wagons, several wagon and cart wheels, empty barrels, several chains, many hospital bedsteads, but all broken or in a dilapidated condition. I started from the fort on my return at daylight of the 30th and marched to Dead Man's Hole; watered the animals, and made a dry camp in the prairie. Left camp at 9 a. m. and marched about ten miles, when an Indian made his appearance with a white flag, followed by five others, all mounted. I tried to hold a talk with them, but they seemed unwilling to have anything to say, they being followed by twenty-five or thirty more mounted men, and still farther behind was a large party on foot, and it being evident that their only intention was to gain time and delay us until they could surround us, coming toward us in every direction, a large proportion of them mounted. Wishing to get rid of the footmen, I made a running fight of it, expecting the mounted men to follow, which they did for a short distance; but finding it too hot for them, they returned. They left 4 men dead on the field, 2 of them the leaders, respectively, of the mounted and foot men. I have good reason to believe that at least 20 were wounded. I had 2 men wounded, 1 slightly and 1 painfully, by a pistol-ball in the shoulder. I had also 1 horse wounded. I then came on to Eagle Springs, where I arrived at 11 p. m., watered all my animals, and found that Lieutenant Haden, with the remainder of the command, had left for the river several days before. Encamped for the remainder of the night, and on the next day proceeded to the river, arriving there about 5 p. m., and found Lieutenant Haden, with the remainder of the command, he stating that he could not find suffi. cient water at Eagle Springs for the use of the animals. I omitted in the foregoing report to state that about ten miles from Van Horn's Wells I met two Mexicans coming this way. I arrested them and brought them to this camp, where I released them, and they went on up the river and will report to General Carleton in person. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. D. SHIRLAND, General Carleton's force in the Mesilla will be less by 700 men than is stated in my report of the 6th. He reports that he can be followed by another regiment of infantry or more. I recommend that one regiment of infantry and five companies of cavalry be ordered from California. The regular troops can be ready to leave as soon as the answer to my report of the 6th is received, or earlier if I find it safe to move them. ED. R. S. CANBY, Brigadier-General. [Inclosure N.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fé, N. Mex., August 21, 1862. Brig. Gen. JAMES H. CARLETON, Commanding District of Arizona, Fort Bliss, Tex.: GENERAL: The commanding general desires that you will arrange the affairs of your district so that the command may be turned over to 8 R R-VOL L, PT I the officer next in rank as soon as practicable, and hold yourself in readiness to repair to the headquarters of the department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GURDEN CHAPIN, Captain, Seventh U. S. Infantry, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. [Inclosure O.] SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, No. 153. Brig. Gen. James H. Carleton, U. S. Army, will repair without delay to Santa Fé, for the purpose of relieving Brigadier-General Canby in the command of the Department of New Mexico. By order of Brigadier-General Canby: Santa Fé, N. Mex., August 26, 1862. GURDEN CHAPIN, Captain, Seventh U. S. Infantry, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. [Inclosure P.] GENERAL ORDERS, Į HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF ARIZONA, Franklin, Tex., August 27, 1862. No. 17. * II. Captain Roberts' company (E, First California Volunteer Infantry) and Captain Pishon's company (D, First California Volunteer Cavalry) will be ordered by Colonel West to proceed without delay to Franklin, Tex., where Captain Roberts' company will take post, and whence Cap tain Pishon's company will march to Fort Stockton, in Texas, as a guard to some prisoners of the Confederate Army who are to be sent to Texas on parole. Each of these companies will be rationed from the depot at Mesilla to include the 30th proximo. Besides these rations Colonel West will send, escorted by Roberts' company, 6,000 rations of subsistence stores from the Mesilla depot to Franklin, Tex. By order of Brigadier-General Carleton: BEN. C. CUTLER, First Lieut., First California Vol. Infty., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. [Inclosure Q.1 HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF ARIZONA, Franklin, Tex., September 1, 1862. COMMANDER OF CONFEDERATE TROOPS, SAN ANTONIO, TEX.: SIR: I found on my arrival here some twenty-odd sick and wounded soldiers of the C. S. Army, whom I was ordered by General Canby, commanding the Department of New Mexico, to make prisoners of war. These men, at their earnest solicitation, I sent to San Antonio on their parole. They have been