated. He refers me to two others, young men, Jacob and Samuel Rieth, who are now somewhere in the Salmon River mines. They were also of the party. In connection with this subject I desire to say that an appropriation has been made for negotiating some treaty of friendship with the Snake Indians, and measures are now on foot to secure the Indians' consent to a meeting with an agent of the Government for this purpose. It is my earnest desire as soon as instructions are received from the Department to proceed at once to this work, and if possible prevent any similar occurrence. Should the instructions be received during the time this expedition will remain out I desire to avail myself of their protection. I will start within a week to visit the agencies east of the mountains, and will be pleased to call upon you and have a further interview concerning the matter. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. H. RECTOR, Superintendent Indian Affairs, Oregon. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. JUSTUS STEINBERGER, Washington Territory Volunteers, San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: Your communication of the 3d instant regarding the condition of affairs in the District of Oregon has been received and submitted to the general commanding the department. The activity and zeal displayed by you while in command of the district are highly commendable, and the general has much satisfaction in assuring you that the disposition of your forces for the protection of the inhabitants and preserving the peace has received his entire approval. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS COLUMN FROM CALIFORNIA, His Excellency Señor Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, MY MUCH ESTEEMED SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th of June, 1862, in relation to a claim against the United States made by Mr. Fecundo Gonzales, of the State of Sonora, in Mexico, for a launch and boat which are alleged to have been indispensable to his business as the owner of a ferry on the Colorado River, below Fort Yuma, Cal. The essential facts in the case I believe to have been as follows: This Mr. Gonzales owned a ferry some twenty-six miles below Fort Yuma, on the desert, by which the enemies of the United States known as secessionists were enabled to cross the Colorado River below the Sonora line on their way from California to Texas, there to join other rebels in their unholy attempt to destroy my Government. The officer in command of the Southern District of California felt obliged for a time to interrupt this ferry, that these rebels might be stopped from passing through Sonora on their way from California to Texas. If it should be claimed that this was an unfriendly act to Mexico, it might be urged that to permit the enemies of the United States to pass over the soil of Sonora on their way to attack a friendly power was unkind to that power. But while I feel assured that the stopping of Mr. Gonzales' ferry will not be viewed in this light, I am glad to say to Your Excellency that I do not believe you were aware that one of the highways of Sonora was used by enemies of my Government. As I myself was the military officer who gave the order to stop all ferries across the Colorado River, I have it in my power to say that the stopping of that belonging to Mr. Gonzales was not 2 BR-VOL L, PT II done as an unfriendly act to Mexico, nor with a single thought derogatory of her dignity or just rights. And while I disavow on the part of the United States any unkindness or disrespect toward Mexico by this act, I cheerfully acknowledge the just claim of Mr. Gonzales to be made whole in all matters wherein he has suffered by the necessary steps taken by myself under that highest of all laws-the natural right of self-preservation. The claim of Mr. Gonzales is without doubt correct and just as a claim, and but for the exorbitant charges which he made for his boats, &c., and as damages for the temporary suspension of his business, he doubtless would have been reimbursed long since. He was given to understand this, and he was even offered to have replaced at his ferry better and more costly boats than those he had lost. This was last December. And he was also assured that a claim for a reasonable amount of damages would have favorable consideration. But he seemed to think that as his claim lay against my Government he could make extravagant charges-indeed, such charges as would not for a moment be entertained by any court of justice when called upon to decide upon the merits of a similar claim as between two individuals. I beg Your Excellency to believe that there is no disposition to do Mr. Gonzales a wrong, and that any just claim which he may have will receive due attention. I have written to you frankly my understanding of the case, and beg now to subscribe myself Your Excellency's obedient servant, JAMES H. CARLETON, HEADQUARTERS COLUMN FROM CALIFORNIA, His Excellency Don IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, Governor of the State of Sonora, Mexico, Hermosillo, Sonora: MY ESTEEMED FRIEND: Your letter asking my assistance in causing the arrest of two Mexicans who had robbed and maltreated one of your couriers, and then escaped from Sonora and took refuge on our side of the line, has been received. Those two men are said to have been in this town some ten days since, but it is rumored they are now near the Cerro Colorado Mine, and I have sent to arrest them. Should the party now absent on this duty be successful I will send the robbers to you at Hermosillo. I shall be happy to unite with you in establishing a passport system, but as people can reach your State by the way of Fort Yuma as well as by roads from this part of Arizona, I beg to receive suggestions from Your Excellency as to the most effectual way of giving due force to whatever plan we may adopt. For, if the rule when once established be not enforced at all points, it will give us much trouble and embarrassment. I have heard that there are murmurs here against some decree said to have been issued by Your Excellency, which lays an export duty on such articles of provisions as your citizens desire to bring across the lines for sale to the troops under my command. I am not familiar with the laws of the Republic of Mexico, but those of the United States would not authorize the executive department of government in any one State to make such a decree. I presume that if such a decree has been issued by Your Excellency it has been by the command and with the authority of the Central Government of Mexico. In this event, of course no one would have a right to complain, for Mexico as a sovereign power restricts her |