furnished with rations of subsistence for forty days and with such medicines and hospital stores as were necessary for them on the road. I have also furnished two wagons for the transportation of those who are unable to walk, and I have sent an escort of one lieutenant and twenty-five rank and file of the First California Volunteer Cavalry to guard them from attack by Mexicans or Indians until a sufficient force from your army is met, to whom they may be transferred, or until they reach some point near San Antonio, where from thence onward they can travel with safety. From that point the lieutenant is ordered to return with his party and all the means of transportation belonging to the United States with which he is intrusted for the use of his escort and benefit of these prisoners. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES H. CARLETON, Brigadier General, U. S. Army, Commanding. [Inclosure R.] GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT, SEDAN No. 20. Las Cruces, N. Mex., September 5, 1862. I. Maj. Theodore A. Coult, Fifth California Volunteer Infantry, will proceed without delay to Tucson, and relieve Maj. David Fergusson, First California Volunteer Cavalry, in the command of the District of Western Arizona. II. Maj. David Fergusson, First California Volunteer Cavalry, is hereby relieved from duty as chief commissary of the Column from California, and will immediately transfer all funds, property, records, &c., pertaining to the subsistence department to Capt. Nicholas S. Davis, First California Volunteer Infantry, who is hereby appointed acting chief commissary of the Column from California. Having done this, Major Fergusson will proceed, via Arivaca and Altar or Cubero, without delay, to a point at or near Lobos Bay, on the Gulf of California, known as Libertad, and examine the intermediate country, with a view to the transportation of supplies. He will ascertain the resources of the country on this route; also the availability of Lobos Bay as a port where the military supplies destined for Arizona may be landed. Major Fergusson will then repair in person to the headquarters District of Arizona, and make a report of his examination of the Port Lobos route to the general commanding the Column from California. As soon thereafter as practicable Major Fergusson will assume command of his regi ment, the First California Volunteer Cavalry. III. Capt. Nicholas S. Davis, chief of transportation of the Column from California, will discharge all mechanics from Government employment at Tucson, except such as may be necessary to keep the train that plies to Fort Yuma in repairs. This train and any other quartermas ter's property in Western Arizona for which he is responsible may, if the exigencies of the service so require it, be transferred by Captain Davis to the depot quartermaster at Tucson. Captain Davis and Lieut. Lysander E. Hanson, First California Volunteer Infantry, with Mr. George C. Alexander, clerk to the chief commissary of the Column from California, will report by the first opportunity to the commander of the District of Arizona. IV. Surg. John H. Prentiss, First California Volunteer Cavalry, will relieve Surgeon McNulty as medical purveyor of the District of Arizona, and will receipt for the medical supplies appertaining to the same. V. Estimates for medical supplies and ammunition required at Fort Bowie and Tucson will be made upon the proper officers at the headquarters of the District of Arizona. VI. Brigadier-General Carleton having been ordered to Santa Fé, to relieve Brigadier-General Canby, in the command of the Department of New Mexico, he hereby relinquishes the command of the District of Arizona to Col. Joseph R. West, First California Volunteer Infantry. Brigadier General Carleton still retains the command of the Column from California, and his staff-Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. Benjamin C. Cutler, Surg. James M. McNulty, Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, chief quartermaster, and Lieut. Joseph F. Bennett, acting assistant adjutantgeneral-will accompany him to Santa Fé, starting to-day. VII. The District of Arizona comprises the Territory of Arizona and that portion of New Mexico which lies south of an east and west line drawn through Fort Thorn and also Northwestern Texas. The executive powers assumed by Brigadier-General Carleton in his proclamation, dated at Tucson, June 8, 1862, will, until further orders, be retained by that officer. By order of Brigadier-General Carleton: BEN. C. CUTLER, First Lieut., First California Vol. Infty., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. [Inclosure S.] GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fé, N. Mex., September 18, 1862. No. 83. The undersigned hereby relinquishes the command of this department to Brig. Gen. J. H. Carleton, and is gratified in announcing as his successor an officer whose character, services, and experience in this country entitle him to the confidence of the people of New Mexico. In taking leave of the troops he has for some time had the honor to command he desires to leave with them the assurance of his high respect and admiration and his best wishes for their happiness and advancement. ED. R. S. CANBY, Brigadier-General, U, S. Volunteers. [Inclosure T.] GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, No. 84. Santa Fé, N. Mex., September 18, 1862. I. The undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of New Mexico. II. The following staff officers are announced: First Lieut. Ben. C. Cutler, First California Infantry, acting assistant adjutant-general; Maj. Henry D. Wallen, Seventh U. S. Infantry, acting inspector-general; Capt. A. W. Evans, Sixth U. S. Cavalry, acting assistant inspector-general; Capt. John C. McFerran, U. S. Army, chief quartermaster; Capt. A. F. Garrison, U. S. Volunteers, chief commissary of subsistence; Surg. E. I. Baily, U. S. Army, medical director. Surg. James M. McNulty, of the First California Volunteer Infantry, in addition to his duties as medical director of the Column from California, is assigned to duty as acting medical inspector of the Department of New Mexico, and will be governed in the performance of these duties by such instructions as he may receive from these headquarters. Maj. William J. Martin, U. S. Army, chief paymaster. Capt. William H. Rossell, Tenth U. S. Infantry, will continue to perform the duties of disbursing officer of the fund for collecting, drilling, and organizing volunteers. Capt. William R. Shoemaker, military store keeper of ordnance, will perform the duties of chief of ordnance at Fort Union. III. The orderly hours at department headquarters will be from 9 to 10 a. m. for chiefs of departments and officers on duty, and from 11 a. m. to 12 m. for citizens on business. IV. All orders and instructions from headquarters Department of New Mexico, unless hereafter modified or repealed, will remain in full force; and particular attention is directed to department General Orders, No. 62, of July 7, 1862; its requirements will be strictly observed. JAMES H. CARLETON, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Department. [Inclosure U.] HEADQUARTERS COLUMN FROM CALIFORNIA, Col. JOSEPH R. WEST, Commanding District of Arizona, Mesilla, Ariz.: COLONEL: I met this morning some paroled prisoners of war. I have heard there are ninety-three of them. They are on their way to Texas. Surgeon Covey, of the C. S. Army, who goes with them, informs me that they have some arms belonging to the United States, with which to defend themselves en route to San Antonio. Give orders so that Lieutenant French, First California Cavalry, whom I sent toward Texas with other prisoners, may bring these arms and this transportation back, escorted by his men. I have not received one word of instruction in relation to these prisoners, and know nothing about them except what I gleaned from orders in Lieutenant Bennett's possession and from what Surgeon Covey told me. Having these arms they will need no escort from you, and it will not be well to have our men and animals broken down without good cause. Keep them moving. Have no delays at Fillmore. Let them camp down near, but not at, the grazing camp. Do not let them delay at all at Franklin. If care is taken the brigands and others in El Paso will attempt to communicate with them and may be caught. Surgeon Covey should not know the full extent of our force now en route from California. * Be sure and have Wagon-Master Veck report at Peralta with fifteen wagons and the ambulance and team and driver which went below with me (Truett's). Assistant Wagon-Master Francis will be placed in charge of the train of twenty-five wagons which are to go to Tucson. No soldier teamster will go with that train, and no man who is mustered as teamster who does not drive a team; nor will any such men be permitted to remain with any train, whether in camp or on the road. All such men will at once be provided with teams, and a like number of soldiers be relieved from extra duty. I desire that you will see that this rule goes into effect at once. Should a teamster become sick in camp or on the road, his place will be supplied temporarily by a soldier. It follows, therefore, that there will not be a single man mustered as teamster who does not drive a team, nor will any extra man be allowed as a cook for the teamsters. They must cook for themselves. If you can swoop up other people about you who had better travel to Texas, now is a good opportunity to send them to that country. You must discharge every civil employé whose services are not indispensably necessary. Please make me a report of the amount of provisions you have on hand and the number of troops, &c., to be rationed, as soon as the Texans have gone. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. NOTE.-Ask Colonel Bowie to do me the favor to release and send to California a political prisoner named J. S. Bratton on his taking the oath of allegiance. J. H. C. |